Book
The Cross and the Spirit: Peter and the Way of the Holy
1973 · 2nd ed. 1987 · Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City
Carver's first book, a study of the apostle Peter — first published in 1973 as Peter the Rock-Man and revised as The Cross and the Spirit. It traces Peter's transformation as the pattern of the holy life: the way of the cross and the work of the Spirit belong together.
Citation
Carver, Frank G. The Cross and the Spirit: Peter and the Way of the Holy. Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City, 2nd ed., 1987. First published 1973 as Peter the Rock-Man.
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Where to find it
Out of print; commonly available used (search the title with 'Carver') and in Nazarene university and seminary libraries.
This published work remains © its publisher; the archive points you to it.
In the archive
The archive holds Carver’s working papers on these same themes — free to read.
a Wesley Sermon 138 grieving the Holy Spirit
A transcript of John Wesley's Sermon 138, 'On Grieving The Holy Spirit,' originally written in 1733. This version is an abridged and revised edition of the 1872 Thomas Jackson edition, edited by George Lyons with minor corrections by Ryan Danker for the Wesley Center for Applied Theology at Northwest Nazarene University. The sermon provides an exegetical commentary on Ephesians 4:30, exploring the nature of God's 'grief' as a disposition of His will arising from love and abhorrence of sin. Wesley outlines how sins offend the Holy Spirit through His immediate presence in the believer, as acts of contempt toward divine love, and as a failure to achieve the sanctification intended by the Spirit's work.
Ephesians 4:30 · 1 Corinthians 6:19 · 2 Corinthians 1:22
A Wesleyan Understanding of the Fullness of the Spirit
A theological reflection on the Wesleyan concept of being 'filled with the Holy Spirit.' The document traces the biblical development of the Spirit, from the 'ruach' in Genesis to the Pentecost event in Acts. It explores a twofold meaning of the Spirit's fullness: first, as the fulfillment of prophetic promise marking the birth of the Church; and second, as a necessity for the daily renewal of disciples facing challenges. The text incorporates quotations from John Wesley regarding the Spirit as the fountain of holiness and the life of God in the soul, and concludes with a focus on the transformative power of the Spirit as described in the Pauline epistles.
Genesis 1:2 · Psalm 51:11 · Luke 11:13
Andrey Khobnya Proverbs 1-9
A research paper or lecture by Andrey Khobnya, South-Russia District Educational Coordinator and Pastor of the Light of Hope Church of the Nazarene, examining the theological and pedagogical principles within Proverbs 1–9. The author challenges the scholarly perception of ancient Israelite education as merely harsh or corporal, proposing instead that the text demonstrates more nuanced educational methods and theological assumptions. The document specifically explores the use of 'address' as a method of instruction, where personified wisdom appeals to learners in public spaces, and outlines the structural and didactic features of the first nine chapters of Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7 · Proverbs 1:20-33 · Proverbs 8:1-11
Biblical Foundations for the 'Secondness' of Entire Sanctification
A seminar paper, originally delivered as President of the Wesleyan Theological Society in April 1987 and subsequently published in the Wesleyan Theological Journal, exploring the hermeneutical challenges of preaching the Wesleyan message of holiness. Carver discusses his personal transition from a Methodist/Holiness background to academic New Testament studies, expressing concern over 'holiness hermeneutics' that may manipulate biblical texts. He proposes a foundational presupposition that 'holiness' can be understood as 'integrity,' arguing that biblical holiness involves both a relation of exclusive allegiance to God and a response in life to His revealed moral character. The text also touches upon the necessity of biblical primacy in Wesleyan identity and begins to address the use of the language of the holy in the Old and New Testaments.
Galatians 2:20 · 1 John
Chapter 4 Promise of Christ's Coming 3:1-16 2 Peter
This document contains a scholarly commentary on 2 Peter 3:1-16, focusing on the transition from the denunciation of false teachers in chapter 2 to the encouragement of believers in chapter 3. The author provides a structural breakdown of the passage into four parts: the prediction of scoffers, the delay of Christ's coming, the certainty of Christ's coming, and concluding exhortations. Specifically, the text examines the first section (3:1-7), discussing the use of the term 'dear friends' (agapētoi), the debate regarding the identity of Peter's 'first letter,' and the two sources of truth presented to the readers: the words of the holy prophets and the apostolic commands. The commentary concludes with a reflection on the importance of pursuing a godly lifestyle to avoid the sin-driven misinterpretation of Scripture.
2 Peter 3:1-16 · 2 Peter 3:1-7 · 2 Peter 3:1-2
Chap 18 - Christology Today - Truly God and Truly Human
A lecture transcript or course chapter discussing contemporary Christology. The text emphasizes a 'dialogical' approach to theology, arguing that Christology should not be a purely theoretical academic exercise but a response to the 'present Christ' within the context of worship and confession. The author references Dietrich Bonhoeffer's focus on the 'Who?' question and uses Charles Wesley's hymns to illustrate the link between dogmatics and doxology. The document provides a summary of previous studies, tracing the development from the 'historical Jesus' research (the first and second quests) to the 'third quest,' specifically noting N.T. Wright's work on Jesus within the context of Israel's story and the historical credibility of the resurrection.
Matthew 4:4 · Matthew 28:20 · Galatians 1:4