The Holy Spirit: In the Bible, the Apocrypha, and the Dead Sea Scrolls

 

 Written by Robert Jones

robertcjones@mindspring.com

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© 2007 Robert C. Jones

 

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"Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW

INTERNATIONAL VERSION.  Copyright Ó 1973,

1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.  Used by

permission of Zondervan Publishing House."

 

 

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Quiz on the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

The Holy Spirit in the Apocrypha

The Holy Spirit in the Dead Sea Scrolls

The Spirit in the Christian Apocrypha

The Early Church

The Creeds

The Reformation

Holy Ghost vs. Holy Spirit

Summary

Sources

Notes

Other Christian History & Theology courses

 

Introduction

Coming from a Presbyterian background, I’ve grown up with lots of emphasis on God the Father and Jesus, but less focus on the Holy Spirit (those of you from Methodist or Pentecostal backgrounds have probably had different experiences).   I thought it would be useful to write a course on the Holy Spirit, tracing the concept from its earliest mention in the Old Testament (Genesis 1:2) through the New Testament period, also stopping along the way to examine sources from the inter-Testamental period.  Regarding the latter, I’ve included references to:

 

• The Dead Sea Scrolls, the set of 800 documents (or parts of documents) found in the Judean desert in the mid-20^th century.  References to the Spirit in the Scrolls provide a clear theological bridge between the Old and New Testaments, with much emphasis on the relationship between the Spirit and individuals.

• The Apocrypha – the set of 12-16 books, most of which appeared in the Greek translation of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint, but not in Hebrew versions of the Old Testament.  Today, they appear in some Bibles (Roman Catholic, NRSV, Orthodox, etc.) but not all (NIV, KJV, etc.)   References to the Spirit in the Apocrypha are similar to references found in the Old Testament.

 

While no Divine inspiration is claimed for the non-Biblical sources quoted herein, they are useful to trace the development of Jewish and early Christian thought on the topic of the Holy Spirit. 

 

And while this course is primarily focused on the Old Testament through the New Testament time periods, I’ve also included a few short notes on the view of the Holy Spirit in the Early Church and the Reformation, as well as a note on the linguistic differences between “Holy Ghost” and “Holy Spirit”.

Quiz on the Holy Spirit

 

1. T/F  In the Old Testament, the spirit of God is often synonymous with the metaphor of “wind”

2. T/F  The only spirit mentioned in the New Testament is the Holy Spirit

3.  T/F  God the Father is the only part of the Triune God present at Creation

4. T/F  The term “Holy Spirit” is not used in the Old Testament or the Dead Sea Scrolls

5. T/F  The New Testament is unique in its theology of “baptism by the Spirit”T/F  The Bible recognizes one unforgivable sin, which is blasphemy against God the Father

6. T/F  The Holy Spirit doesn’t interact with Jesus during his three year ministry on earth

7. T/F  One of the reasons that Eastern Christianity and Roman Christianity split was because of the wording of the clause about belief in the Holy Spirit in the Apostles Creed

8. T/F  The New Testament indicates that the Holy Spirit is with us from the time we are born

9. T/F  The Spirit is often associated in the Bible with the raven

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God is typically represented by the Hebrew word ruach, which can also be translated as “wind” or “breath”.

 

 

In general, I’m only including references to the Spirit in this section that are capitalized in the NIV.  The NIV uses an upper-case “S” when the translated word is in reference to God’s Spirit.

 

The concept of the Spirit of God permeates the Old Testament.  The Spirit is characterized in ways such as these:

 

• The Spirit is present during the Creation
• The power of the prophets to prophesy comes from the Spirit
• The Spirit can give life (and raise from the dead)
• The Spirit can make military actions successful
• The Spirit can confer – and withdraw – legitimacy on the Kings and Judges of Israel
• The Spirit can impart skills and abilities on individuals, as well as instruct and admonish
• It is impossible to flee from the Spirit
• The Spirit can grieve and become angry

Spirit at creation

All three “persons” of the triune God are mentioned in the opening verses of Genesis, during the creation story.  The Spirit is mentioned in Genesis 1:2 as “hovering over the waters” of God’s creation.  (Jesus appears as the Word of God, “And God spoke”.)

 

There are also verses that equate the Spirit with the giving of life, and “renew[ing] the face of the earth”.

