John Dwight Pentecost (April 24, 1915 – April 28, 2014) was an American Christian
theologian
Theology is the systematic study of the nature of the divine and, more broadly, of religious belief. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of analyzing the ...
, best known for his book ''Things to Come''.
Pentecost was born in Pennsylvania and died in Dallas, Texas. His wife was Dorothy Harrison Pentecost (June 17, 1915 – June 21, 2000). John and Dorothy had two daughters: Jane Pentecost Fenby
and Gwendolyn Ann Pentecost Arnold.
Pentecost was Distinguished Professor of Bible Exposition, Emeritus, at
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as extension ca ...
, one of only two so honored.
He held a B.A. from
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden Sydney is a census-designated place (CDP) in Prince Edward County, Virginia, Prince Edward County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,450 at the 2010 census.
Hampden Sydney is the home of Hampden–Sydney College, a private all- ...
(1937), in addition to Th.M. (1941) and Th.D. (1956) degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary. During his academic career he taught biblical subjects for over 60 years (
Philadelphia College of Bible, 1948–55;
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as extension ca ...
, 1955-2014). His nearly twenty books are written mostly for the general Christian reader. His pastoral career continued through this period.
* Ordained at Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania (Presbyterian Church) in 1941
* Pastor at the same Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania (Presbyterian Church) from 1941 to 1946
* Pastor at Devon, Pennsylvania (Saint John's Presbyterian Church) from 1946 to 1951
* Pastor at Dallas, Texas (Grace Bible Church) from 1958 to 1976
He traveled worldwide, speaking on his specialist subjects.
[J Dwight Penticost's speaking tours][More speaking tours] A
Festschrift
In academia, a ''Festschrift'' (; plural, ''Festschriften'' ) is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during their lifetime. It generally takes the form of an edited volume, containing contributions from the h ...
, ''Essays in Honor of J. Dwight Pentecost'', has been written. Edited by Stanley D. Toussaint and Charles H. Dyer, it was published by
Moody Press
Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college founded in the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois, US by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have i ...
in January 1986.
Writings
Pentecost is possibly best known for his published writings, which are predominantly focused on issues of Christian living and the
eschatological
Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that nega ...
scriptures. Pentecost took a
Premillennial
Premillennialism, in Christian eschatology, is the belief that Jesus will physically return to the Earth (the Second Coming) before the Millennium, a literal thousand-year golden age of peace. Premillennialism is based upon a literal interpretat ...
and
Pretribulational view of the unfulfilled prophetic passages of the
apocalyptic biblical literature. He had a
Dispensationalist
Dispensationalism is a system that was formalized in its entirety by John Nelson Darby. Dispensationalism maintains that history is divided into multiple ages or "dispensations" in which God acts with humanity in different ways. Dispensationali ...
position, however, and his ''Things to Come'' (1958) is characterized by a comprehensive review of almost every view on the biblical prophetic subject matter that has any form of prominence.
[Prophetic writing elements]
Bibliography
* ''Things to Come'', Zondervan, 1958
* ''Prophecy for Today : God's Purpose and Plan for Our Future'', Zondervan, 1961
* ''Will Man Survive?''
* ''The Parables of the Kingdom''
* ''Pattern for Maturity'' (since retitled ''Designed to Be Like Him'')
* ''The Joy of Intimacy with God : A Bible Study Guide to 1 John'', Discovery House
* ''Faith That Endures : A Practical Commentary on the Book of Hebrews'', 2000 rev. ed.
* ''The Divine Comforter : The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit'', Kregel, 1963
* ''Designed to be Like Him : Understanding God's Plan for Fellowship, Conduct, Conflict, and Maturity'', 1966
* ''Your Adversary, the Devil'', 1969
* ''Life’s Problems-God’s Solutions : Answers to 15 of Life's most Perplexing Problems'', 1971
* ''The Joy of Living : Study of Philippians'', Kregel 1973
* ''Profecías para el Mundo Moderno'' 1973
* ''Design for Living : Lessons on Holiness from the Sermon on the Mount'', Kregel, 1975
* ''The Sermon on the Mount : Contemporary Insights for a Christian Lifestyle'', Multnomah Press, Portland, 1980
* ''The Words and Works of Jesus Christ : A Study of the Life of Christ'', Zondervan, 1981
* ''A Harmony of the Words & Works of Jesus Christ'', Zondervan, 1981
* ''The Parables of Jesus : Lessons in Life from the Master Teacher'', 1982
* ''Thy Kingdom Come : Tracing God's Kingdom Program and Covenant Promises Throughout History'', Kregel, 1995
* ''Things Which become Sound Doctrine : Doctrinal Studies of Fourteen Crucial Words of Faith'', Kregel, 1996
* ''Design for Discipleship : Discovering God's Blueprint for the Christian Life'', Kregel, 1996
* ''New Wine: A Study of Transition in the Book of Acts''.Kregel, 2010
Notes
References
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External links
Photo and booklist.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pentecost, J. Dwight
1915 births
2014 deaths
American theologians
Christian writers
Dallas Theological Seminary faculty
Hampden–Sydney College alumni
Dallas Theological Seminary alumni