Youngmo Cho: Spirit and Kingdom in the Writings of Luke and Paul
Following the introductory chapter, Cho investigates the Holy Spirit’s role as the distiller of life-giving wisdom as seen in the intertestamental Jewish literature. He claims that such an understanding of the Spirit would directly influence both Paul’s and Luke’s presentation of the Spirit. In chapter three, Cho argues that for Paul, life in the Spirit is synonymous with Luke’s kingdom of God. Chapter four assesses the characteristics of the kingdom, comparing how Luke and Paul express the functions of the Spirit. He argues that Luke perceives the Spirit to be limited to the kingdom blessings, whereas for Paul the Spirit is the blessing. In chapter five, Cho discusses what he perceives the role of the Spirit to be in Luke-Acts, and in the concluding chapter, six, he draws some implications from his study.
All in all, I heartily recommend this title for the readers of The Pneuma Review. This book will probably challenge some long-held assumptions by classic Pentecostals, but rich rewards are in store for those who explore it.
Reviewed by Bradford McCall
Category: Spirit, Winter 2009