 

 

 

The Spirit and the prophets

 

The greatest number of references to the Spirit in the Old Testament occurs in relationship to enabling the ability of the prophets to prophesy.  Among the prophets enabled by the Spirit: Azariah, Jahaziel, Zechariah, Isaiah, Ezekiel and Micah.  The prophet Joel speaks of prophecies in the future, in a verse also quoted in the New Testament:

 

“I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy…” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17-18)

 

Ezekiel has his series of eschatological visions in the power of the Spirit, such as this reference:

 

“The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem…” (Ezekiel 8:3)

 

The Spirit and military action

Four times in the Old Testament, the Spirit confers military prowess or might on an individual, the most famous being Gideon. 

 

The Spirit and Samson

The Spirit was very involved in the life of Samson, who led Israel for twenty years.  In Judges, Samson is given power by the Spirit to kill a lion with his bare hands.

 

 

The Spirit and Kings Saul & David

The Spirit is intimately involved in the lives of the first two Kings of Israel – Saul and David.  Saul receives power from the Spirit – but eventually has it taken away.  David is anointed by Samuel under the influence of the Spirit, and later plans for the Temple under the influence of the Spirit.  David makes use of the phrase “Holy Spirit” in Psalms – the only time the phrase is used in the Old Testament (it will, of course, be used often in the New Testament).

 

The Spirit and the Messiah

If we accept that Isaiah 42:1 is referring to the coming Messiah, we are told that the Messiah will have the Spirit on him when he arrives.  There are many references in the New Testament to Jesus interacting with the Holy Spirit (including references to the Holy Spirit being Jesus’ real father).

 

The Spirit as a “person”

In general, the Spirit of God in the Old Testament does not assume personal characteristics or emotions, but in Isaiah, we are told that the Spirit grieved, and in Micah, that the Spirit could be angry.

 

The Spirit and individuals

It will be in the New Testament that the role of the Spirit in transforming individual lives will bloom.  However, there are a few references in the Old Testament that underscore the impact of the Spirit on individuals (other than enabling prophesy).  We are told:

 

·        The Spirit can impart skill and abilities

·        The Spirit instructs and admonishes

·        The Spirit gives understanding

·        The Spirit anointed Isaiah “to preach good news to the poor”

·        The Spirit can impart life (and raise from the dead)

 

Misc.

Other references to the Spirit in the Old Testament enhance our understanding of the Third person of the Trinity.  Psalms 139:7 says that it is impossible to flee from the presence of the Spirit.  In several verses, the importance and special nature of Israel is underlined by the presence of the Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

The wind metaphor for the Holy Spirit continues in the New Testament, using the Greek word pneuma:

 

 

While the Old Testament view of the Spirit also appears in the New, the New Testament introduces the role of the Spirit as a Counselor or Companion.  While individuals receive the Spirit in the Old Testament, it is typically an event that happens from time to time for a specific reason – to give the individual strength at an important moment, to allow an individual to prophesy, etc.  In the New Testament, the promise is that once an individual is saved, the Spirit will be a constant companion from that time forward.  Receiving the Holy Spirit is referred to as a “baptism of fire”, and often occurs by the laying on of hands.

 

Characteristics of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament include:

 

• Like in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit enables individuals to prophesy.  Elizabeth, Zechariah, Agabus and John are all examples of people in the New Testament that are given this ability by the Holy Spirit.

• Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is specifically mentioned as an unforgivable sin

• The early church grew, encouraged by the Spirit

• The Gentiles could be sanctified by the Holy Spirit

• Having the gift of the Spirit is a sign of being in Jesus

• Justification (reconciliation with God) comes through Jesus and the Spirit

• We are granted Spiritual Gifts from the Spirit

• The Spirit will guide us in how to lead a righteous life

•  Jesus has a close relationship with the Holy Spirit during his earthly ministry.  The Spirit is present (“like a dove”) at the baptism of Jesus, as well as when Jesus spends 40 days in the desert.  God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power.

• (Jesus) is born of Mary who “was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit”

• The Apostles are informed by Jesus that after he is gone, the Spirit (referred to as a Counselor, or Companion in some translations), will come to them, and stay with them forever.  The Counselor will act as a teacher, and remind the Apostles of everything Jesus said to them.

• Baptism by the Holy Spirit may, or may not, happen at the same time as water baptism.  In the New Testament, baptism by the Holy Spirit is often accomplished by the laying on of hands.

