EDWARD IRVING
Edward Irving was born in the small village of Annan, along the borders of Scotland in 1792. He has been called, "the Father of Modern Pentecostalism" by his critics because of the doctrine to which he held and the supernatural events which occurred in his ministry. Whether you agree with his doctrine or not, you have to agree, his brief life and ministry was extraordinary!He was educated at the University of Edinburgh, and would later become the head schoolmaster. He was a personal friend with the literary great, Thomas Carlyle. Though they held opposing religious convictions, they remained true friends till Irving's early death.
He became the personal assistant to the theologian and church leader Thomas Chalmers, a future "Great Scot". In 1822, at the age of 30, he received his first charge as pastorate of the Caledonian Church in Covent Gardens. His flamboyant style of delivery unwelcome in Scotland was received gladly in London. Immediately his fame began to spread throughout the great city. In nine months, the church grew from 50 members to over 1,000. A ticket system was introduced to contain the crowds. Influential leaders, members of parliament, bankers, lawyers, all classes of people could be found at his services. Soon the elders were forced to relocate and build one of the largest cathedrals of London, the Regent Square Cathedral.
He began a series of lectures on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the believer. He held that the Spirit would manifest in them as He did in the book of Acts. Prophecy and the speaking of tongues should be expected. Little did he realize the controversy that would soon break out in his church and ministry.
By 1830, prayer meetings were being held in London for God to pour out His Spirit. Soon speaking in tongues and interpretations were a regular occurrence. To maintain some order, Irving insisted people should only speak in tongues during two specified periods in the prayer meeting and never in the Sunday services. In October of 1831, Mary Campbell, a Scottish lady, cut loose during one of the services, with ecstatic tongues. Soon after he decided to stop fighting it and allow these manifestations to show themselves in the Sunday worship services. Predictably, this got him thrown out!
He was tried for heresy regarding doctrines relating to the nature of Christ and was deposed from all ministry from the Church of Scotland in 1833. He died at the end of 1834 from pneumonia, while on a preaching tour of his native Scotland. Irving never himself spoke in tongues, or prophesied. He simply believed others could and did.
Without question he was a remarkable and controversial figure. Much of the material that is available on his life comes from the conviction, which is, shall I say, "biased"? There is one fine publication, which gives an honest portrayal of his life, ministry and mistakes. "The Pentecostal Theology of Edward Irving" by Gordon Strachen.
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