Month: September 2020

Terry Baughman reviews “The Holy Spirit: A Commentary”

Daniel Segraves

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Terry Baughman has taken the time to review my latest book in the midst of building a new church facility. He is the lead pastor of LifeChurch in Gilbert, Arizona (azlife.church) and blogs at trbaughman.com. An accomplished author, he has written or edited eight books in addition to numerous published lessons and articles. Terry earned the degree Master of Arts in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary, and he serves as secretary of the Board of Directors for Urshan College and Urshan Graduate School of Theology.

I appreciate his review of The Holy Spirit: A Commentary, which follows:

The Holy Spirit: A Commentary is both a thorough and refreshing study of the subject by a Oneness Pentecostal scholar for Oneness Pentecostal believers, or for those seeking an understanding of the Holy Spirit from the foundation of Biblical Theology. Dr. Daniel Segraves has invested his life studying and teaching the Scripture with a meticulous loyalty to the written text and he exhibits an interminable insistence on contextual interpretation. As a college and seminary instructor, his theology classes and biblical hermeneutics courses were legendary in his continual reminders that interpretation should always be approached with a focus on, “context, context, context!” Segraves teaches, preaches, and writes with a sincere dedication to the authority of the written text and a desire to mine the treasures of authentic intent of the biblical authors.
 
In The Holy Spirit: A Commentary Segraves delves into every mention of the Spirit throughout the Scripture. He shows the importance of the original composition of the Hebrew text pointing to the active work of the Holy Spirit. He illustrates the unique focus that the various references to the Holy Spirit are all synonymous. The Spirit, the Spirit of God, My Spirit, His Spirit, Your Spirit, and the Holy Spirit are all references to the “One Spirit” of Ephesians 4:4. He further examines every other variation of terms in reference to the Spirit, i.e. the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of truth, the Spirit of His Son, etc. that are found in the biblical text. 
 
While adherents to some theological traditions often minimize or ignore the work of the Holy Spirit, it is evident in this study that the synonymous nature of God and the Holy Spirit cannot be divided or disputed. To undervalue the role of the Spirit is actually to detract from the fullness of God’s power. When we speak of the works of God we are acknowledging the reality and viability of the Spirit. As Segraves stated, “We cannot fragment God by separating Him from His Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is present, God is present” (Page 5).

For years to come The Holy Spirit: A Commentary will be the definitive work on the subject. It will be an essential commentary for students of the Word and a guidebook for sincere believers desiring to know more about the working of the Spirit. It will also be a valued resource for scholars who want to expand their understanding of the Oneness Pentecostal perspective of the Holy Spirit and for their contention that the gift of the Spirit with the initial sign of speaking with tongues is for every believer. 
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“The Holy Spirit: A Commentary” is now available at pentecostalpublishing.com!

Daniel Segraves

I am happy to report that my newest book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary is now available at pentecostalpublishing.com. When you locate the book, you can click on “Preview” and read the table of contents, the preface, and the first chapter.

I appreciate the efforts of the team for the Pentecostal Publishing House of the United Pentecostal Church International in bringing this work fruition: Robin Johnston, Editor in Chief and Publisher; Everett Gossard, Book Editor; Kaleb Saucer, Director of Sales and Marketing.

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Daily Wisdom 166: Proverbs 8:32

Daniel Segraves

Proverbs 8:32 (NKJV) — 32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.

The blessing of wisdom. Those who keep the ways of wisdom will find they are blessed. The word translated “blessed” also carries connotations of happiness and joy.

Proverbs 8:32 (YLT) — 32 And now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways.

Proverbs 8:32 (NLT) — 32 “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

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Daily Wisdom 165: Proverbs 8:22-31

Daniel Segraves

Proverbs 8:22–31 (NKJV) — 22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.

Wisdom was with God before creation. Wisdom is an attribute of God, and as such, it was with Him from the very beginning, even before the dawn of creation. God delights in wisdom as do wise parents in their children. Wisdom rejoices particularly in those people who receive her. She is above the reach of the animal kingdom, and she has no purpose in dwelling in the uninhabited parts of the earth.

Some people use this passage in an attempt to make wisdom a second person “in” the Godhead. But it obviously personifies the attribute of wisdom as a woman in contrast to folly, as throughout this section of Proverbs. The Bible clearly teaches the absolute oneness of God and excludes the concept of plural divine persons (Deuteronomy 6:4; Galatians 3:20).

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Daily Wisdom 164: Proverbs 8:21

Daniel Segraves

Proverbs 8:21 (NKJV) — 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries.

A lasting inheritance. Wisdom’s inheritance is solid, genuine, true. Wisdom fills the treasuries of those who love her. By contrast, an inheritance gained quickly (dishonestly) is not lasting.

Proverbs 20:21 (NKJV) — 21 An inheritance gained hastily at the beginning Will not be blessed at the end.

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How to buy my new book “The Holy Spirit: A Commentary”

Daniel Segraves

Since last Wednesday, there have been more than 550 views of this web site from seventeen nations. These views show a high level of interest in my new book, The Holy Spirit: A Commentary.

People want to know how to purchase the book, and I’ve been saying it will be available soon at pentecostalpublishing.com, as a Kindle download on Amazon.com and as an Apple Book. All of this is true, but if you would like to obtain the book as soon as possible, I recommend that you call the Pentecostal Publishing House customer service department to place a backorder. I’ve learned today that callers are doing this, and it sounds like a good idea.

The number to call is (866) 819-7667.

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Daily Wisdom 163: Proverbs 8:20

Daniel Segraves

Proverbs 8:20 (NKJV) — 20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice,

Where wisdom leads. Wisdom leads in the way of righteousness; genuine righteousness will never be known apart from her. She directs in the paths of judgment, giving the ability to make right decisions. Without wisdom, it is impossible to do so.

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