This 10-lecture course is based on a series of systematic theology lectures by Gregg R. Allison and covers Pneumatology — the doctrine of the nature and work of the Holy Spirit. The lectures were presented at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Each section in the course will include lecture videos (18-minute average duration), review questions, and a textbook reading assignment.

Gregg R. Allison joined Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2003. Before that, he taught theology and church history for nine years at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon.  He has 18 years of ministry experience as a staff member of Campus Crusade (Cru), where he worked in campus ministry, as well as serving as a missionary in Italy and Switzerland. He also co-pastored a church in Lugano, Switzerland.

He is the author of Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine; Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church; Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment; The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants after 500 Years; The Baker Compact Dictionary of Theological Terms; and other books. He is the secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society and currently serves as the book review editor for theological, historical, and philosophical studies, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Allison is a pastor of Sojourn Church East, where he serves on the Leadership Council.

Course curated by Phil Thompson

• Why is the doctrine of the Holy Spirit important?
• What are the theological emphases of the “first wave” of Pentecostals and Charismatics? How does the Azusa Street Revival and the Assemblies of God relate to this “first wave”?
• What is different about the “second wave” than the first?
• How have non-Charismatics responded to these waves?
• What is different about the “third wave” than the second wave?

He Who Gives Life, chapters 1–2.

• Who is the Holy Spirit?
• Why does Allison suggest that the term “Holy Ghost” is not helpful?
• How are we prone to confuse the person of the Holy Spirit with his nature?
• What are some passages that Allison cites to demonstrate the personality of the Holy Spirit? What does each one teach about the Holy Spirit’s personality?

He Who Gives Life, chapter 3.

• What is one of the strongest passages that affirms the deity of the Holy Spirit?
• What are some of the other passages that point to the deity of the Holy Spirit, and how do they do so?
• What distinguishes Christianity from all the other religions of the world?
• What significant theological affirmations does Allison list regarding the Holy Spirit?
• What is and is not meant by the “eternal procession of the Spirit”? What biblical passages does Allison use to explain this teaching?

None. Review He Who Gives Life, chapter 3.

• What key passages does Allison list from the Old Testament on the work of the Holy Spirit?
• What do these Old Testament passages teach us about the work of the Holy Spirit?
• What unique aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament does Allison emphasize? What examples does he provide for this unique work?
• How does sin affect the work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?
• What does Allison mean by the theme of “anticipation” in the Old Testament?

He Who Gives Life, chapters 4–6.

• What does John the Baptist teach about the Holy Spirit?
• How does the Holy Spirit relate to the incarnation of the Son of God?
• How does the Holy Spirit work in the ministry of Jesus?
• Why does the Holy Spirit lead Jesus into temptation?
• How does Jesus connect his teaching about the Holy Spirit with the Old Testament?

• What are the three areas the Holy Spirit will bring conviction according to John 16:7–11?
• Are these three areas of conviction positive or negative?
• What is the meaning and implication of each?
• Can you relate to Allison’s personal testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit?
• What is the “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit”?
• What is meant by the baptism of “water and the Spirit”?

• How does Pentecost relate to the Old Testament and the ministries of John and Jesus?
• How does Pentecost relate to the New Covenant and the Church?
• What signs accompanied Pentecost?
• What were the lasting results of Pentecost?
• Does the entrance of the Holy Spirit into the lives of individual believers need to be accompanied by the same signs as Pentecost?
• How does the work of the Holy Spirit differ in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant?
• How does the work of the Holy Spirit differ in the New Covenant now versus in the age to come?

He Who Gives Life, chapters 7–8.

• How does the Holy Spirit work at the beginning and end of our salvation?
• How does the Holy Spirit work in regard to our assurance of salvation?
• Can you relate to the experience of the Holy Spirit’s work of assurance in your life?
• How does the Holy Spirit work in the process of our sanctification?

• How does the Holy Spirit relate to our prayers? How should that reality shape how we think about our prayers?
• How does the Holy Spirit relate to the reading and proclamation of God’s Word?
• What are spiritual gifts? How do these relate to the work of the Holy Spirit? What is the responsibility of ministers in the church in regard to spiritual gifts?
• How does the Holy Spirit relate to our work of ministry?
• Can you relate to Allison’s story of the prompting and calling of the Holy Spirit?

• How does the Holy Spirit relate to the unity of the Church?
• How does the Holy Spirit work in the leadership of the Church?
• What does it mean to sin against or grieve the Holy Spirit?
• What does it mean to be filled by the Holy Spirit? How does this relate to the actions of individual Christians?
• How does the Holy Spirit relate to the work of evangelism?

He Who Gives Life, chapters 9–11.