Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic View book 2 Samuel

Primitive Pentecostal Gnosticism, while largely unknown, has connections to the early church and therefore remains of interest to Biblical scholars. This paper will explore the implications of Primitive Pentecostal Gnosticism on the interpretation of the book of 2 Samuel in the Bible.

Primitive Pentecostal Gnosticism was a school of thought that developed around the 2nd and 3rd centuries, during which time Christianity was still developing and evolving. Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics believed in an experience-based faith and spiritual knowledge, rather than an intellectual or doctrinal approach. They believed that God can be experienced through inner spiritual knowledge, which can be accessed through revelation and enlightenment. They also believed in the power of ecstatic worship, in which they would raise their hands and voices to heaven while proclaiming the name of Jesus, thus having direct access to God.

These beliefs and practices have implications for the interpretation of the book of 2 Samuel in the Bible. In 2 Samuel 24:24, for example, God appears to David and tells him to offer burnt offerings and peace offerings on an altar. From a Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic perspective, the burning of offerings is not the only way to access the divine, and David’s experience of encountering God has less to do with a physical altar than with an inner spiritual revelation.

In 2 Samuel 7, God promises to always be with David, and will establish his kingdom forever. From a Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic perspective, this promise is not only about establishing a physical kingdom, but is an assurance of an ongoing personal relationship, where God is accessible through intimate spiritual knowledge and direct experience.

Finally, in 2 Samuel 12:13, David says, “I have sinned against the Lord.” From a Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic perspective, the sin here isn’t simply a specific act or a physical transgression, but rather a lack of awareness of the inner spiritual knowledge which makes it possible to experience God.

The book of 2 Samuel describes the leading of the country of Israel under the newly anointed King David. Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics viewed this book as exemplifying the manner in which a righteous leader was able to bring peace, prosperity and unity to a divided kingdom. Put simply, the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic view of the book of 2 Samuel is that it is an allegory of the spiritual journey of the individual and their rise to a higher form of spiritual awareness and enlightenment.

The narrative of 2 Samuel focuses on the establishment of a Davidic kingdom in Israel, following the death of Saul. As the unifying force between the tribes, David is seen to bring great peace and prosperity to the land of Israel. This is symbolic of the spiritual journey taken by the individual from chaos to order, from fear to hope. David’s establishment of the monarchy is seen as the spiritual journey of the individual seeking enlightenment and union with the divine. Similarly, his reunification of the tribes is seen as the unification of the house of Israel—and through this, a higher form of spiritual awareness is achieved.

The Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics viewed the various stories of 2 Samuel as multiple examples of spiritual guidance. As an example, they saw the stories of David’s encounters with Saul and David’s fight against Goliath as allegories of the individual’s battle against the darkness of their spiritual ignorance. David’s wise rule and coalition of the tribes was interpreted as the individual’s successful striving to achieve spiritual unity and acceptance with the divine. The emergence of the charismatic figure of Batsheba as a mother figure was seen as a sign of spiritual growth, as the individual was entering into a deeper relationship with the divine.

It can be seen, then, that Primitive Pentecostal Gnosticism has implications for the interpretation of the book of 2 Samuel in the Bible. The physical offerings and the establishment of a physical kingdom become symbols for the importance of inner spiritual knowledge and direct experience of God. Rather than a list of rules or a doctrinal approach to religion, Primitive Pentecostal Gnostics emphasized the importance of spiritual knowledge and relationship that lies at the heart of the Bible.

The Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic View of the book of 2 Samuel is one that is rooted in the belief of salvation and sanctification through spiritual enlightenment, which is especially emphasized throughout the book. According to this worldview, the spiritual power of the Holy Spirit is the primary source of reviving the covenant between God and his people. The book of 2 Samuel details this concept in a number of different ways, highlighting the importance of the Spirit in the salvation narrative.

At the beginning of the book, God reveals his plans for King David to become king: “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him from among my sons, and he shall be king over my people’’ (2 Sam. 7:4). Here, the Pentecostal Gnostic view of the power of the Spirit within God’s plan is clearly seen. Through the anointing of David by Samuel, the Spirit of God is present to make possible the salvation of the covenant’s people.

Later, in chapter 16, it is narrated that when King Saul and his men are pursuing David, the Spirit of the Lord leaves Saul while it continues to protect David. This event is symbolically significant in that it demonstrates the power of the Spirit in guiding David away from danger and strengthening his faith in God. This event also emphasizes the importance of the Spirit’s guidance throughout the book, which is a reminder of the necessity of the spiritual in salvation.

The book of 2 Samuel continues its narrative of the Spirit’s work in the lives of the people of Israel. In its final chapter, the Spirit is present in the scene of David’s death. Solomon, who is welcomed by an assembly of people including the prophet Nathan, is declared the next king of Israel by anointing with oil. This symbolic action is a representation of the Spirit’s guidance and power in establishing Solomon’s reign and concluding the salvation narrative connected to the covenants established in the book.

In conclusion, the book of 2 Samuel presents us with the Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic view of salvation through spiritual enlightenment. In this worldview, we find the importance of the power of the Spirit in achieving salvation, which is highlighted particularly in the anointing of David and Solomon, as well as the presence of the Spirit in other narrative details. For those that adhere to this religious tradition, the importance of the Spirit in achieving salvation through spiritual enlightenment is of utmost importance. 

Works Cited 

The Holy Bible. (1991). New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.