The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
| Weight | 0.63 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 22.3 × 14.3 × 2.7 cm |
| ISBN | 9781848717046 |
| Binding | Cloth-bound, eBook (ePub & Mobi), Cloth-bound & eBook (ePub & Mobi) |
| Format | Book |
| Page Count | 400 |
| Original Pub Date | 1882 |
| Banner Pub Date | Sep 21, 2016 |
Endorsements
‘Page after page glows with the ardour of a preacher who is enamoured of his theme … The truth is so real to his own experience that he cares little for unprofitable controversies.’– C.H. SPURGEON
‘Dr Smeaton was the master of a very clear and unobtrusive style of expression. … He was as modest and unassuming as he was thorough and painstaking. A man can take his word in regard to any theme that he handles as soon as that of any writer on theological subjects.’– PRINCIPAL JOHN MACLEOD
Book Description
‘Wherever Christianity has become a living power, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit has uniformly been regarded, equally with the atonement and justification by faith, as the article of the standing or falling church…’– GEORGE SMEATON
The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit formed the capstone of George Smeaton’s teaching.
Handling his subject under three divisions, Smeaton treats first the testimony to the Holy Spirit as it is progressively revealed in Scripture. Secondly, he gives detailed attention to six subjects: the personality and procession of the Holy Spirit; the work of the Spirit in the anointing of Christ; the work of the Spirit in connection with revelation and inspiration; the Spirit’s regenerating work in the individual; on the Spirit of holiness; and the work of the Holy Spirit in the church. Finally, there is a historical survey of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit from the Apostlic age.
Though considered by his colleague, James Macgregor, to possess ‘the best constituted theological intellect in Christendom’, Smeaton’s lucid style and earnest spiritual convictions make him valuable to all Christian readers.
Filled with the Spirit at Pentecost, he writes, ‘the timid became bold, the selfish self-denied, the arrogant humble’, and he characterizes as ‘mischievous and misleading’ the opinion that the church, having received the Paraclete, is no longer warranted to pray for effusions of transforming power today.
Table of Contents Expand ↓
| Foreword by W J Grier | vii | |
| Author’s Preface | ix | |
| First division | ||
| The Doctrine of the Trinity—Introductory Dissertation, briefly setting forth the Biblical Testimony in the Old and New Testament | 1 | |
| Second division | ||
| 1 | The Personality and Procession of the Holy Spirit | 91 |
| 2 | The Work of the Spirit in the Anointing of Christ | 111 |
| 3 | The Work of the Spirit in the Inspiration of Prophets and Apostles | 133 |
| 4 | The Spirit’s Regenerating Work on the Individual | 161 |
| 5 | On the Spirit of Holiness | 203 |
| 6 | The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Church | 239 |
| Third division | ||
| Historical Survey of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit from the Apostolic Age | 269 | |
| Index to Texts Elucidated | 383 | |
| Index to Subjects and Writers | 387 |
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Marc Daniel Rivera (KristiyaKnow) –
George Smeaton’s The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit is a scholarly yet devotional treatment of one of the most often neglected doctrines in Christian theology. First published in 1882 and reissued by Banner of Truth in a beautifully bound and fully re-typeset 2016 edition, this volume is an essential contribution to pneumatology—the doctrine of the Holy Spirit—as it was historically understood and biblically grounded within the Reformed tradition.
Smeaton, a prominent theologian of the Free Church of Scotland and professor of Exegetics at New College, Edinburgh, presents this work as the culmination of a lifetime of theological study. He was highly esteemed by his contemporaries for his theological acumen and reverent approach, and this volume justifies that reputation.
Divided into three parts, the book begins with a thorough exegetical survey of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in both the Old and New Testaments. Smeaton carefully traces the progressive unfolding of the Spirit’s identity and work from the earliest scriptural revelations to the dramatic outpouring at Pentecost. Far from treating the doctrine as peripheral, Smeaton asserts that “wherever Christianity has become a living power,” the Spirit’s role has been as central as justification by faith.
The second division forms the theological core of the book, where Smeaton explores six key themes with clarity and conviction. He begins with the personality and procession of the Holy Spirit, defending the traditional Trinitarian view against modern depersonalization. He then examines the Spirit’s anointing of Christ, revealing the deep relationship between the Second and Third Persons of the Trinity. The Spirit’s role in inspiration and revelation affirms the divine origin of Scripture, while His regenerating work in believers highlights the transformative power of salvation. Smeaton also addresses the Spirit of holiness, framing sanctification within a Trinitarian context, and concludes with the Spirit’s ongoing work in the church.
Smeaton warns against the “mischievous and misleading” notion that the church should no longer pray for fresh effusions of the Spirit. In doing so, he models a theology that is both intellectually robust and spiritually fervent.
The final division is a historical survey tracing the doctrine from the apostolic age through the patristic, medieval, and Reformation periods. This portion demonstrates Smeaton’s mastery of church history. His overview is particularly useful for readers who want to understand how doctrinal convictions about the Holy Spirit evolved and were defended over time.
The clarity and modesty of Smeaton’s style are worth noting. Though deeply learned, he avoids technical obscurity. His goal is not merely academic argumentation but the edification of the Church.
Final thoughts:
George Smeaton’s The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit is exceptional, and perhaps one of the best works I’ve read on the subject. Smeaton’s treatment is comprehensive yet accessible. If you want to deepen your understanding of the Holy Spirit’s work in redemptive history and personal experience, I highly recommend this volume!