• The start of the Church is often traced to the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles at Pentecost.

The Spirit vs. the Law

In several passages, Paul contrasts the “old way of the written code” with the “new way of the Spirit”.  He also notes that you can’t receive the Spirit simply by observing the (Mosaic) Law.

 

Prophecy

While we tend to associate prophecy most heavily with the Old Testament, there are many examples of prophesying in the New Testament, enabled by the same Person of the Trinity – the Holy Spirit.  Examples include Elizabeth, Zechariah, Agabus and John (see section on “The Spirit and the End Times”).

 

Blasphemy against the Spirit

The importance of the Holy Spirit is underscored by a series of verses in the Synoptic Gospels, and in Hebrews, which indicate that there is indeed an unforgivable sin – blasphemy of the Holy Spirit:

 

“But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.” (Mark 3:29)

 

“It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace” (Hebrews 6:4-6)

 

“How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)

 

In Acts, a couple (Ananias and his wife) are struck down and die, because they lied to the Holy Spirit.

 

Relationship between God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

 

 

One of the great debates in the history of Christendom concerns the nature of the relationship between God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  The Trinitarian view is that they are three “Persons” of the same entity.  But others have a Unitarian view – there is one God, and the Son and the Spirit are not on the same level as the Father.

 

Are there clues in the New Testament as to the relationship between the three?  2 Corinthians 3:17-18 tells us that “the Lord is the Spirit”.  Galatians 4:6 associates the Spirit with the Son, sent by God.  1 Timothy 3:16 seems to associate God, Jesus, and the Spirit as one.

 

Signs of the Spirit

Matthew comments that the ability to drive out demons comes from the Spirit of God.  John indicates in his first Epistle how we can discern between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood (compare to the Manual of Discipline in the Dead Sea Scrolls).

 

The Spirit and Individuals

 

 

While the Old Testament discusses the impact of the Spirit on individuals, we get much more detail in the New Testament, especially from Paul, who writes often about the Spirit.  Some characteristics of the relationship between the Holy Spirit and individuals include:

 

• Individuals can preach the Word of God because the Spirit speaks through them
• The Father will give the Holy Spirit to those that ask (seems to go against John Wesley’s idea of Prevenient Grace)
• The Holy Spirit comes to those who obey God
• The Spirit can transport individuals over large distances
• If you don’t have the gift of the Spirit, you don’t belong to Christ
• The Spirit helps us with our weaknesses, and intercedes on our behalf
• “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
• Justification (reconciliation with God) comes through Jesus and the Spirit
• We are granted Spiritual Gifts from the Spirit
• The Spirit will guide us in how to lead a righteous life

 

Jesus and the Spirit

 

Jesus has a close relationship with the Holy Spirit during his earthly ministry.  The Spirit is present (“like a dove”) at the baptism of Jesus, as well as when Jesus spends 40 days in the desert.  God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power.

 

 

Coming of the Messiah

 

 

 

The Messiah (Jesus) is born of Mary who “was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit”.  John the Baptist, who proclaims the coming of the Messiah, and baptizes Jesus, is “filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth”.  Simeon can identify the baby Jesus as the Messiah because “the Holy Spirit was upon him”.

 

Counselor or Companion

These verses could be grouped with the section “the Holy Spirit and Individuals”, but I decided to break them out because of the uniqueness of the “counselor” or “companion” verbiage to John’s Gospel.

 

In John, Jesus makes several references to the fact the apostles would receive the Spirit after he was glorified.  The Spirit is referred to as a Counselor (or Companion in some translations).  The Counselor will be with them forever.  The Counselor will act as a teacher, and remind the Apostles of everything Jesus said to them.  After Jesus is gone, the Counselor will “convict the world of guilt.”

 

An interesting question is when did the Apostles receive the Spirit?  Was it after the resurrection but before the ascension (John 20:22), or was it after the Ascension at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4)?

 

Baptize by the spirit

This brings us to the interesting question of baptism by water versus baptism by the Holy Spirit.  John the Baptist tells us in all three Synoptic Gospels that while he, John, baptizes with water, Jesus will baptize with the “Holy Spirit and with fire”.  Yet water baptism continues all through the New Testament.  Are baptism by the Spirit, and water baptism different?  Acts indicates that it is possible to receive one without receiving the other.  John 3:5-9 indicates that “…no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit”, but that may be a metaphor for being born in the womb, and being reborn in Christ.

