Pentecostalism is unique. Pentecostals (including classical pentecostals, the charismatic movement, and the third wave variety) are a distinct community with their own narrative and worldview. Harlyn Graydon Purdy argues that given this uniqueness, they should also develop their own hermeneutic.

Purdy’s own voice within pentecostalism is unique. He received his initial training at Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (now Master’s College and Seminary) before going to Acadia University. He now serves as the president of Pentecostal Bible College in Malawi. This setting gives him a majority world perspective on the issue. One of the strengths of this book is the appendix where he shares the syllabus and course outline for a three credit hour advanced course in pentecostal hermeneutics.

Purdy’s majority world perspective drives his passion for hermeneutics. He has seen “a trend toward unrestrained imagination being passed off as revelation by the Holy Spirit” (2). The examples he gives of this unrestrained imagination are stunning!

A distinct twenty-first century pentecostal hermeneutic requires a negotiation of meaning between four elements:

1. The Holy Spirit
2. Scripture
3. Community
4. The trained leader

This fourfold hermeneutic strategy is an expansion of John Christopher Thomas and Kenneth J. Archer’s threefold strategy which does not give a special place for the trained leader. The position of trained leader (would ‘experienced leader’ be better?) is clearly a factor in Acts 2 (Peter) and 15 (James). I am not convinced that there is an end benefit to separating the leader from the community of which he is a part.

It’s interesting to note that although the Holy Spirit’s role in hermeneutics is listed first in the key chapter (103–114), Purdy does not give the Spirit the primary position in interpretation.

The four interact creatively in the interpretive event, but Scripture always holds the primary position. Its nature as inspired word of God, Pentecostal theology, and bibliology require that a distinct twenty-first Pentecostal hermeneutic recognize the primary of Scripture. (151)

It is worth noting that in both of the key biblical examples it is precisely Christian experience which leads the Spirit-inspired community to reinterpret scripture. By insisting on the priority of scripture in the process, Purdy shows the extent to which evangelical (and Reformed) though has influenced his hermeneutic.

A Distinct Twenty-First Century Pentecostal Hermeneutic is a valuable resource for pentecostals who want to rethink the way they interpret scripture. Purdy does an excellent job surveying the positions of key pentecostals on the issue and produces a valid hermeneutic strategy. In the end, however, his desire to guard scripture from unrestrained imagination leads him to overstate the place of scripture in the process.

Purdy, Harlyn Graydon. A Distinct Twenty-First Century Pentecostal Hermeneutic. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2015.