Cecil M. Robeck

An Emerging Magisterium? The Case of the Assemblies of God

Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about. All democrats object to men being disqualified by the accident of birth; tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good mans opinion, even if he is our groom; tradition asks us not to neglect a good mans opinion, even if he is our father. I, at any rate, cannot separate the two ideas of democracy and tradition….

The Cambridge companion to Pentecostalism

Global Pentecostalism: an introduction to an introduction Cecil M. Robeck, Jr and Amos Yong Part I. Historical Considerations: 1. The origins of modern Pentecostalism: some historiographical issues Cecil M. Robeck, Jr 2. Charismatic renewal and neo-Pentecostalism: from American origins to global permutations Michael J. McClymond 3. Then and now: the many faces of global Oneness Pentecostalism David A. Reed Part II. Regional Studies: 4. North American Pentecostalism David D. Daniels, III 5. Pentecostalism in Europe and the former Soviet Union Jean-Daniel Pluss 6. Pentecostalism in Latin America Daniel Ramirez 7. African Pentecostalism Cephas N. Omenyo 8. Asian Pentecostalism in context: a challenging portrait Wonsuk Ma Part III. Disciplinary Perspectives/Contributions - the Status Quaestiones: 9. The politics and economics of Pentecostalism: a global survey Calvin L. Smith 10. The cultural dimension of Pentecostalism Andre Droogers 11. Sociological narratives and the sociology of Pentecostalism Michael Wilkinson 12. Pentecostal spirituality Daniel E. Albrecht and Evan B. Howard 13. Pentecostal theology Mark J. Cartledge 14. Pentecostalism and ecumenism Wolfgang Vondey 15. Pentecostal mission and encounter with religions Veli-Matti Karkkainen Instead of a conclusion: a theologians interdisciplinary musings on the future of global Pentecostalism and its scholarship Amos Yong.

Pentecostalism and Mission From Azusa Street to the Ends of the Earth

The origin of the global Pentecostal Movement is the subject of heated debate. A number of suggestions are currently being explored. None of them, however, showed the dynamic missionary concern that the Azusa Street Mission did during the revival (1906–1909) that soon circled the globe. This article explains the importance of this African American congregation and its missionary contribution. While it was ridiculed by church and society, it sent out scores of missionaries. Its newspaper, The Apostolic Faith, became a widely influential instrument for taking the revival to the ends of the earth. Pastors seeking to have their ministries revitalized there through baptism in the Spirit led to still more missionary commitments. Thus, the Missions missionary impact is unparalleled in the early Pentecostal Movement.

Montanism and Present Day “Prophets”

Over the past decade and a half, William Tabbernee, the world’s leading authority on Montanism or the New Prophecy, has written four major works on the subject. Three of them are reviewed in this article. One looks at Montanism through the eyes of church and state; a second provides documentation for the identification of the headquarters city of the Montanists; and the third puts the two together in a creative narrative. These three volumes are placed within the context of larger issues surrounding the history of this powerful prophetic movement that originated in late second-century Asia Minor and subsequently spread throughout the Roman Empire up until the sixth century. The reactions and responses of various orthodox Christian leaders and secular government officials to the claims of this highly independent prophetic movement, which called for more reliance upon the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit and a more conservative personal ethic, suggest strong parallels between Montanism and what might be found in today’s Charismatic, New Apostolic, and Emerging Church movements.

Pentecostal Ecumenism: Overcoming the Challenges - Reaping the Rewards

Abstract This article is part 2 of a paper whose first part was published in the Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association 34.2 (2014). This part deals with a variety of practical issues including the benefits of ecumenical cooperation and reasons behind negative perceptions of ecumenism.

In the Name of Jesus: Exorcism among Early Christians : A Friendly Response to Graham Twelftree

C.M. Robeck approaches Twelftrees book from the context of a lifelong involvement in the Pentecostal church that has included many opportunities to observe the need for a detailed study of exorcism. Robeck appreciates the careful work that is everywhere evident in the work, and he finds much with which he agrees. In his role as Church historian, Robeck affirms Twelftrees reading of the Fathers, but he voices some concern regarding the interpretation of the Montanist controversy.