Here in Spirit: Knowing the Spirit Who Creates, Sustains, and Transforms Everything by Jonathan K. Dodson

Here in Spirit: Knowing the Spirit Who Creates, Sustains, and Transforms Everything Reviews

• 
  Jimmy Reagan

  This book has a wonderful approach to the study of the Holy Spirit. Most such books run straight to controversy as if the Spirit was nothing more than an academic question or a “spirited” debate. The better ones remind us that the Spirit is a Person. This one by Jonathan Dodson goes one better by stressing that He desires relationship—a relationship that is not merely representative of the Father and the Son, but personal to Himself. The author went so far in that vein that repentance was required in his life for what was rank neglect of the Spirit on his part. Perhaps like me, you aren’t far behind him!
  
  Dodson knows how to connect with this generation. I’m not sure the word “hip” is still in currency as I don’t have a hip bone in my body, but he knew how to pull in a great deal of popular culture. For the record, I don’t think I had ever seen even one movie he referenced, but he told enough of the plot that I could connect the dots easily. What won the day for me was his prevalent sincerity and contributive content.
  
  He didn’t drown in tongues, or gifts, or other strange favorites, but he displayed a clear understanding that preferred to stay on task for a relationship with the Spirit. My strongest recommendation for this book is the positive conviction it brought to me. In short, I prayed differently this morning. In a book aimed at Christians at all points of our journey, what could be a better endorsement?
  
  I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
• 
  John Seago

  Here in Spirit is a powerful and greatly needed book that dives below arguments over the gifts of the Holy Spirit to reintroduce the church to the creative, imminent, and empowering third person of the Trinity. While Jonathan Dodson covers impressive theological and biblical ground to teach about the Spirit, his tone is always warmly pastoral and extremely practical. I came for the insightful biblical pneumatology and stayed for the enjoyable cultural references, gut-wrenching personal anecdotes, and convicting call to befriend and daily seek the Spirit of God.
• 
  Lori Neff

  Warm, pastoral tone. An approachable discussion on the Holy Spirit - someone I honestly haven't considered much in my day to day.
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  Ali C

  I found this book a really helpful starting place for understanding the Holy Spirit and how he works. I really appreciate that the book doesn't spend much time addressing the argument over whether the gifts are still active or not, even commenting that "perhaps what has hindered the relationship with the Holy Spirit the most over the past hundred years is an unhealthy preoccupation with his gifts." I feel like this is a great resource for developing a foundational theology for understanding the Holy Spirit.
  
  *I received a free copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Matt

  Jonathan Dodson is a creative theological thinker and I've enjoyed his past work (including his sermons). However, this volume on the Holy Spirit was a bit of a letdown. It was as if Dodson wanted to take his readers on a theological deep dive of creative interaction with the Holy Spirit, only to be stunted by his (or his editor's) concern to make sure everything was comprehensible to the lowest levels of popular engagement. If this was, indeed, the case, then his wings were truly clipped for this book. There is little that is fresh and insightful on the Holy Spirit here. If you've read popular level books on the place and benefits of the Spirit in your life, then you'll already know everything in this book. At times, Dodson tries to give a new insight into some overlooked aspect of the Spirit's work in, for instance, the Old Testament, but the exegetical rationale is hard to follow, which, in turn, makes it hard to believe. This, I believe, is where his book could have used more muscle.
  
  One example is his hurried treatment of the parallels between Genesis 1:2 concerning the Spirit "hovering over the face of the waters" (ESV) and Deuteronomy 32:10-11 where Moses sings about God's rescue of Israel "in a desert land...Like an eagle...that flutters over its young" (ESV) [pp 23-24]. Dodson intends for this to demonstrate how the Spirit is always involved in God's new creative work, particularly when God is creating a people for himself (which is true). However, Dodson only tells us that the Deuteronomy text pictures "the Lord hovering over the wilderness like a bird to create a people." Then, he moves on. In my view, the parallel between these two texts is almost non-existent the way Dodson presents it. The Spirit "hovers" (presumably like a bird) in Genesis 1 and the Lord "flutters" like an eagle in Deuteronomy 32. If Dodson is aiming at the lowest level of popular engagement (which is only my assumption based upon how he treats the material in this book), then this connection will not be very convincing. However, this isn't to say he's wrong. In fact, the two Hebrew words ("hover" in Genesis 1 and "flutter" in Deuteronomy) come from the same Hebrew root, and this connection may, in fact, have been evident to the original hearers/readers of these texts. But this is exactly the point. What might have been evident to an old Hebrew is certainly not plainly evident to a modern English reader. Dodson needed to let the reader see his work here in order to make the more convincing case AND offer us a potentially fresh insight into the Spirit's work.
  
  The end product, while not bad in the most negative sense of the word, is ultimately forgettable. In spite of the glowing endorsements inside the book from recognizable names in the evangelical world, this offering will quickly find a home on the pile of forgotten evangelical books that seek to help us "know the Holy Spirit better because we've been neglecting him lately."
• 
  Matthew S.

  What a rich book on the spirit! Jonathan carefully and exhaustively explains the relationship and character of the Holy Spirt. I especially enjoyed the anecdotes that helped bring this book to life. This is a great guide into an unfamiliar member of the trinity and enabler of our faith. Praying that it serves you well!
• 
  Kyle

  I really can’t recommend this book enough. I believe it’s the perfect introduction for those seeking to know and understand the spirit more. I found his writing style to be especially engaging, there weren’t any parts that I felt were redundant or repetitive. I believe this is why it was such a satisfying read, it was entirely engaging throughout.
• 
  Scott

  A very nice, quick reflection on the Holy Spirit.
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  Rocky Woolery

  A very good work on the presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Christians and the Church. It was very complete without touching on many of the issues that would be divisive.
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  Thomas

  Helpful popular-level discussion of the Holy Spirit full of practical insight coupled with theological soundness.