Dr. Riku Tuppurainen
Graduate Courses Taught
Introduction to Biblical Studies; New Testament Exegetical Methods and Pneumatological Texts; New Testament Theology; New Testament Theology: Introduction, Issues & Interpretations; Contemporary Approaches to Biblical Texts; Contemporary and Pentecostal Approaches to Biblical Texts; Theory and Application of Biblical Interpretation; Gospel of John; Johannine Literature; Hermeneutics
Undergraduate Courses Taught
Introduction to Hermeneutics; Gospel of John; Book of Acts; Christology; Soteriology; Ecclesiology; Pastoral Theology; Greek 1 and 2
Education
Doctor of Theology in New Testament (July 2000 to May 2007) - University of South Africa - UNISA
Thesis: The Role(s) of the Spirit-Paraclete in John 16:4b-15: A Socio-Rhetorical Investigation
Master of Arts in Theological Studies with Biblical Languages and Exegesis (September 1997 to December 1998) - Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Missouri
Thesis (Seminary Quality paper): The Question of the Divinity of Jesus in the Light of John’s ego eimi Sayings in the Fourth Gospel
Bachelor of Arts in Bible and Theology (September 1993 to May 1996) - Continental Theological Seminary, Brussels, Belgium.
3-year Business College (September 1981 to May 1984) - Jyväskylä Business College, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Work Experience
GlobalEd / PAOC Mission Global (March 2023 - ongoing), Global Theological Training Specialist (Abbotsford, BC)
Summit Pacific College (September 2015 - ongoing), Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor (Abbotsford, BC)
Finnish Bethel Church (August 2012 to December 2022), Senior Pastor (Vancouver, BC)
Continental Theological Seminary (July 2008- July 2012), Dean of Graduate Studies (Brussels, Belgium)
Continental Theological Seminary (January 2003- July 2012), Teaching Faculty Member (Brussels, Belgium)
Finnish Pentecostal Church of Toronto, Associate Pastor (January 1999 - April 1999); Senior Pastor (May 1999 - January 2003)
Finnish Pentecostal Church of Thunder Bay, Associate Pastor (July 1996 to December 1996); Senior Pastor (January 1997 to August 1997)
Pentecostal Church of Jyväskylä, School Pastor (1990-1993); Youth Pastor (1992-1993)
Puustelli-Keittiot, Kitchen Designer and Salesperson (December 1985 to October 1990)
Visiting/Adjunct Faculty Experience
Continental Theological Seminary (MTh program) Brussels, Belgium, Adjunct Faculty (March 2024 - Ongoing)
Horizon College and Seminary (MA/MDiv programs), Saskatoon, SK, Visiting Lecturer (November 2023- Ongoing)
Nepal Theological College (M.Div. program), Kathmandu, Visiting Lecturer (February 2021 - Ongoing)
Nepal Theological Academy (M.Div. program), Kathmandu (2017)
Thailand Pentecostal Seminary (MA/BA program), Bangkok (September 2015)
Nepal Theological College (BTh program), Kathmandu (July 2014 -15)
Trinity Western University/ACTS Seminaries (MA program), Summer Adjunct Faculty (June 2013)
Ivory Coast Assemblies of God Bible College, Daloa, Visiting lecturer (January 2003 - April 2006)
Institut Biblique Senegalis, Dakar, Visiting lecturer (January 2003 - April 2006)
Liberia Assemblies of God Bible College, Brewerville/Monrovia, Visiting lecturer (January 2002 - April 2006)
Bible Institute of Karelia, Sortavala, Russia (May 2001)
Continental Theological Seminary, Brussels, Belgium, Visiting lecturer (October 2000 - January 2003)
Responsible Positions and Projects
Co-editor of Pentecostal Collaborations Series. Published by Wipf and Stock (2026 March on).
