The Pneuma Review & Craig Keener

by Scott

This week, I came across a newer online resource. It’s an online journal that particularly provides ministry resources and theological articles for Pentecostals and charismatics. It’s entitled The Pneuma Review, pneuma being the Greek word for spirit.

The Pneuma Review lays forth their mission statement in this way:

I ultimately came across it when I saw a tweet about Craig Keener’s review of Strange Fire, the new release of John MacArthur, which flows in tandem with the recent conference.

Now, the important thing about this recent review is that Keener is Professor of New Testament at Asbury Seminary. He is no light-weight in regards to theology. Also, its worth noting that he’s theologically sharp, but he is not reformed. That’s important because, what I find most interesting in all the engagement following the Strange Fire conference is that so many folk keep emphasizing how many reformed continuationists there are, as if the sole test of good theology is that you fall within the reformed camp.

Now, I do bless God for such reformed continuationists, people such as Sam Storms, John Piper, Wayne Grudem, D.A. Carson and the like. But there are also non-reformed folk who are also continuationist – Ben Witherington, Gordon Fee, Jack Deere and Craig Keener.

I’m sure the reformed emphasis has been brought to the front because John MacArthur identifies as reformed (though it seems he is primarily Calvinist, rather than embracing of the fuller reformed identity). But let’s not think that the reformed branch of the Christian church is the only place for sound pastors and theologians who are also continuationist.

But going back to Craig Keener.

What’s also interesting is that, 2 years ago, Keener published a 2-volume set entitled Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts. This book is 1200+ pages! Yeah, pretty intense stuff, to say the least.

And one major point coming through the book is the exploration and confirmation of the miraculous in our world today. Not just a handful of examples, but an overwhelming amount.

What’s even more interesting is that one of those accounts concerns his own family – his sister-in-law was raised from the dead!

Below is Keener’s own account of his investigation into this resurrection miracle. Such a humble and godly man.

So, for Pentecostal and charismatic resources, check out both The Pneuma Review, which includes Keener’s review of Strange Fire, as well as his massive tome, Miracles.