The Pentecostal Theology of Edward Irving

"This book explores this vital connection in Irving's thought which represents a pioneering Pentecostal theology that is radically Christocentric."
—David Dorries, Assistant Professor of Church History, Oral Roberts University

Originally a nineteenth-century Church of Scotland minister, Edward Irving has long been regarded by many as a forerunner of the modern Pentecostal movement. His endorsement of the charismatic gifts of the Spirit as well as the presence of tongues-speech in his meetings are often pointed to as outside witness to the reality of PentecostalismÂ’s claims.

While Gordon Strachan acknowledges that Irving's theology allowed for the manifestations of the Spirit, he offers a caution against reading modern Pentecostalism back into the theology of Edward Irving. Strachan concludes that Irving's radical Christology led to his stance on the manifestations of the Spirit in a way unparalleled in modern Pentecostalism.