 

In Acts, baptism of the Holy Spirit is accomplished by the laying on of hands.  Baptism of the Holy Spirit is sometimes accompanied by the ability to speak in tongues.

 

Pentecost and the Apostles

In the Gospel of John, Jesus promises that he will send a Counselor (the Holy Spirit) after he is gone.  This baptism of the Holy Spirit is described in Acts 2:1-4:

 

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

 

From this point on, the Apostles are given the power to preach, to heal, to raise from the dead, and to prophesy.

 

The Holy Spirit directly guides Paul and other Apostles as to which city or province they should (or shouldn’t) visit next.

 

The Spirit and the End Times

 

Misc.

• The early church grew, encouraged by the Spirit

• The Gentiles could be sanctified by the Holy Spirit

• The Spirit is truth

 

The Holy Spirit in the Apocrypha

The Apocrypha is the set of 12-16 books that appear in the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Bibles, but not in most Protestant Bibles.  They were mostly written in the latter part of the Inter-Testamental period (the Inter-Testamental period lasted from about 430 B.C. to 0 A.D.)

 

Most of the references to the Spirit in the Apocrypha follow Old Testament conventions.  There are no references to the Holy Spirit as a Companion or Counselor, or as a constant presence in the saved.

 

Some characteristics of the Holy Spirit in the Apocrypha include:

 

• The Spirit was present at Creation.  God sent forth his Spirit, and formed humans.

• Since the Spirit fills the world, God knows of all unrighteous acts, and will bring the unrighteous to judgment

• Wisdom is received from the Spirit

• Through the Spirit, people will believe in what God says

• Ezra receives his ability to prophesy from the Spirit

• Two passages in 2 Esdras would seem to support the Methodist/Wesleyan doctrine of Prevenient Grace (although the concept doesn’t appear in the New Testament)

 

The Spirit was present at Creation.  God sent forth his Spirit, and formed humans.

 

“Let all your creatures serve you, for you spoke, and they were made.  You sent forth your spirit, and it formed them; there is none that can resist your voice. (Judith 16:14, NRSV)

 

“I said, “O Lord, you spoke at the beginning of creation, and said on the first day, ‘Let heaven and earth be made,’ and your word accomplished the work. Then the spirit was blowing, and darkness and silence embraced everything; the sound of human voices was not yet there. Then you commanded a ray of light to be brought out from your store-chambers, so that your works could be seen.”  (2 Esdras 6:38-40, NRSV)

 

Since the Spirit fills the world, God knows of all unrighteous acts, and will bring the unrighteous to judgment

 

“Because the spirit of the Lord has filled the world, and that which holds all things together knows what is said, therefore those who utter unrighteous things will not escape notice, and justice, when it punishes, will not pass them by.” (Wisdom of Solomon 1:7, NRSV)

 

Wisdom is received from the Spirit

 

“Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? (Wisdom of Solomon 9:17, NRSV)

 

“If the great Lord is willing, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;  he will pour forth words of wisdom of his own and give thanks to the Lord in prayer.”  (Sirach 39:6)

 

 

Through the Spirit, people will believe in what God says

 

“I call to witness the gratitude of the people that is to come, whose children rejoice with gladness; though they do not see me with bodily eyes, yet with the spirit they will believe the things I have said.” (2 Esdras 1:37, NRSV)

 

Ezra receives his ability to prophesy from the Spirit

 

“If then I have found favor with you, send the holy spirit into me, and I will write everything that has happened in the world from the beginning, the things that were written in your law, so that people may be able to find the path, and that those who want to live in the last days may do so.”  (2 Esdras 14: 22, NRSV)

 

Two passages in 2 Esdras would seem to support the Methodist doctrine of Prevenient Grace

 

“He formed human beings and put a heart in the midst of each body, and gave each person breath and life and understanding and the spirit of Almighty God, who surely made all things and searches out hidden things in hidden places.” (2 Esdras 16:61-62, NRSV)

 

“For your immortal spirit is in all things.” (Wisdom of Solomon 12:1, NRSV)

The Holy Spirit in the Dead Sea Scrolls

 

Several views of Qumran – and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found (Photos by Barbara Brim)

 

