Contributions of Pentecostal Theology to Biblical Hermeneutics
Theology has gone through various phases over the millennia and has undergone changes according to the culture developed in each era of humanity. The central focus of all Holy Scripture has always been Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who came to redeem the sins of all and bring the Way to eternal life to those who believe in Him.
However, many theological schools relativize the Bible, adopting an outdated hermeneutic, particularly those influenced by the Enlightenment and the rise of the Renaissance. There have always been viewpoints that neglect the Word (such as heresies), yet this is not the only issue that interferes with the totality of the lived experience of faith, bringing harm that, in many circumstances, goes unnoticed.
Schools of interpretation that support cessationism, for example, invalidate the working of the Holy Spirit in its fullness, making the Christian life excessively limited in its experience. The rationalization of faith is extremely concerning, as it invalidates the supernatural, relativizes faith, and attempts to restrict a God who is infinite and all-powerful.
With the advent of Pentecostal Theology came the pointer toward this pursuit of full power, emphasizing the Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, in a fervent and sublime manner, recovering the operation of the charisms that were present in the primitive church. And not only that: it brought life to social relationships, warming the bonds held in common and proposing improvements in the conditions that affect society.
Pentecostal Theology has immeasurable value. Rightfully so, it came to grow and continue evolving not only in academic circles but also in a broader context, such as in relationships and in the integral development of the society that embraces it.
