The Spirit of God

This text examines the use of 1 and 2 Corinthians by two 4th-century Greek Christian authors, Athanasius and Basil of Caesarea, especially as it relates to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The controversy over the nature and status of the Spirit during the latter half of the 4th century is detailed in order to place in context the way in which the theological concerns of Athanasius and Basil shaped their pneumatological interpretation of the Corinthian correspondence. This examination should be useful for patristic scholars interested in the way Scripture was employed in the 4th century to hammer out doctrine.

Review:

'Although Haykin does not work on unexplored grounds, his lucidly written book doubtlessly testifies to his mastery of the complex material. ...valuable and trustworthy study...' J. Van Oort, Vigiliae Christianae, 1996. 'This is a useful piece of work. All the importance ancient discussions are taken up...this is a worthwile exercise in fieldwork, which students of patristic doctrine and exegesis should consult.' L.R. Wickham, Journal of Theological Studies, 1996.