Howard M. Ervin
Encyclopedia
Howard M. Ervin was a Christian
scholar and pastor. He was professor at Oral Roberts University
until December 2006. He served on the faculty for 40 years and has been involved with the university from its inauguration in 1963. Only Dr. Robert G. Voight
has served, as of 7 May 2009, longer than Dr. Ervin at the faculty of ORU
.
Ervin earned a Th.D. from Princeton University
. He has three other degrees. Ervin earned a BA and ThB from Easter Baptist Theological Seminary. He also earned a MA from the Asia Institute and a BD from New Brunswick Seminary.
That Ervin was a pastor of an American Baptist
congregation (Emmanuel Baptist Church, Atlantic Highlands, NJ) might sound odd when one observes his seminal works on manifestations of the Holy Spirit
, which are still among the finest works on this topic today. His work in the field of the manifestations of the Spirit were honored in a special collection of essays.
Howard M. Ervin was one of the first to argue for a unique Lukan pneumatology. Ervin’s thesis was ground breaking work for the area of New Testament studies that would lead to a whole field of New Testament studies in the area of Luke-Acts. Pentecostals have benefited greatly from these insights. As scholars like Roger Stronstad and James Shelton have added to this discussion, these men have also stood on Ervin’s shoulders. Issues of subsequence, evidence and empowerment all find their particular support in the view of a unique Lukan pneumatology. This is the core of Ervin’s arguments against the evangelical views of conversion-initiation and Pauline theology.
Ervin was able to bring the Pentecostal message to believers from all traditions. Through his friendship with David du Plessis, Ervin was invited to participate in the Pentecostal-Roman Catholic Dialogues. Du Plessis ask Ervin to participate because he knew that Ervin could articulate the Pentecostal position theologically. During the years of 1979 to 1987, Ervin participated in the dialogues as a representative of the Pentecostal point of view. Ervin was not only a participant but he also was a presenter for the Pentecostal position in the dialogue in 1979 and 1987 on the subjects of hermeneutics and koinonia. This was historic considering that the steering committee voted in 1976 to only have Pentecostals serve as in the Pentecostal participants. Ervin’s Pentecostal theology, his scholarly and formal communication style, and ecumenical beliefs made him the exception to the rule.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
scholar and pastor. He was professor at Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University
Oral Roberts University , based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the United States, is an interdenominational, Charismatic Christian, comprehensive university with an enrollment of about 3,790 students from 49 U.S. states along with a significant number of international students from 70 countries...
until December 2006. He served on the faculty for 40 years and has been involved with the university from its inauguration in 1963. Only Dr. Robert G. Voight
Robert G. Voight
Robert G. Voight, was a Professor at Oral Roberts University. He is as of 07 May 2009 the faculty member that has served the longest at ORU. Dr. Voight, who served 41 years, is followed by Howard M. Ervin, who served 40 years on the faculty. Dr. Voight died at age 87 and was buried the 29th of May...
has served, as of 7 May 2009, longer than Dr. Ervin at the faculty of ORU
ORU
ORU, Oru or Õru can refer to:*Oral Roberts University, a university in Oklahoma*Orbit Replaceable Unit, used on the International Space Station*Orange & Rockland Utilities, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison in New York*Otago Rugby Union...
.
Ervin earned a Th.D. from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He has three other degrees. Ervin earned a BA and ThB from Easter Baptist Theological Seminary. He also earned a MA from the Asia Institute and a BD from New Brunswick Seminary.
That Ervin was a pastor of an American Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
congregation (Emmanuel Baptist Church, Atlantic Highlands, NJ) might sound odd when one observes his seminal works on manifestations of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
, which are still among the finest works on this topic today. His work in the field of the manifestations of the Spirit were honored in a special collection of essays.
Howard M. Ervin was one of the first to argue for a unique Lukan pneumatology. Ervin’s thesis was ground breaking work for the area of New Testament studies that would lead to a whole field of New Testament studies in the area of Luke-Acts. Pentecostals have benefited greatly from these insights. As scholars like Roger Stronstad and James Shelton have added to this discussion, these men have also stood on Ervin’s shoulders. Issues of subsequence, evidence and empowerment all find their particular support in the view of a unique Lukan pneumatology. This is the core of Ervin’s arguments against the evangelical views of conversion-initiation and Pauline theology.
Ervin was able to bring the Pentecostal message to believers from all traditions. Through his friendship with David du Plessis, Ervin was invited to participate in the Pentecostal-Roman Catholic Dialogues. Du Plessis ask Ervin to participate because he knew that Ervin could articulate the Pentecostal position theologically. During the years of 1979 to 1987, Ervin participated in the dialogues as a representative of the Pentecostal point of view. Ervin was not only a participant but he also was a presenter for the Pentecostal position in the dialogue in 1979 and 1987 on the subjects of hermeneutics and koinonia. This was historic considering that the steering committee voted in 1976 to only have Pentecostals serve as in the Pentecostal participants. Ervin’s Pentecostal theology, his scholarly and formal communication style, and ecumenical beliefs made him the exception to the rule.