The 'Spiritual Death' of Jesus

by Atkinson, William P.

• ISBN13: 9789004171992
• ISBN10: 9004171991
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-02-15
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub

Summary

The teaching of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland that Jesus 'died spiritually (JDS) is important because of the influence of these men, not least on Pentecostalism. JDS originated with Kenyon, and has been taught in the Word-faith movement by Hagin and Copeland, despite much criticism. It incorporates three elements: in this death, Jesus was separated from God; partook of a satanic nature; and was Satan's prey.

Author Biography

William P. Atkinson, PhD (Edinburgh, 2007), was Principal of Regents Theological College near Manchester, England for some years. Presently, he leads a church in South-East England, and teaches part time at Wisdom Christian College, London.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. vii
Acknowledgements	p. viii
List of abbreviations	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
The JDS debate and debaters	p. 5
Introduction	p. 5
The Word-faith movement	p. 7
Three foremost JDS teachers	p. 14
JDS teaching in theological context	p. 25
Categories of participant in the JDS debate	p. 39
Growing opposition	p. 43
Dissenting voices	p. 52
Mediating positions	p. 56
Chapter conclusions	p. 59
Scope, criteria and methods	p. 63
Introduction	p. 63
Scope and limits	p. 63
Criteria	p. 65
Conformity with the biblical witness	p. 67
Kenyon's contemporary influences	p. 77
Reference to Christian theology	p. 82
Chapter conclusions	p. 95
Jesus' `spiritual death' and its necessity	p. 99
Introduction	p. 99
Biblical references to 'spiritual death'	p. 100
Historical references to 'spiritual death'	p. 111
JDS teaching's terminology in modern Christian theology	p. 125
The necessity of Christ's `spiritual death'	p. 127
Chapter conclusions	p. 141
Jesus' 'spiritual death' as separation from God	p. 147
Introduction	p. 147
The JDS articulation of Jesus' separation from God	p. 147
Criticisms of the JDS position	p. 157
The possibility of a separation	p. 160
The timing of a possible separation	p. 172
The nature of a possible separation	p. 175
Chapter conclusions	p. 183
Jesus' 'spiritual death' as partaking of a sinful, satanic nature	p. 187
Introduction	p. 187
Satan	p. 188
Partaking of a sinful, satanic nature	p. 190
The responses of the critics	p. 195
Kenyon's, Hagin's and Copeland's sources	p. 199
History of the tradition	p. 208
Chapter conclusions	p. 213
Jesus' 'spiritual death' as becoming Satan's prey	p. 217
Introduction	p. 217
The views of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland	p. 218
Responses of the critics	p. 226
JDS sources	p. 231
Alternative proposals	p. 240
Chapter conclusions	p. 248
Conclusions	p. 251
Introduction	p. 251
Summaries	p. 252
Further responses to the critics	p. 256
Sundry observations	p. 258
Overall appraisal of JDS teaching	p. 261
Bibliography	p. 263
Index of references	p. 281
Index of authors	p. 285
Index of subjects	p. 291
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