Pentecostal Hermeneutics and the Society for Pentecostal Studies

Abstract

This address engages two interrelated pentecostal hermeneutical concerns. The first section identifies an emergence of a pentecostal theological hermeneutic integrated around a holy triad—Holy Spirit, Holy Scripture, and holy community. This resulted when Pentecostals took a linguistic and postmodern turn. The second section focuses upon the significance of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS) as a hermeneutical community. SPS is a unique and diverse interpretive community comprised primarily of Pentecostals and Charismatics. SPS must live in the tension of being and performing as an academic society committed to rigorous standards of research while being a diverse community of scholars who also maintain close relationships with pentecostal and charismatic denominations, educational institutions, and coalitions.