Prosperity theology

=== Post 1945 Healing Revivals ===

{{main|Healing Revival}}

While Kenyon's teachings on overcoming faith laid the groundwork for the prosperity gospel, the first generation of Pentecostals influenced by him and other figures, such as Bosworth, did not view faith as a means to attain material prosperity. In fact, early Pentecostals tended to view prosperity as a threat to a person's spiritual well-being.{{sfn|Bowler|2013|p=30}}{{sfn|Coleman|2000|p=40}} By the 1940s and 1950s, however, a recognizable form of the doctrine began to take shape within the Pentecostal movement through the teachings of [[Deliverance ministry|deliverance]] and healing evangelists. Combining prosperity teaching with [[Christian revival|revivalism]] and [[faith healing]], these evangelists taught "the laws of faith ('ask and ye shall receive') and the laws of divine reciprocity ('give and it will be given back unto you')".{{sfn|Robins|2010|p=81}}

[[Oral Roberts]] began teaching prosperity theology in 1947.{{sfn|Coleman|2000|p=41}} He explained the laws of faith as a "blessing pact" in which God would return donations "seven fold",{{sfn|Robins|2010|p=87}} promising that donors would receive back from unexpected sources the money they donated to him. Roberts offered to return any donation that did not lead to an equivalent unexpected payment.{{sfn|Coleman|2000|p=41}} In the 1970s, Roberts characterized his blessing pact teaching as the "seed faith" doctrine: donations were a form of "seed" which would grow in value and be returned to the donor.{{sfn|Robins|2010|p=87}}{{sfn|Coleman|2000|p=42}} Roberts began recruiting "partners", wealthy donors who received exclusive conference invitations and ministry access in exchange for support.{{sfn|Robins|2010|p=88}}

In 1953, faith healer [[A. A. Allen]] published ''The Secret to Scriptural Financial Success'' and promoted merchandise such as "miracle tent shavings" and [[Pentecostalism#Divine healing|prayer cloth]]s anointed with "miracle oil".{{sfn|Robins|2010|p=85}} In the late 1950s, Allen increasingly focused on prosperity. He taught that faith could miraculously solve financial problems and claimed to have had a miraculous experience in which God supernaturally changed one-dollar bills into twenty-dollar bills to allow him to pay his debts.{{sfn|Harrell|1975|pp=74–75}} Allen taught the "word of faith" or the power to speak something into being.{{sfn|Robins|2010|p=85}}

In the 1960s, prosperity became a primary focus in healing revivals.{{sfn|Harrell|1975|p=105}} [[T.&nbsp;L. Osborn]] began emphasizing prosperity in the 1960s and became known for his often ostentatious displays of personal wealth.{{sfn|Harrell|1975|p=171}} During that decade, Roberts and [[William Branham]] criticized other prosperity ministries, arguing that their fund-raising tactics unfairly pressured attendees. These tactics were prompted in part by the expense of developing nationwide radio networks and campaign schedules.{{sfn|Harrell|1975|p=105}} At the same time, leaders of the Pentecostal [[Assemblies of God USA|Assemblies of God]] denomination often criticized the focus on prosperity taken by independent healing evangelists.{{sfn|Harrell|1975|p=108}}