While the references to the Spirit in the Apocrypha seem more closely related to the Old Testament than the New, the Dead Sea Scrolls seem to form more of a bridge between the Old and New Testaments.  Certainly, the views of the Dead Sea Scrolls on the Holy Spirit would be recognizable by First Century A.D. Christians (and may have influenced First Century Christians), even down to repeated references to the “Holy Spirit” (only mentioned once in the Old Testament)  Some similarities between the Scrolls and New Testament theology on the Spirit include:

 

• The Scrolls equate many positive personality traits to the effect of the Spirit

• The Spirit establishes a man’s way to the path of righteousness

• The Spirit grants “a revelation of truth”

• Through the Spirit, a person will be “cleansed from all his iniquities”

• God’s Spirit will “hover” over the poor “and will renew the faithful with His power”

• The term “Holy Spirit” is used repeatedly in the Scrolls (it is only used once in the Old Testament)

• The scrolls seem to equate defiling the Holy Spirit with blasphemy.  The New Testament goes further, identifying blasphemy of the Holy Spirit as an unforgivable sin.

 

One area where the Scrolls differ from New Testament theology is in viewing that the “spirit of truth” is with us all our lives – not just after being saved.

 

The most intriguing reference to the Holy Spirit in the Dead Sea Scrolls is the famous passage in the Manual of Discipline (a.k.a. Community Rule):

 

“[God] created man to have dominion over the world and made for him two spirits, that he might walk by them until the appointed time of his visitation; they are the spirits of truth and of error. In the abode of light are the origins of truth, and from the source of darkness are the origins of error. In the hand of the prince of lights is dominion over all sons of righteousness; in the way of light they walk. And in the hand of the angel of darkness is all dominion over the sons of error; and in the ways of darkness they walk. And by the angel of darkness is the straying of all the sons of righteousness...but the God of Israel and his angel of truth have helped all the sons of light.” (Manual of Discipline, Burrows translation, p. 374; emphasis added)

 

The references equating the spirit to truth are similar to passages in John referring to the coming Companion or Counselor. 

 

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:17, emphasis added)

 

“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15:26, emphasis added)

 

The Scrolls equate many positive personality traits to the effect of the Spirit

 

“…a spirit of humility, patience, abundant charity, unending goodness, understanding, and intelligence; (a spirit of) mighty wisdom which trusts in all the deeds of God and leans on His great loving-kindness; a spirit of discernment in every purpose, of zeal for just laws, of holy intent with steadfastness of heart, of great charity towards all the sons of truth, of admirable purity which detests all unclean idols, of humble conduct sprung from an understanding of all things, and of faithful concealment of the mysteries of truth.  These are the counsels of the spirit to the sons of truth in this world…

 

...And as for the visitation of all who walk in this spirit, it shall be healing, great peace in a long life, and fruitfulness, together with every everlasting blessing and eternal joy in life without end, a crown of glory and a garment of majesty in unending light.”  (Community Rule, Geza Vermes translation, p. 102)

 

The Manual of Discipline goes on to discuss the fact that each person has a portion of the spirits of truth and error (Belial) within them their whole lives – again, this sounds like the John Wesley doctrine of Prevenient Grace.  This is different than the New Testament concept of baptism by the Holy Spirit, and the Companion or Counselor that comes to one as a result.

 

“The nature of all the children of men is ruled by these (two spirits), and during their life all the hosts of men have a portion of their divisions and walk in (both) their ways. And the whole reward for their deeds shall be, for everlasting ages, according to whether each man's portion in their two divisions is great or small. For God has established the spirits in equal measure until the final age, and has set everlasting hatred between their divisions.”  (Community Rule, Geza Vermes translation, p. 102)

 

“Until now the spirits of truth and injustice struggle in the hearts of men and they walk in both wisdom and folly.  According to his portion of truth so does a man hate injustice, and according to his inheritance in the realm of injustice so is he wicked and so hates truth. For God has established the two spirits in equal measure until the determined end, and until the Renewal, and He knows the reward of their deeds from all eternity. He has allotted them to the children of men that they may know good [and evil, and] that the destiny of all the living may be according to the spirit within [them at the time] of the visitation.”  (Community Rule, Geza Vermes translation, p. 103)

 

The Spirit establishes a man’s way to the path of righteousness

 

“The way of man is not established except by the spirit which God created for him to make perfect a way for the children of men…”  (Thanksgiving Hymns, Geza Vermes translation, p. 266)

