Date

8-20-2026

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Practical Theology (PhD)

Chair

Robert Bugg

Keywords

Word of Faith, Prosperity Theology, Prosperity Gospel, Health and Wealth, Kenneth E. Hagin, Positive Confession

Disciplines

Practical Theology

Abstract

Primary Research Question:

What are the distinctive core doctrines that are officially recognized and universally taught within the Word of Faith movement - as distinguished from some common aberrant or excessive popular teachings - and are these core doctrines biblically and theologically defensible as orthodox teachings within the broader scope of the universal Christian Church? The research problem is a glaring gap in the literature characterized by the general absence of a clear delineation between official core doctrines and controversial popular teachings that are neither officially codified in its doctrinal statements nor universally accepted and taught within the Word of Faith movement as a whole.

Thesis:

The thesis asserts that: Although aberrant teachings have been identified, the most basic, officially recognized, and universally taught tenets of Word of Faith theology, when viewed in their full and proper context, represent principles of faith that are biblically founded, historically recognized, and practically valuable for Christian ministry and praxis.

Goals or Objectives of the Study:

1) To identify the central doctrines that are both officially recognized and universally taught within the Word of Faith movement and that form the distinctive core of Word of Faith theology, as distinguished from aberrations and excesses that have been identified, and acknowledged, in some popular teaching within the movement;

2) To offer arguments, based on applicable research, for the scriptural, theological, and historical foundations of said core doctrines when viewed in their full biblical and literary contexts;

3) To argue the necessity of a bifurcation in the scholarly conversation on the Word of Faith movement and its theology: a) to refocus primary attention on the officially codified and universally accepted core doctrines noted above; and, b) to establish the focus on acknowledged or perceived flaws in some popular teaching and discourse within the movement - and their correction - as a separate, though equally important, conversation and endeavor; and,

4) To provide findings and conclusions of said research, as well as recommendations for the practical application of said findings as relevant to ministry practice - perhaps most notably, a recommendation for a change of tone in the general academic conversation on the Word of Faith movement and its theology, which has been characterized to some degree (on both sides of the discussion) by heated rhetoric and a lack of scholarly mutual respect and Christlike love among Christian scholars.

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