Primitive Pentecostal Gnostic View book of Habakkuk

The events it describes mirror those of Pentecostals, who believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring a spiritual transformation, as well as of some Gnostics who believe in a saving knowledge.

The book begins with a cry of distress – a lamentation from the prophet Habakkuk that pleaded for aid in a time of distress and persecution. He painfully acknowledges that, in a world of injustice and chaos, he is completely helpless to intervene. This exhibits the Gnostic belief in the duality between the world of the flesh and the spiritual realms. He continues to ponder why this persecution was occurring to God’s people, symbolizing the Gnostic view of the illusory nature of material reality. 

In response, the Lord God proclaims that the righteous will live by their faith, referencing the need to establish salvation and peace through faith in the Lord, an essential part of Pentecostal theology. Habakkuk is then instructed to “write the vision,” and make it plain, signifying the burning truth of the Holy Spirit, who can be seen throughout the book. Throughout the remainder of the book, Habakkuk laments on the coming judgement and destruction to befall the wicked, highlighting the need for repentance and renewal. 

The book culminates in the famous quote, “The LORD is in His holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” This statement is of immense importance, not only as a closure to Habakkuk’s lamentations and an acknowledgement of the majesty of the Lord, but also as an admonition to those who would follow him.

According to this interpretation, Habakkuk is a messenger of God and a guide for humanity, sent to reveal the truths of man’s condition, his relationship to the divine, and his potential to grow and evolve.

According to this view, Habakkuk is unlike other prophets of the Hebrew Bible, as instead of highlighting his mission to prophesy the will of God, he instead details his own personal journey and transformation. This transformation includes true spiritual awakening, as he attempts to understand the mysteries of existence and striving to find union with the divine. It is through this journey to gain spiritual insight that Habakkuk discovers the knowledge of God and his relationship to the world. It is this confidential knowledge that renders Habakkuk’s teachings ‘Gnostic’, as he ultimately presents a secret or hidden knowledge to humanity.

In the book, Habakkuk calls upon God repeatedly to send help and salvation, highlighting his profound faith in the divine. Throughout this exploration, the prophet is warned of a ‘coming judgment’ and repeatedly implores God to help the people of Israel. This begs an interesting question, or rather a Gnostic one, as to why Habakkuk does not seek to adjust the beliefs of the people or attempt to change the outward appearance of religious observance. This can be seen in the Gnostic idea of spiritual growth through faith, consciousness, and self-reflection, rather than focus on religious customs and observances.

Finally, the message which Habakkuk offers at the end of the book is one of hope, consolation, and the desire for a lasting peace. This ending of the book encapsulates the Gnostic hope for salvation and the promise of universal redemption for the human condition. It is this realization that Habakkuk’s story provides that drives the primitive Pentecostal Gnostic interpretation of the book. As a result, this view treats Habakkuk’s exhortations of God as prayers of spiritual transformation that ultimately convey true knowledge, understanding, and hope to humanity.

The text of Habakkuk contains a wealth of primitive Pentecostal and Gnostic theology. On the Pentecostal side, it contains an exodus story accentuated by the fire and power of the Holy Spirit; while also providing a call to faith and an acknowledgement of God’s majesty. On the Gnostic side, it acknowledges the illusory nature of the material world, and presents a plea for knowledge and understanding to be imparted from on high. This highlights the need for those who would follow Habakkuk to live out the holy and righteous life according to faith and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. All of these elements form the sum of the primitive Pentecostal and Gnostic view of the book of Habakkuk.