The Holy Spirit before Christianity, by John R. Levison

Reviewed by Henri Louis Goulet This is arguably the most important and insightful monograph ever written on the origins of what should rightfully be called “ruachology.”1 The result of over two decades of research, its historically, hermeneutically, and exegetically sound approach reveals “unprecedented conceptions of the spirit (i.e., ‘ruach’) that emerged in the crises of Israel’s exile and restoration.”2 As Israel remembered these crises, the conclusion was that God was present with them as “ruach.”3 Thus, what this monograph painstakingly shows is that ruachology at it