Particulars
of Christianity:
302
The Trinity
The Trinity:
Addendum 3
Introductions
The
Angel of YHWH as YHWH God
The
Angel of YHWH as Distinct from YHWH God
Immediate
Interactive Dialogue
A
Consistent Expectation about Seeing God's Face
Survey
Examining Eternal Past Existence
Establishing
Eternal Past Existence
Distinction
of the Spirit of YHWH
Ancient
Jewish Recognition of Trinitarian Facts
The
Trinity in the New Testament
Addendum
1 & 2
Addendum
3
A
Look at the Historic Interaction of
the Third Person of the Trinity
Our
examination of Old Testament facts concerning the Trinity
led to a deepened understanding of the Person of the Word.
This resulted from an examination tracing his Old Testament
history prior to the incarnation. While our study did cover
the passages, which likewise establish that the Holy Spirit
is a distinct, eternal figure according to the Old Testament,
our investigation did not explore the Holy Spirit’s overall
history and the nature of his interaction with men in a manner
comparable to our investigation of the Word. This resulted
from the fact that the Person of the Word just so happens
to be the primary interactive agent with mankind in the Old
Testament, revealing the knowledge of God to men. As such,
facts about God’s nature came primarily and uniquely through
the interactions of the Word with Old Testament figures.
This
portion of the addendum will focus on exploring the overall
interactive history of the Holy Spirit. During the closing
section of our main study, entitled, “Understanding the Titles
of the Trinity,” we touched on the contrast between the Word’s
interaction with mankind and the interaction of the Holy Spirit.
In that section, we provided a closing summary explaining
the reasoning, which under girds the naming conventions for
the Persons of the Trinity, starting very early in the Old
Testament. Since this segment will expand our exploration
of the overall history of the Holy Spirit, we will comment
on some of those same issues here, but in more detail.
For
review, during our main study we mentioned that the term “the
angel of YHWH” applied in the Old Testament to the Second
Person of the Trinity and that this term was understood to
be interchangeable or synonymous with “the Word of YHWH.”
Both titles reflect that this eternally distinct Person within
the Godhead operated as God the speaker and God the message-bringer
to mankind. In this role, we consistently saw the Second Person
of the Godhead visiting in the humble guise of a man, which
in turn prefigured his actual incarnation, which was later
recorded in the New Testament. The Word’s early, predominant,
and frequent visitation in the guise of a man is foundational
to understanding the role of the Holy Spirit. As we noted,
the term “the Spirit of YHWH” was a title that was understood
to contrast to the human guise that the Second Person took
on in his role as primary messenger. One figure was YHWH visiting
in the guise of a spirit being. The other was YHWH visiting
in the guise of a man. And it is on this point that we will
pick up with where our comments left off at the tail end of
our main study.
The
Title “Angel” Denotes Human Guise Not “Angelic” Spirits
Perhaps
one explanation that was left lingering surrounded the designation
“angel.” Specifically, at this point in time the term angel
is typically understood as a synonym for those invisible and
immortal spirit beings that God created alongside mortal men.
Consequently, the question might arise as to how the term
“the angel of YHWH” could possible have been meant
to distinguish one Person as having a human guise?
Or in other words, how could the term “the Spirit of YHWH”
be intended to contrast with the title “the angel of YHWH”
given the fact that “angel” and “spirit” are understood as
synonymous in common usage?
Here
we must start with an obvious fact. The term “angel” is not
really comparable to the term “man.” “Man” describes a class
of creatures. But “angel” describes a job, activity, or role.
Specifically, the term “angel” means “messenger.” This is
true both with the underlying Hebrew word “mal’ak” (Strong’s
No. 04397) and the underlying Greek word “aggelos” (Strong’s
No. 32). Thus, this term does not describe a class of being,
but a role.
As
we will now demonstrate, the application of this term “angel”
to the immortal class of creatures is developmental and by
association. Originally, when the terms “the angel of YHWH”
and “the Spirit of YHWH” were developed to differentiate between
two Old Testament figures of YHWH, that associative titling
had not yet developed. As a result, when the naming conventions
“the angel of YHWH” and “the Spirit of YHWH” were first put
into use, the terms “angel” and “spirit” were not synonyms
as they are by the time of the New Testament.
First,
the earliest title for the immortal class of creatures is
not “angel” or “mal’ak” in the Hebrew. Instead, it is the
word “keruwb” (Strong’s No. 03742). The first mention of such
creatures as a category is in Genesis 3. In the early verses
of this chapter, we find the first man and woman interacting
with a being known as “the serpent,” but we can presume that
this title may reflect his deceptive actions rather than his
category of being. However, at the end of the same chapter,
when God drove the first man and woman out of the garden of
Eden, the text states that God placed “cherubims” there to
guard the entrance of the garden. The word is plural and it
is used in such a way as to indicate that it is referring
to a class of beings.