Consultant for a new training institution: Credo Academy, Iceland, Reykjavik (2024 March on)
Graduation Speaker at Nepal Theological College (2024 June)
Columnist for the West Coast News, Vancouver, BC (2020 - 2022)
A member (as an expert of Pentecostalism/Pentecostal theology) in Nederlands—Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie assessment panel. (Assessing a new study program: “Bachelor in Pentecostal Theology and Biblical Studies” at Continental Theological Seminary, Brussels, Belgium (2018 December)
Member of committees at Summit Pacific College: Admission committee and Academic Affairs (2015 September - ongoing)
The Superintendent of Finnish Pentecostal Churches in North America, Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (2013 August to 2018 August)
The chair of the committee to organize the annual Theological Positions Colloquium at Continental Theological Seminary in February 2011 (2010 September to February 2011)
The chair of the self-evaluation report writing and debate for re-accreditation purposes of the initial accreditation (2007) of the Master of Theology in Evangelical and Pentecostal Studies study program (2010 March - 2011 March)
The leader of the team to facilitate the educational assessment panel’s visit (January 31- February 1, 2011) to assess MTh in Evangelical and Pentecostal Studies program offered by Continental Theological Seminary.(Assessment process for re-accreditation was conducted by Vlaamse Interuniversitaire Raad, VLIR)
Chair of New Testament Department at Continental Theological Seminary (2008 July to 2012 July)
A member of Leadership Team of Continental Theological Seminary (2008 July to 2012 July)
A member of the search committee for the president for Continental Theological Seminary (September 2007 - June 2008)
A member of Academic Affairs committee and Research Committee at Continental Theological Seminary (2004 September to July 2012)
A Presbyter of the Finnish Pentecostal Churches of North America (August 2000 to January 2003 and July 2012 (ongoing)
National Children’s Ministry Council of Finnish Pentecostal churches. Iso Kirja College and Conference Centre, PL 13, 42701 Keuruu, FINLAND. Positions: A member (1986 - 1989); The secretary (1989-1991); The chairman (1991-1993)
Certification
Ordained minister with Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (since 1999)
Publications
Current projects under research and writing:
Book (Research lead and co-editor):
Reception of Lukan Spirit Texts: Global Pentecostal Perspectives (Eugene: Pickwick, upcoming 2027)
Journal Article:
“Shifting Horizons: A Testimony of Hermeneutical Transformation and Reading Scripture,” Upcoming in the Journal of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity (upcoming Summer 2026).
Book:
Johannine Gospel According to the First John: A Reading of John’s First Letter as Commentary on His Gospel (working title, upcoming 2028/29).
Papers read:
“Who Can Be(come) Jesus’s Witness?: A Study on the Relationship between the Spirit and Witness in Luke-Acts in Reference to Pentecostal Pneumatology” (European Pentecostal Theological Association, Annual Conference in France, July 2024)
“Holiness after Denial: A Narrative Reading of Theology of καί in Mark 16:7” (European Pentecostal Theological Association, Annual conference in Brussels, Belgium, July 2018)
“Art of Rhetorical Design of Omission: Unnamed Jewish Feast in the Narrative of John 5:1-30” (Society for Pentecostal Studies, 45th annual conference in San Dimas, CA, March 2016)
“A Spirit-Sensitive Hermeneutics and Jesus’ Farewell Speech: A Socio-Rhetorical Reading of the Spirit in John 13:33-17:26” (Society for Pentecostal Studies, 43rd annual conference in Springfield, MO, March 2014)
Published works (academic):
Book:
Peace with Scripture: A Transformative, Spirit-Sensitive Interpretation. Halle: Peace Literature, 2025.
Chapter in a book:
”Missio Dei tänään Johannekesen evankeliumin valossa.” A chapter in Evankeliumin julistaminen tänään. Luterilaisia ja helluntailaisia näkökulmia. Kirkkohallitus: Helsinki, Finland, 2022.
[Transl. “Missio Dei today in the light of the Gospel of John” in Gospel Proclamation Today: Lutheran and Pentecostal points of view. Lutheran Church Synod: Helsinki, Finland, 2022]
Book:
Α Prologue to Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Its Independency, Issues, and Interpretations. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2021.
Book review:
Prayer in John’s Farewell Discourse: An Exegetical Investigation (2019) by Scott Adams. Eugene: Pickwick. In Journal of European Pentecostal Theological Association, Vol 41.1 2020, 87-88.
