Menzies - Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story

Robert Menzies has provided, to date, the definitive biblical and theological apologetic for Pentecostal identity. This classical Pentecostal manifesto is informed by a vital witness to the apostolic message lived on both sides of the world. It is thus also a heartfelt invitation to other Christiansevangelicals and beyondto be open to a new filling of the Holy Spirit of Jesus so He can continue to do immeasurably more for and through mere human beings than any of us can ask or even imagine!

AMOS YONG, P H D

Dean and J. Rodman Williams Professor of Theology,
Regent University School of Divinity, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Robert Menzies continues to distinguish himself as a most capable apologist for Pentecostal theology. Pentecostal readers will find solid biblical evidence for their experience of the baptism in the Spirit; they will also be challenged to think expansively about some matters related to Spirit baptism and other Pentecostal phenomena. Non-Pentecostal readers who are open-minded and open-hearted will be compelled to give due consideration to the authors firmly based presentation of the biblical evidence.

ANTHONY D. PALMA, T H D

Professor Emeritus and Former Dean of the Theology Division,
Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Robert Menzies has given us a superb exposition of the biblical basis for classical Pentecostal faith. It is a persuasive apology for utilization of Luke/Acts in formulating a vital doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Its implications for life and ministry around the world are enormous.

EDGAR R. LEE, STD

Chair, Commission on Doctrinal Purity, Assemblies of God, USA
Academic Dean Emeritus, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary

Menzies suggests that issues like subsequence (Spirit baptism as distinct from regeneration) and initial evidence (speaking in tongues as the evidence of Spirit baptism) are not incidental but rather key to the historical development of Pentecostal theology. In making this claim, Menzies swims against the stream of more recent theological proposals concerning what is most distinctive to Pentecostal theology. His clear and well-argued position must be taken seriously by all sides of this important discussion. I highly recommend this book.

FRANK D. MACCHIA, T H D

Professor of Systematic Theology, Vanguard University

PENTECOST

THIS STORY IS OUR STORY

ROBERT P. MENZIES

Copyright 2013 by Robert P. Menzies
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Published by Gospel Publishing House
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Scripture quotations used in this book are from The Holy Bible, New International
Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by
permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture references marked KJV are from the King James
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ISBN: 978-1-60731-341-0
Printed in the United States of America

16 15 14 13 1 2 3 4

Dedicated to the memory of my father,
William W. Menzies,
July 1, 1931August 15, 2011,
a pioneer in Pentecostal theology.

FOREWORD

O n April 18, 1906, a reporter for The Los Angeles Times wrote a front-page story about a church service he had attended the previous night. Titled, Weird Babel of Tongues, the reporter opened with these words: Breathing strange utterances and mouthing a creed which it would seem no sane mortal could understand, the newest religious sect has started in Los Angeles. He was writing about the Azusa Street Mission.

Azusa Street was neither new nor sectarian, however. The revival traced its roots to Acts 2, where the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples had similarly resulted in speaking in tongues, mockery from the crowds, and the bold proclamation of the gospel. Just as the first Pentecost was an inclusive event, representative of every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5), so Azusa Street was interracial and trans-denominational. In both casesPentecost and Azusa Streetthe gospel of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit were free for all.

There is one other similar element between the first Pentecost and Azusa Street. Both employed what you might call a this-is-that hermeneutic. Peter explained to the mocking Jerusalem crowd what was happening among the disciples: this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel (Acts 2:16, KJV). Just so, Azusa Street in effect said, This is that which happened in the book of Acts. This fusion of horizons between biblical promise and contemporary experience is characteristic of Pentecostals worldwide.

Indeed, according to Bob Menzies, it is what defines Pentecostalism. As he tells it, a Pentecostal is simply a Christian ). The experience of the first Pentecostal believers is the same experience as the current generation of Pentecostal believers. Their story is our story.

Its because Pentecostals fuse the biblical and contemporary horizons that we link baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues, since thats what Acts 2 does. Its why we associate Spirit-baptism with empowerment for mission rather than with spiritual regeneration. And its why we expect God to perform signs and wonders and to manifest spiritual gifts in worship services. All these things happened in the first Pentecostal community, and their story is our story.

The book you hold in your hands explains and defends the Pentecostal understanding of Spirit-baptism through a careful reading of the relevant New Testament evidence. Bob Menzies is a Pentecostal believer, Assemblies of God minister, New Testament scholar, and personal friend. I pray that this book will inform you, but I also pray that it will inspire you to seek more power from the Holy Spirit so that you can be a better witness to Jesus Christ both at home and abroad (Acts 1:8).

On April 18, 1906, a 7.9-magnitude earthquake rocked San Francisco, California, knocking Azusa Street off the front page of the next days The Los Angeles Times. The earthquake was a big deal, of course. But as we look back on the twentieth century, we see clearly that it was the worldwide growth of Pentecostalism that really turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6, KJV). As we look forward into the twenty-first century, may our story as Pentecostals continue to be theirs in ever-increasing measure!

GEORGE O. WOOD

General Superintendent, Assemblies of God
Chairman, World Assemblies of God Fellowship

PREFACE

M any friends and colleagues helped make the publication of this book possible. First and foremost, I would like to thank my brother, Glen Menzies, for his help in writing my fathers Life Summary (the ). It was a joy to work with Glen as together we reflected back on the many interesting, inspiring, and at times, humorous events that marked significant milestones in our fathers life. Glens ability to remember specific details truly amazed me. While the Life Summary was a collaborative work, Glens role was most significant. Much of this material was presented orally at our fathers funeral, which was conducted at Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri on August 20, 2011. Glen and I also presented this material in a modified form at the twentieth annual William W. Menzies Lectureship, which convened at Asia Pacific Theological Seminary in Baguio City, the Philippines from January 30 through February 3, 2012.