Genesis
3:23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was
taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the
east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword
which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of
life.
Most
importantly, we can see that the earliest identification of
immortal creatures is not under the title “mal’ak” or “angel.”
Second,
the term “mal’ak” or “angel” is applied to men frequently
in the Old Testament. In Numbers 20:14 and 21:21, Moses sends
men from Israel out as messengers. The Hebrew text calls them
“mal’ak,” the Hebrew word for “angel.” Likewise, in Numbers
22:5 and 24:12, the pagan king Balak sends messengers to the
prophet Balaam. Again, the Hebrew text calls them “mal’ak.”
In Joshua 6:25, Rahab the prostitute hides the Israelite men
sent as messnegers to her city. In this instance also, the
Hebrew word is “mal’ak.” In fact, the Old Testament uses the
Hebrew word “mal’ak” 92 times to refer to men. That’s 92 times
out of a total of 197 times that the word “mal’ak” occurs
in the Old Testament, which means that this term is applied
to men almost half the times that it is used. Not to mention
that another 71 of the occurrences of “mal’ak” are specifically
references to the figure known as “the angel of YHWH.” This
leaves only 34 times where “mal’ak” refers to immortal creatures
in general, which is nearly 1/3 the amount that it is applied
to men.
And
even in the New Testament, where the term angel (or “aggelos”
in the Greek) has largely come to designate the immortal creatures,
the term is still applied to men at least 6 times.
Matthew
11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto
the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into
the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?…10 For
this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send
my messenger 32 before thy face, which shall prepare thy
way before thee.
Mark
1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send
my messenger 32 before thy face, which shall prepare thy
way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
Luke
7:24 And when the messengers 32 of John were departed,
he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What
went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken
with the wind?…27 This is he, of whom it is written,
Behold, I send my messenger 32 before thy face, which
shall prepare thy way before thee.
Luke
9:52 And sent messengers 32 before his face: and
they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to
make ready for him.
James
2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified
by works, when she had received the messengers 32,
and had sent them out another way?
Consequently,
it is quite clear that both the Old and the New Testaments
primarily understood the term “angel” to refer to the role
or activity of a messenger that was at times carried out by
men and at other times carried out by immortal spirits. While
the New Testament uses this term quite frequently as a title
for the immortal spirits, the Old Testament does not. This
demonstrates the developmental application of this as a title
for the immortal spirits. It was only by association after
a history of occurrences where these beings were acting as
messengers that the term “messengers” came to be a quick reference
for these beings as a class of creatures.
Third,
the figure known as “the angel of YHWH” does not acquire that
title by association with immortal spirits. To the contrary,
it would appear that the opposite is true. The application
of the term “mal’ak” or “angel” to immortal spirits begins
in the Old Testament because they too begin to act as messengers,
just as he acts as a messenger. In fact, this is demonstrated
by the very first application of the title “mal’ak” to the
immortal spirit creatures, which occurs in Genesis 18-19.
As we discussed during our main study, chapters 18-19 of Genesis
recount the entire narrative concerning Sodom and Gomorrah.
This narrative begins in chapter 18:1, when YHWH God visits
Abraham accompanied by two other figures. As expected by our
model, all three figures, including YHWH, are described by
the text as appearing like “men.”
Genesis
18:1 And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains
of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2 And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men
stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet
them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground.
As
Abraham talks with one of these men, it is clear from the
text that he is YHWH. However, we will not recount the entire
story here since we have already done so in our main study.
To be brief, in verses 17-33, YHWH enters into a dialog with
Abraham about his plans to investigate and destroy these cities.
Near the beginning of this dialog, in verse 22, the text states,
“And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward
Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.” This statement
not only once again refers to the other two figures with YHWH
as men, but it also clearly identifies that the third man
is YHWH.
Then,
when the text concludes the dialog between YHWH and Abraham,
chapter 19 begins. And verse 1 of chapter 19 states, “And
there came two angels to Sodom at even.” Now, as a modern
English audience, we read this verse and say, “Ah, so the
two visitors with YHWH were angelic beings.” But this is imposing
our modern perceptions onto the text. “Mal’ak” had been used
already to refer to the figure known as the angel of YHWH
in Genesis 16 and in that sense, it merely described his activity
as a messenger. But up to this point in the book of Genesis,
the term “mal’ak” has never been used to refer to the immortal
class of spiritual beings. So, a Hebrew reader would not have
understood the term “mal’ak” in Genesis 19:1 as a reference
to what class of beings these two visitors were. Instead,
the Hebrew reader would simply have understood that Genesis
19 was identifying these two figures as messengers. And after
all, they were indeed messengers sent to Sodom to speak to
Lot.