 

“Thou has shed Thy Holy Spirit upon me that I may not stumble.”  (Thanksgiving Hymns, Geza Vermes translation, p. 175)

 

“Thou didst renew for them Thy Covenant (founded) on a glorious vision and the words of Thy Holy [Spirit], on the works of Thy hands and the writing of Thy Right Hand, that they might know the foundations of glory and the steps towards eternity…”  (Liturgical Prayer, 1Q34, Geza Vermes translation, p. 368)

 

The Spirit grants “a revelation of truth” and understanding

 

“And he caused them to know by his anointed his Holy Spirit and a revelation of truth.” (Damascus Document, Burrows translation, p. 350)

 

“And he made known his Holy Spirit to them by the hand of His anointed ones, and he proclaimed the truth (to them).”  (Community Rule, Geza Vermes translation, p. 128)

 

“…for Thou hast cast their (lot) according to the spirits between good and evil to accomplish their task.  And I know through the understanding which comes from Thee, that in Thy goodwill towards m[a]n [Thou hast] increa[sed his inheritance] in Thy Holy Spirit and thus Thou hast drawn me near to understanding of Thee.”  (Thanksgiving Hymns, Geza Vermes translation, p. 248)

 

Through the Spirit, a person will be “cleansed from all his iniquities” and purified

 

“But in a spirit of true counsel for the ways of a man all his iniquities will be atoned, so that he will look at the light of life, and in a holy spirit he will be united in his truth; and he will be cleansed from all his iniquities; and in an upright and humble spirit his sin will be atoned, and in the submission of his soul to all the statutes of God his flesh will be cleansed, that he may be sprinkled with water for impurity and sanctify himself with water of cleanness.” (Manual of Discipline, Burrows translation, p. 373)

 

“And I know that man is not righteous except through Thee, and therefore I implore Thee by the spirit which Thou hast given [me] to perfect Thy [favours] to Thy servant [for ever], purifying me by Thy Holy Spirit, and drawing me near to Thee by Thy grace according to the abundance of Thy mercies.”  (Thanksgiving Hymns, Geza Vermes translation, p. 252)

 

“A man’s way is not established except by the Spirit which God created for him to make blameless a way for the sons of man.” (Thanksgiving Psalm, Burrows translation, p. 335)

 

God’s Spirit will “hover” over the poor “and will renew the faithful with His power”

 

“Over the poor His spirit will hover and will renew the faithful with His power...” (A Messianic Apocalypse, 4Q521, Geza Vermes translation, p. 392)

 

The scrolls seem to equate defiling the Holy Spirit with blasphemy

 

“Furthermore, they defile their holy spirit and open their mouth with a blaspheming tongue against the laws of the Covenant of God, saying, “They are not sure””  ((Community Rule, Geza Vermes translation, p. 131)

 

“…no man shall defile his holy spirit since God has set them apart…”  (Community Rule, Geza Vermes translation, p. 132)

The Spirit in the Christian Apocrypha

The Christian Apocrypha is loosely defined as a set of books written in the 2nd and 3rd Centuries A.D. that were not deemed worthy of inclusion in the New Testament.  They often claim to be written by apostles, or to have additional information about apostles.  While they shouldn’t be viewed as divinely inspired, they are interesting to see trends in the early church.

 

In terms of the Spirit, the Christian Apocryphal works seem to strongly support the idea of a Trinitarian God, showing that this doctrine was entrenched very early in the early church (see also section on the Creeds):

 

“Peace to you, and to all who believe in one God, perfect Trinity, true Father unbegotten, true Son only-begotten, true Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, and abiding in the Son, in order that there may be shown one Holy Spirit subsisting in the Father and Son in precious Godhead.” (Acts and Martyrdom of the Holy Apostle Andrew)

 

“…one God, the Father, acknowledged in Son and Holy Spirit; one God, the Son, glorified in Father and Holy Spirit; one God, the Holy Spirit, worshipped in Father and Son; and acknowledged to be truly one, the Father unbegotten, the Son begotten, the Holy Spirit proceeding; and in Thee the Father, and in the Holy Spirit, Thine only begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ is, in whose name Thou hast given us power to heal the sick, to cure paralytics, to expel demons, and raise the dead…” (Martyrdom of The Holy and Glorious Apostle Bartholomew)

 

