Pentecostalism

At a glance

Pentecostalism rises from the Holiness movement and early twentieth-century revivals—notably Topeka in 1901 and Azusa Street in 1906.

Classical Pentecostal churches expect tongues, healing, and Spirit baptism, usually alongside believer’s baptism and a memorial view of the Lord’s Supper. The later charismatic renewal carried similar gifts into mainline and Catholic settings.

Origin and history

Roots lie in nineteenth-century Wesleyan Holiness “second blessing” cultures and revivalism. Charles Fox Parham’s Bethel Bible School in Topeka, Kansas, saw Agnes Ozman’s tongues experience (1 January 1901), often cited as the spark of modern Pentecostal doctrine of tongues as initial evidence.

William J. Seymour led the Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles (1906–1909), spreading Pentecostalism globally across racial lines (with later resegregation in denominations). Classical denominations formed: Church of God in Christ (COGIC, Holiness-Pentecostal; reorganized early 1900s), Assemblies of God (1914), Church of God (Cleveland), Foursquare (1923, Aimee Semple McPherson), and others.

Mid-century Charismatic renewal carried Pentecostal gifts into mainline Protestant—and Catholic—settings (Duquesne Weekend, 1967, for Catholic Charismatic Renewal). Oneness Pentecostalism (after 1913–1916 controversies) denied the Trinity and rebaptized in Jesus’ name only, placing it outside classical Christian orthodoxy.

• 1901 — Topeka / Parham; tongues as initial evidence motif
• 1906–1909 — Azusa Street Revival (Seymour)
• 1914 — Assemblies of God formed
• 1913–1916 — Oneness split from Trinitarian Pentecostals
• 1960s– — Charismatic renewal in mainlines and Catholicism

Key figures

Parham and Seymour are origin figures, and Aimee Semple McPherson pioneered mass-media Pentecostalism. Later teachers and broadcasters spread the movement. Some of them preached a prosperity gospel that many Pentecostal churches reject.

• Charles Fox Parham (1873–1929)
• William J. Seymour (1870–1922) — Azusa Street
• Aimee Semple McPherson (1890–1944) — Foursquare
• Oneness leaders (post-1914) — non-Trinitarian offshoot

Theology and beliefs

Classical Pentecostal churches teach a baptism in the Holy Spirit subsequent to conversion, initially evidenced by speaking in tongues, together with ongoing gifts of prophecy, healing, and miracles. Conversionism is central; believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper as an ordinance are usual; an imminent premillennial hope is common.

Some Pentecostal and charismatic media preach a prosperity gospel: faith as a way to secure health and wealth. Many Pentecostal churches reject that preaching. Classical Pentecostals confess the Trinity. Oneness Pentecostals do not.

• Spirit baptism + tongues (classical distinctive)
• Continuationism (gifts for today)
• Typically evangelical Protestant ordinances
• Varied eschatology; often dispensational/premillennial

• Assemblies of God

  Statement of Fundamental Truths, 7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

  Statement of Fundamental Truths, 8. The Initial Physical Evidence

  “All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit and fire, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

  Spirit baptism

  Suggest a correction

  “The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial physical sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance.”

  Tongues

  Suggest a correction

Practices and worship

Worship is expressive: extended singing, altar prayer, prophecy, healing lines, tongues and interpretation. Church polity varies (congregational, hierarchical Pentecostal bishops in some Holiness-Pentecostal bodies). Megachurch and storefront forms both thrive.

• Revivalist / contemporary worship
• Altar calls; prayer for healing
• Missionary expansion historically rapid
• A heavy use of radio, television, and now video

Scripture they cite

Classical Pentecostals read Acts 2 as the pattern, not only as a first-day event: baptism in the Holy Spirit with speaking in tongues. They cite Mark 16:17, 1 Corinthians 12–14, and the healings in Acts as warrant that those gifts continue. Holiness Pentecostals, drawing on Wesley, often count three works of grace: conversion, entire sanctification, and Spirit baptism. The Assemblies of God teach a “finished work”: sanctification begins at conversion, and Spirit baptism is the later experience, with tongues as its usual first sign.

Paul’s questions in 1 Corinthians 12:29–30, “Do all speak in tongues?”, are the verses other Christians quote back. Pentecostal teachers answer that not every gift belongs to every believer in the church, while Spirit baptism still has a normal sign.

• Acts 2:1–4
• Acts 2:38–39

  “Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins,”

• 1 Corinthians 12–14

  “Now concerning spiritual things, brothers, I don’t want you to be ignorant.”

• Mark 16:17–18
• Joel 2:28–29

Where Catholic teaching differs

The Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Spirit is given in baptism and confirmation, and that extraordinary gifts still occur. It also teaches that those gifts are tested by the Church, and that not all speak in tongues. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, often dated from the Duquesne weekend in 1967, prays for those gifts inside the sacraments. It is not a Pentecostal denomination.

Classical Pentecostal churches usually stand outside that sacramental account. They teach believer’s baptism and, often, a memorial Supper, and they locate a distinct Spirit baptism after conversion.

In conversation

Separate three groups that share a style of prayer. Classical Trinitarian Pentecostals date from Topeka in 1901 and Azusa Street in 1906. Oneness Pentecostals split away in 1913–1916 and reject three divine Persons. Charismatics are members of older churches, including the Catholic Church, who pray for the same gifts.

The Assemblies of God organized in 1914. The Church of God in Christ is the large Black Holiness-Pentecostal body. Foursquare, founded by Aimee Semple McPherson, dates its church from 1923.

• Tongues as “initial evidence” is the classical Pentecostal claim.
• A prosperity sermon is not the whole movement.
• Oneness is a different doctrine of God.

Common misconceptions

Sources

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