J. Rodman Williams(August 21, 1918 – October 18, 2008) was a Presbyteriancharismatictheologianand professor of renewal theology atRegent Universityin Virginia Beach,Virginia.He is widely regarded as the father of modernrenewal theology.[1]
J. Rodman Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 21, 1918 Clyde, North Carolina |
| Died | October 18, 2008 Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Davidson College (A.B.)
Union Theological Seminary in Virginia (B.D. and Th. M. degrees) Columbia University (Ph.D. degree in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics) |
| Occupation | Theologian |
| Known for | Renewal theology, Charismatic movement |
| Website | https://www.renewaltheology.net/ |
Early life and education
editBorn on August 21, 1918, inClyde, North Carolina,Williams earned an AB (1939) fromDavidson College,a B.D. (1943) and Th.M. (1944) fromUnion Theological Seminaryin Virginia. In 1943, he received a commission into theU.S Navy Chaplain Corps.From 1944 to 1946, he served as chaplain to the Marine Corps First Division, including during theBattle of Okinawa.[2]Following his military service, he earned a Ph.D. in the philosophy of religion and ethics in 1954 atColumbia UniversityandUnion Theological Seminary in New York.[2]
Career
editWilliams was ordained in thePresbyterian Church in the United Statesin 1943 and served as a pastor for several years before becoming a full-time educator.[3]
From 1959-1972, he served as professor of systematic theology atAustin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.[4]As a key figure in the burgeoningcharismatic movementof the 1960s, he was president of the International Presbyterian Charismatic Communion, and later a participant in the International Roman Catholic–Pentecostal Dialogue. In 1972, he became the founding president of the Melodyland School of Theology inAnaheim,California, and in 1985 he served as president of theSociety for Pentecostal Studies.[3]In 1982, he joined the faculty ofRegent University,where he taught for eighteen years. Upon his retirement in 2000, Regent University established in his honor an endowed chair in Renewal Theology.[2]
Important works include the three-volumesystematic theologyentitledRenewal Theology(1988–1992, published as a single volume in 1996). This monumental work was the first complete systematic theology written from a Charismatic perspective. It included chapters on thesupernatural gifts of the Spiritand a chapter on theBaptism of the Holy Spirit,arguing for the traditionalPentecostalinterpretation. He also argued for theArminianview of the possibility ofapostasy.[5]
Williams was a strong defender ofspeaking in tongues,writing in 1978, "When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues is a normal occurrence; normal, yet super-natural and belonging to the realm of signs and wonders...Since this prayer language comes from the Holy Spirit, it is a pure and holy language, regardless of the speaker's imperfection. It is, in my estimation, the noblest language this side of heaven."[6]
Published books
edit- Contemporary Existentialism and Christian Faith(Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1965).
- The Era of the Spirit(Plainfield, NJ: Logos, 1971).ISBN9780912106854
- The Pentecostal Reality(Plainfield, NJ: Logos, 1972).ISBN9780882700168
- Ten Teachings(Carol Stream, IL: Creation House, 1974).
- The Gift of the Holy Spirit Today(Plainfield, NJ: Logos, 1980).
- Renewal Theology[three volumes in one] (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996)
- God, the World, and Redemption(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988). Renewal Theology
- Salvation, the Holy Spirit, and Christian Living(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990). Renewal Theology
- The Church, The Kingdom, and Last Things(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1992).
References
edit- ^"J. Rodman Williams Passes Away - October 2008 - News & Events - School of Divinity - Regent University".2008-10-24. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24.Retrieved2024-05-23.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^abcJumper, Mark (January 26, 2024).Presbyterian Prophet: The Life and Ministry of J. Rodman Williams.Middletown, RI: Stone Tower Press.ISBN979-8989400812.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^abWilson, Mark W.; Williams, John Rodman, eds. (1994).Spirit and renewal: essays in honor of J. Rodman Williams.Journal of Pentecostal theology Supplement series. Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Pr. pp. 203–204.ISBN978-1-85075-471-8.
- ^Burgess, Stanley M. (1993). "J. Rodman Williams". In Walter A. Elwell (ed.).Handbook of Evangelical Theologians.Grand Rapids: Baker.ISBN0801032121.
- ^Abasciano, Brian (2014-07-25)."A Short, Partially Annotated List of Arminian Systematic Theologies".Society of Evangelical Arminians.Retrieved2024-05-23.
- ^Williams, J. Rodman (2010-06-03)."Why Speak In Tongues -- Dr. J. Rodman Williams".The Word of God Community.Retrieved2024-06-03.