Introduction
The article “Sanctification: the Work of the Holy Spirit and Scripture” by William D. Barrick enlightens the problem of a believer’s sanctifying and the principal constituents of this process. Trying to analyze the issue, the author covers several relevant aspects such as the notion of holiness, the main agents of sanctification, and the role of the church.
Brief Summary
The article reveals the concept of sanctification and the relevant aspects. Barrick begins his analysis with a definition of the sanctification notion drawing the parallel with the issue of holiness. He provides a brief introduction into its key linguistic and semantic implications.
The author assumes that the proper understanding of the term itself is an essential condition for realizing one’s holy intentions.1 In order to prevent the potential ambiguity in the concept’s interpretation, Barrick provides several references to biblical examples that illustrate the God’s holiness expression. The core part of the article is devoted to the description of the agents, – the Spirit, the Scriptures, the saint, – that, according to Barrick, gather together for the sake of sanctifying the believer.2 The author points out that, whereas the first two agents are unquestioned, the role of the saint is not utterly clear.
On the one hand, it is evident that a believer cannot sanctify himself; on the other hand, it is he who is empowered to follow a holy path. Therefore, the author distinguishes two types of sanctification: initial and progressive, whereas the latter actually implies the work performed by the believer.
Barrick also shares his insights about the rules the true believers are supposed to follow. Thus, he suggests that pure Christ’s people are to be fully devoted to their God, leaving no aspect of life for themselves.3 The final part of the article is devoted to the authors’ speculation upon the role of the church in the process of sanctification. Barrick supplies his readers with several biblical examples that emphasize the church’s contribution in the holiness’s cultivation.4
Critical Interaction
The article under discussion represents a good example of a profound biblical analysis. In this paper, Barrick has touched upon one of the most significant issues in the theological science. The question of sanctification has been widely discussed by theologists all over the world. One should point out, that Barrick’s interpretation of the relevant concept coincides with the classic religious approach, based on the biblical texts’ studies.5
One of the major advantages of Barrick’s paper is its logical structure and the strong argumentative base. Thus, the author begins with stating the unified definition of the term he is going to discuss and only then he passes to references to the biblical sources. However, while the core part of the article is reasonably organized, the final passages might seem too subjective and excessively pathetic for a common reader.
Hence, at the end of the paper, Barrick switches from the evidence-focused narration to an emotionally-colored expressiveness. Nevertheless, the key idea of the author is precisely put, and no extra applications arise after reading the paper, apart from those of the philosophic character.
Conclusion
One should necessarily note that Barrick’s initial aim was to reveal the meaning of the sanctification concept, and the author has successfully completed this mission. Barrick’s theoretical approach, along with his logical argumentative basis allows the reader obtain a clear idea of the discussed phenomenon. The author provides both sources-relevant information and his speculations, leaving no questions beyond his focus.
Bibliography
Barrick, William D. “Sanctification: the Work of the Holy Spirit and Scripture.” The Master’s Seminary Journal 21, no. 2 (Fall 2010): 179–91.
Warrier, Maya and Simon Oliver. Theology and Religious Studies: An Exploration of Disciplinary Boundaries. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2008.
Footnotes
1 Barrick, “Sanctification: the Work of the Holy Spirit and Scripture” (The Master’s Seminary Journal 21, no. 2, Fall 2010), 180.
2 Ibid, 183.
3 Ibid, 189.
4 Barrick, “Sanctification: the Work of the Holy Spirit and Scripture,” 190.
5 Warrier and Oliver, Theology and Religious Studies: An Exploration of Disciplinary Boundaries (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2008), 58.