Analysis of Theological Roots of Pentecostalism

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In Theological Roots of Pentecostalism, author Donald Dayton explores the beginnings of the Pentecostal movement. He hypothesizes that the foundation of the Pentecostal movement was laid by four main theological doctrines during the early 1900s. These doctrines were: healing, salvation, the second coming of Christ, and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Dayton traces Pentecostalism back to Methodist doctrines to prove that the Pentecostal movement was not just a “spontaneous combustion” but rather a developing movement that drew doctrines from many denominations. Donald W. Dayton is an associate professor of historical theology at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Lombard, Illinois. He is a layman in the Wesleyan Church and received his PhD. from the University of Chicago. The author is highly qualified in this subject matter due to the fact that he is an associate professor of historical theology. Due to the fact that this book indeed deals with the historical roots of Pentecostalism, Dayton has the prerequisites to write this well informed and objective work. After reading the work, it is obvious that Dayton intends this book to be read by an academic audience. If one is not familiar with Pentecostal faith or doctrine, the text is difficult to grasp. The subject itself is more intended for the Christian scholar meaning that it deals with the history of the Pentecostal church. To the majority of the laity, this would not be desired knowledge unless one expressed a keen interest in the subject. The thesis that the author states in the book is that the act of speaking in tongues does not completely define the Pentecostal movement. Pentecostalism is almost identified by one statement; speaking in tongues. While this is an important aspect of the Pentecostal belief, it does not adequately define Pentecostalism in its entirety. Also the author stresses
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