A Charismatic Model of the Church

Book excerpt: Edward Irving (1792-1834) has been known as a controversial pastor-theologian in nineteenth-century Britain, particularly given his belief that Christ took on sinful flesh in His incarnation. This book focuses on Irving’s teaching of the church as the body of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit and the eschatological community in holiness. It explores Irving’s emphasis upon the exalted humanity of Christ after His resurrection in relation to the church. Such a Christ-centred and Spirit-empowered concept of the church has relevance to the twenty-first century church in China as the Chinese church leaders attempt to reconstruct a contemporary theology of the church.