Baptism in the Spirit: Luke-Acts and the Dunn Debate

Offering a clear understanding of the doctrine of baptism in the Holy Spirit. In the Seventies, James Dunn’s publication of Baptism in the Holy Spirit gave rise to a heated debate within Pentecostals’ milieu. Atkinson brings his contribution to the discussion and undertakes the job of synthesizing, evaluating and reviewing the key elements of the debate, with respect to Luke-Acts. Atkinson concludes that Pentecostals are right: for Luke, receiving the Spirit was not the inception of new covenant life; it was a powerful enabling for prophecy and miracles; for the church’s outward mission and its internal life.