Menu
President,
Continental Theological Seminary
Joseph Dimitrov holds a PhD in theology from the Evangelical Theological Faculty in Belgium. He also earned his BA and MTh at Continental Theological Seminary, as well as a BSc and MSc from Sofia Technical University. Additionally, he has completed postgraduate studies in intellectual property and law.
Dr Joseph is the 11th president of Continental Theological Seminary in Brussels, a position he has held since 2008. His leadership has focused on academic excellence, fiscal stability, and engagement with the European Pentecostal community.
Dr Joseph has been an active spokesperson for Pentecostal theology at both national and international levels and is frequently sought as a public speaker to comment on major societal issues due to his deep grounding in theology, history, and leadership studies. He has also worked as general editor and translator of the Bulgarian edition of the New Testament Open Bible. Since 2010, he has served as the chairman of the Theological Commission of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship.
The Church is the spiritual community of the seeing ones. It has been called “out of darkness into his (God’s) wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9). This community consists of “children of the light and children of the day” who “do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thess. 5:5) but have the obligation to “live as children of light” (Eph. 5:8). The one who provides this environment of light, enabling the church to see, is the person and work of the Holy Spirit. In contrast with the previous state of blindness, the Spirit guides, speaks, teaches all things, reminds what was said, and reveals what is yet to come (John 14, 15, 16). Therefore, the scriptural contrast between darkness and light is not simply implying the transition from the state of unbelief to the state of belief. Instead, this enlarged perspective rather reveals the effect of a Spirit-led sight empowerment. This ability to walk with insight and discernment could be defined as pneumatological quality. Scripturally and in practice, we find this truth especially important for times when this “light-and-day” defined community goes through adversity and persecution. Ecclesiological seeing is possible through a pneumatological mindset. From its conception until modern times, this mindset has helped the church not only to survive afflictions but thrive spiritually. This is how the three painful effects of persecution—“the split consciousness,” “the split faithfulness,” and “the split leadership”—have been and will be overcome.
Many separate the atonement from Pentecost to the degree that the link between them is lost. I wish to explore that link. The link is based on the insight that the cross of Christ is not limited to Israel. Rather, Christ seeks at the cross to open his life to all peoples, redeeming persons “from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9) and breaking down the wall of hostility between them (Eph. 2:14-16). The Spirit is poured out on all peoples at Pentecost in loyalty to the cross and for the sake of the crucified and risen Christ.
Many separate the atonement from Pentecost to the degree that the link between them is lost. I wish to explore that link. The link is based on the insight that the cross of Christ is not limited to Israel. Rather, Christ seeks at the cross to open his life to all peoples, redeeming persons “from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9) and breaking down the wall of hostility between them (Eph. 2:14-16). The Spirit is poured out on all peoples at Pentecost in loyalty to the cross and for the sake of the crucified and risen Christ.
Many separate the atonement from Pentecost to the degree that the link between them is lost. I wish to explore that link. The link is based on the insight that the cross of Christ is not limited to Israel. Rather, Christ seeks at the cross to open his life to all peoples, redeeming persons “from every tribe, and language, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9) and breaking down the wall of hostility between them (Eph. 2:14-16). The Spirit is poured out on all peoples at Pentecost in loyalty to the cross and for the sake of the crucified and risen Christ.
Sign up for news & exclusive content
from Global Pentecostal Voices.
By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