Book:
Editor and contributor: Reading St. Luke’s Text and Theology: Pentecostal Voices. Eugene: Pickwick, 2019.
Chapter in a book:
“Seurakunta, Pyhä Henki ja Misso Dei: Lähetyskäsky Johanneksen Evankeliumin valossa” in Jotta maailma uskoisi – ekumenia lähetystehtävän edistäjänä, 139-160 (Festschrift: Prof. Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen) edited by Leevi Launonen & Anna Lehtinen. Keuruu, Finland: Aikamedia, 2018.
[Tranl. “Church, the Holy Spirit, and Missio Dei: The Great Commission in the Light of Gospel of John” in So that the World Would Believe – Ecumenicism as a Promoter of Mission, 139-160. Festschrift: Prof. Dr. Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen. Edited by Leevi Launonen & Anna Lehtinen. Keuruu, Finland: Aikamedia, 2018.]
Book review:
John: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (2016) by Edward W. Klink, in Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, Vol. 38.1, 2018, 90-91.
Article:
“Jesus, the Spirit, and the Church: Succession in the Fourth Gospel” in Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, Vol. 36.1, 2016, 42-56.
Book review:
Divine Sabbath Work (2012) by Michael H. Burer, in Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, Vol. 34.1, 2014, 100-101.
Article:
“The Contribution of Socio-Rhetorical Criticism to Spirit-Sensitive Hermeneutics: A Contextual Example – Luke 11:13” in Journal of Biblical and Pneumatological Research, Vol. 4, 2012, 38-66.
Article:
“Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility in the Gospel of John: An Alternative Interpretation to Andreas J. Köstenberg’s ‘Divine Election’ Reading of John’s Soteriology” in Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association, 32.1, 2012, 28-40.
Article:
“The Whole World or Not Quite: ΚΟΣΜΟΣ in John 16:8” in Journal of Early Christian History, vol.1.1, 2011, 165-184.
Book:
A co-editor of Pentecostal Issues, Eschatology & Ecumenism: Theological Positions Colloquium Papers from 2010 & 2011. Brussels: Continental Theological Seminary, 2011.
Book review:
The Gospel of John (2007) by Jerome.H. Neyrey, S.J., in Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association 2009. Vol XIX:1, 91-93.
Article:
“The Roles of the Spirit in John 16:4b‑15: An Integrated Reading” in Acta Patristica et Byzantina, 2008.Vol 19, 23-43. (co-authored with J. Eugene Botha)
Book review:
Spirit in the Writings of John (2003) by Tricia G. Brown, in Pneuma 2005, 27:1, 211-213.
Book Endorsements:
Celestial Fire: 365 Days with the Holy Spirit. By William R. Gibson. Nashville: Elm Hill, 2018.
Published works (non-academic):
Article: “Spirit-Sensitive Hermeneutical Reading of Scripture” Testimony and Enrich. (Upcoming, Summer 2026)
Article: “Reading Luke-Acts Diligently: Working Diligently with Luke-Acts” Testimony and Enrich. Vol. 101, No. 2 (Spring 2020) 29-31.
Article: “Form of Worship” in 150 Moments with the God of CTS: Devotional, edited by Charina Dimitrova and Phyllis Benigas. Sint-Pieters-Leeuw: Continental Theological Seminary, 2019. (co-authored with Anne Tuppurainen)
Various articles in Finnish – Canadian Pentecostal monthly paper Todistaja.
An article: “Tulppaani Teologiaa” in Finnish Pentecostal weekly paper Ristin Voitto.
A contributor: Pysähdy Tähän (Stop Here), [a basic guide about Christianity and workbook for teenagers], (Published by Pentecostal Church of Jyväskylä,1991). (Translated into Russian in 1995.)
A study guide: Minun Raamattuni (My Bible) [Children’s teaching guide and a workbook], (Finland, Kerava: Ristin Voitto,1992).
Current Memberships
European Pentecostal Theological Association (EPTA)
Society for Pentecostal Studies (SPS)
