Thomas Nelson - NLT, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word

But with the opening of the twentieth century, from out of the wellsprings of the holiness tradition, a revival broke forth, which is distinctive in two ways. First, the wave of renewal it gave rise to in the church internationally has not receded; rather, it has continued to roll forward and to engulf leaders and laity in every historic tradition and contemporary circle of Christianity. Second, this revival has not been characterized by the leadership of any primary personality to set its agenda or establish its style. One historian has referred to the Pentecostal-Charismatic revival as a movement without a man, thereby noting the phenomenon that its broadening tide of influence is dynamically global and impacting in every sector of the church. No one can proscribe the movements boundaries, none can inscribe his name upon it, and who can describe it in any other way than by Peters words at Pentecost: What you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: In the last days... I will pour out my Spirit upon all people ()? As the waves of this renewal have spread, the common denominator of those it engulfs is not a doctrinal position as much as it is a mutual sharing in a new dynamic.

This new is neither novel nor unprecedented, but simply a rekindling and release of the simplicity and power inherent in the New Testament churchthe life and ministry of Jesus continuing in His body today after the manner of the Books of Acts. Because of this, it has characteristically been difficult to prepare a single study Bible to serve this broad community. Their convictions about the Person of Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, literal resurrection, and majestic ascension are essentially in agreement. Their view of the authority of the Word of God and its divine inspiration is absolute and uniformly the same. And their experience of the contemporary operations of the Holy Spiritwhose fullness, fruit, gifts, and works of power are welcomed and realized today as at the churchs inceptionis held in general accord. However, by reason of the breadth of their denominational backgrounds, a wide diversity characterizes this band.

They will be found at all points of the spectrum on such issues as: 1) Calvinism contrasted with Arminianism; 2) Dispensational contrasted with Covenant theology; 3) Premillennial, Postmillennial, and Amillennial differences in prophetic interpretation; and 4) views and practices on the place and purpose of speaking in tongues with reference to the believers initial infilling with the Holy Spirit. The striking fact, given this widely diverse group, is that their movement together reflects not a lack of conviction about those points wherein they view Scripture and experience differently, but a response to the Holy Spirits compulsion to give place to another overarching conviction. These leaders choose to let brotherly love prevail in the church, to seek peace and pursue it, and to acknowledge the prayer of our Lord Jesus that they will be united. None of these lack biblical depth or theological convictions, but are people who realize ). From this broad context and at this point in Gods dealings throughout Christs church globally, we have come to study and to serve, hoping that this Bible may contribute to the ongoing stream of the Holy Spirits workings today and tomorrow. The team of scholars, pastor-teachers, writers, and editors express gratitude to God and to the executive leadership of Thomas Nelson Publishers for the privilege of involvement in this historic project.

The Spirit-Filled LifeBible, released in 1991, was the first of its kind, in which a broadly representative team from more than twenty denominations and independent fellowships were banded together to produce a study Bible integrating the Pentecostal-Charismatic viewpoint. In noting this, the Executive Editor and his associates wish to acknowledge the earlier efforts of several Pentecostal teachers and scholars who have provided study Bible resources prior to the landmark event the