Craig Keener - Miracles

[element771]

Has anyone read his book on Miracles?

I was listening to Habermas' lecture on doubt and he referenced this book. I have to admit that I don't know much about Keener.

[One Bad Pig]

Has anyone read his book on Miracles?

I was listening to Habermas' lecture on doubt and he referenced this book. I have to admit that I don't know much about Keener.

Yes, I have.

[Adrift]

Has anyone read his book on Miracles?

I was listening to Habermas' lecture on doubt and he referenced this book. I have to admit that I don't know much about Keener.

Craig Keener is great. I think he's probably mostly known for his thorough and balanced New Testament commentaries, though he's written quite a bit on a number of topics. I haven't read through all of Miracles yet (it's a 2 volume set), but it's very well laid out, and I think there's something for everyone interested in the topic. Totally worth checking out if you're interested.

[element771]

Yes, I have.

What did you think?

I read a review that suggested that Keener seemed to endorse a number of televangelists / prosperity gospel preachers.

[element771]

Craig Keener is great. I think he's probably mostly known for his thorough and balanced New Testament commentaries, though he's written quite a bit on a number of topics. I haven't read through all of Miracles yet (it's a 2 volume set), but it's very well laid out, and I think there's something for everyone interested in the topic. Totally worth checking out if you're interested.

I have never read Keener but I have to admit that a potential endorsement of the televangelist / prosperity gospel types left me unsettled.

[Adrift]

I have never read Keener but I have to admit that a potential endorsement of the televangelist / prosperity gospel types left me unsettled.

Keener is legit. I don't remember him ever endorsing televangelists and/or prosperity preachers in the sections I've read. He does report a number of documented miracles in the second volume, with sources where he can find them.

[rogue06]

What did you think?

I read a review that suggested that Keener seemed to endorse a number of televangelists / prosperity gospel preachers.

Linky?

[One Bad Pig]

What did you think?

I though it was pretty thoroughly researched, and he provided plenty of citations to source materials.

I read a review that suggested that Keener seemed to endorse a number of televangelists / prosperity gospel preachers.

Keener included some miracles attributed to televangelists. I don't recall them being endorsed; in fact, I seem to recall him denying any such blanket endorsement, and acknowledging that their work was often problematic. It's a lot of material to wade through to refute something so lacking in specifics, however.

[NorrinRadd]

Here is his Web site.

Dr. Keener really doesn't generally do "blanket" endorsements or condemnations.

On that site, you will find, among other things, his rebuttal to James White's [Edit: Ack! Brain-fart! MacArthur's, not White's) "Strange Fire" polemic.

Elsewhere (I don't care to track it down now) one can find him affirming that he himself has several times experienced "cathartic laughter," what some might call "holy laughter" or "laughing in the Spirit."

OTOH, he has also said that when ministering outside the U.S., he often avoids using the "Charismatic" label, specifically because people in other countries tend to associate it with "Prosperity" or "Positive Confession" teachings, and he does not identify with those.

Some time ago, he wrote a book opposing Word-Faith teachings, but it was never translated into English. (I believe it was some African language. His wife is African, and I think he met her while ministering there.)

[element771]

I apologize for insinuating that Keener endorsed televangelists / prosperity gospel people.

I read the review more carefully and while the author of said review wants to make that connection, it seems that Keener was simply referring to them as faith healings.

[KingsGambit]

I believe Keener's denominational affiliation is the Assemblies of God. He's strongly charismatic.

[Pentecost]

Keener was ordained by the National Baptist Convention, an African-American Baptist group with strong ties to the Holiness-Pentecostal movement. He has lectured and preached at various Baptist, Pentecostal, and Evangelical bodies.

One of my Academic deans (at a self described "Evangelical-Pentecostal-Charismatic" Bible College for what its worth) named Keener as perhaps the most important voice in modern New Testament studies.

Edit: Sourced from his website Craigkeener.com

[psstein]

I was actually having a conversation about Keener's denomination yesterday...

The book is excellent, though long. Some of the miracles related are explicable through natural means, like a spleen regrowing. Others are not.

[NorrinRadd]

Dr. Keener would be considered "Pentecostal" in that he regularly practices "praying in tongues," and occasionally operates in "prophecy." He would probably not be classified as a "traditional" Pentecostal, since he doesn't seem to believe that baptism in the Spirit is "separate and subsequent" relative to regeneration, and does not believe Scripture supports "messages" in tongues.

I was going to give a bit of info about his educational background and about his church affiliation over the years, but based on the Introduction to Gift and Giver -- The Holy Spirit for Today, both are so eclectic that I just don't have the patience.

[Adrift]

Dr. Keener would be considered "Pentecostal" in that he regularly practices "praying in tongues," and occasionally operates in "prophecy." He would probably not be classified as a "traditional" Pentecostal, since he doesn't seem to believe that baptism in the Spirit is "separate and subsequent" relative to regeneration, and does not believe Scripture supports "messages" in tongues.

I was going to give a bit of info about his educational background and about his church affiliation over the years, but based on the Introduction to Gift and Giver -- The Holy Spirit for Today, both are so eclectic that I just don't have the patience.

Eh, maybe "Pentecostal" in the most general of senses. If the above is true, he'd be considered charismatic, not necessarily denominationally Pentecostal. There are Catholics who believe in praying in tongues and occasional operations in prophecy, they definitely wouldn't be considered denominationally "Pentecostal". I think both are possible (as probably do most of the people on this forum who are not strict cessationists), and I don't consider myself Pentecostal, but I'm fine with accepting the label charismatic.