“Before the ages Thou didst foreknow all things along with the Father, with whom to Thee and the Holy Spirit there is one Godhead, equal and infinite power.” (The Passing of Mary)

 

“…our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with the Father and the Holy Spirit, in perfect unity, and in one substance of Godhead, for ever and ever.” (The Passing of Mary)

The Early Church

The issue of the role of the Holy Spirit in worship and prophecy bubbled up in the 2^nd century.  Around c. 156 A.D., a self-styled prophet named Montanus started to attract followers in Phrygia, Asia Minor.  Montanus fostered a very charismatic environment, and believed that the Holy Spirit spoke directly through him, and his followers - the Montanists believed that they were receiving Divine Revelation, like the Old Testament prophets. 

 

This forced the Church to decide what value to place on prophecy and revelation from people claiming to have the Holy Spirit speaking through them.  Some of the bishops of the time (such as Serapion, bishop of Antioch) were concerned that such prophesying might be viewed on the same level as Holy Scripture – and could interfere with people’s understanding of the core message of the Scriptures.

 

Around c. 190 A.D., Monatanus was excommunicated, but his movement (which included Tertullian at one point) forced the established church to examine the role of the Holy Spirit in the contemporary church.  In time, the response of church was that revelation ended with the Apostolic Age.  Those with the gift of prophecy after the Apostolic Age were simply explaining the already existing Word of God – not adding to it.

The Creeds

 

The Apostles Creed can be traced back as far as 212 A.D., in a baptism ritual quoted by Hippolytus.  All three persons of the Trinity are mentioned in the Apostles Creed – “I believe in God the Father…and in Jesus Christ…and the Holy Ghost”.

 

The Nicene Creed was produced by the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.  While it mostly focused on the relationship between the Father and Son, the Creed also mentions that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son:

 

“And we believe in the Holy Spirit [the original version of the creed ended here], the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.”

 

This passage confirms the Trinitarian nature of the godhead – Father, Son and Holy Ghost.  This is also the section that helped cause the schism between the Roman Church, and the Eastern (Orthodox) Church in the 11^th century (and also, the only significant difference in the Creed between the Eastern and Western churches).  The Eastern Church says that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father – the Western Church (including the Protestant churches) say that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.

The Reformation

The Westminster Larger catechism has a series of questions and answers that discuss the nature of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost:

 

“Question 9: How many persons are there in the Godhead?

 

Answer: There be three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one true, eternal God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory; although distinguished by their personal properties.

 

Question 10: What are the personal properties of the three persons in the Godhead?

 

Answer: It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all eternity.

 

Question 11: How does it appear that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father?

 

Answer: The Scriptures manifest that the Son and the Holy Ghost are God equal with the Father, ascribing unto them such names, attributes, works, and worship, as are proper to God only.” (Westminster Larger Catechism)

Holy Ghost vs. Holy Spirit

Various Christian denominations use either the term “Holy Ghost” or “Holy Spirit”.  For example, the Apostles Creed as recited in the Methodist Church usually uses “Holy Spirit”; Presbyterians typically use “Holy Ghost”.  More modern Bible translations tend to use “Holy Spirit”; older Bible versions, including the King James Bible, Tyndale’s New Testament (1525) and the Geneva Bible (1599) use “Holy Ghost”.  The demarcation line in terms of Bible translations is the Revised Version of 1881, which used “Holy Spirit”.

Summary

There is remarkable unanimity between the Old Testament, the inter-Testamental works, and the New Testament on the topic of the Holy Spirit.  The New Testament is unique in picturing the Spirit as a Companion or Counselor that is with an individual forever after being saved.  The New Testament is also unique with its concept of a “baptism by fire” that is associated with the laying on of hands by the Apostles.

 

The Apocrypha generally follows the conventions of the Old Testament in its references about the Spirit.  The Dead Sea Scrolls, on the other hand, seem to provide more of a theological bridge between the Old and New Testament theologies on the Spirit, by focusing heavily on the role of the Spirit in individuals, and making repeated references to the “Holy Spirit”, a term only used once in the Old Testament.  Both the Apocrypha and the Dead Sea Scrolls seem to back the idea of the Spirit being present in humans from birth, a concept not found in the New Testament (although later promulgated by John Wesley into the doctrine of Prevenient Grace).

Sources

 

Qumran photos by Barbara Brim

 

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Posted 4/3/2007