The book represents a personal quest in what Anselm referred to as faith seeking understanding. The primary focus centers on proposing an interpretation of the nature and function of the human spirit and its relationship to the divine spirit and the living of a godly Christian life. Thus the book has a dual concern; namely, an academic one and a spiritual one. The undergirding premise is that apart of the human spirit the divine spirit is personally unknowable. This premise contains the following supporting concepts: First, the core of human personhood resides in the human spirit and constitutes the unique capacity for personal self-relatedness. Second, as the result of humanity's idolatrous displacement of God, a radical reversal occurred with the human spirit. When restored to its original relationship with the divine spirit, the human spirit, as James Loder writes ""is called out of its futility and perversity into the light (and truth) of the divine spirit. ""Dr. Alexander is one of the few scholars whose academic writings often hit a home run. This work is a theologico-spiritual guide for readers to find healing and holiness despite our distorted self and broken world. This graceful interdisciplinary study of the human spirit in light of Christ's humanity sheds light on who we are as human beings, pointing us to live in the light, and with the love, of the divine Spirit. --K. K. Yeo, Harry R. Kendall Professor of New Testament, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary ""With the mind of a scholar, and heart of a pastor, Alexander skillfully unfolds an alternative to law-based sanctification by exploring the meaning of the human spirit, and how it may be healed through relationship with the divine Spirit. Biblically informed and academically sound, this book should be part of every serious study of this crucial doctrine. --L. Arnold Hustad, Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Crown College ""Don Alexander has successfully blended academic research and practical pastoral concerns in his anthropological study of the human spirit. The book is the culmination of years of theological reflection, exegesis, and teaching on the topic of holiness. The author's intention is to give the human spirit its due significance in the discussion of holiness, especially in view of the de-emphasis of the human spirit in Reformation theology."" --George Gianoulis, Professor of Greek and New Testament, Emeritus, Crown College Donald L. Alexander is Emeritus Professor of Biblical Studies and Spiritual Theology at Bethel University, St. Paul, MN. He holds MDiv degrees from Bethel Theological Seminary and MA and PhD degrees from the University of California Santa Barbara, CA. He has held pastorates in California, Washington, and Minnesota. From 1968-82 he served as a missionary with the Christian and Missionary Alliance at the Alliance Bible Seminary in Hong Kong, China. Following the transfer of the seminary leadership to the Chinese Church, he served as the administrative vice-president.