The
identification of these two other figures in the immortal
class of creatures is not indicated by the term “mal’ak.”
Instead, it is indicated primarily in two ways. First, their
nature is indicated by the fact that they are accompanying
YHWH God. And second, their nature is indicated by their ability
to perform the supernatural, such as striking the men of Sodom
blind in chapter 19:11.
What
we learn from this earliest application of the term “mal’ak”
to immortal spirit creatures is this. That title was extended
to them because they were associated with the messenger activities
of the figure known as the angel of YHWH. The association
was not one of nature but one of activity or role. Subsequent
applications of this term to that class of beings are based
upon this trend. Consequently, it is simply not the case that
the term “angel” in the phrase “the angel of YHWH” would have
indicated to Hebrew readers that this figure was to be likened
to or associated with the class of immortal spirit creatures.
To
summarize, as we can see, when the title “the angel of YHWH”
was developed, the terms “angel” and “spirit” were not synonyms.
The term angel simply denoted a messenger and it was predominantly
used of human messengers in the Old Testament. And, to some
extent, in accordance with this trend, it originally designated
God visiting in the guise of a human messenger as well, just
as our model outlines. The association of the terms “spirit”
and “angel” as synonyms did not occur until later in history
after the immortal spirits had begun to act as messengers
more frequently. But initially, the titles “the angel of YHWH”
and “the Spirit of YHWH” would not have been thought of as
synonyms. Instead, one would have designated God’s frequent
visitations in the humble guise of a man bearing instruction
as a messenger would. And the other would have designated
God’s visitations in the guise and operation of an immortal
spirit being, just as we have outlined above.
The
Title “Spirit” Properly Denotes Angelic Beings
There
is more than can be said to demonstrate that the title “the
Spirit of YHWH” was always meant to reflect God in the guise
and operation of the spirits we commonly call angels. This
additional demonstration comes when we try to identify exactly
what a more proper, technical title for this class of beings
might be, given the fact that “angel” simply denotes a role
or activity, not a category of creatures.
If
we want to identify a comparable word for “man,” we first
have to understand something about the term “man” itself.
The Hebrew word for “man” is “adam” (Strong’s No. 0120), which
is intended to reflect a close relationship to the Hebrew
word “adamah” (Strong’s No. 0127), which means, “ground or
land.” (Both “adam” and “adamah” are derivatives of the Hebrew
word “adam.” Strong’s No. 0119, which means “red.”) Most importantly,
the reason for this title is explained very early in Genesis.
Specifically, the title “man” is given to this class of beings
because they are formed from the “ground” or soil. This is
explicitly explained in Genesis 2:7.
Genesis
2:7 And the LORD God formed man 0120 of the
dust of the ground 0127, and breathed into his nostrils
the breath 05397 of life; and man became a living soul.
This
class of creatures was formed from the ground or “adamah”
and so they are called man or “adam.” And into this class
of creatures God breathed the breath of life, which in turn
brought this creature to life. Consequently, this class of
creatures is part earthen matter and part spirit or breath,
as we will see below.
In
light of these facts, if we want to find the comparable Biblical
title for the class of creatures commonly called “angels,”
the more appropriate choice is the term “spirit.” This is
outlined in the scriptures.
Just
as “adam” reflects the constitution from the “ground,” the
term “spirit” likewise reflects the constitution of this class
of creatures. The Hebrew term for “spirit” is “ruwach” (Strong’s
No. 07307), which can alternately mean either “spirit” or
“wind, breath.” This conceptual relationship between “ruwach”
and “breath” in turn connects to the Hebrew word “nashamah”
(Strong’s No. 05397), which is used in Genesis 2:7 to describe
how God “breathed” into man “the breath of life.” Here the
word for “breath” is “nashamah.” As we mentioned earlier,
this phrase in Genesis 2:7 was meant to indicate that, although
man’s body was formed from the ground, this class of creatures
was also “spirit.”
Early
on, the book of Numbers also attests to the fact that men
are not only flesh but spirit also when it describes God as
“the God of the spirits of all flesh.” By this phrase, both
of the passages below attest to the fact that although they
are flesh, men are also spirits.
Numbers
16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God,
the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man
sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
Numbers
27:16 Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh,
set a man over the congregation.
In
fact, this concept of man as part spirit and part earthen
matter is reflected just a few chapters after Genesis 2 in
Genesis 6.
Genesis
6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive
with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days
shall be an hundred and twenty years.
In
verse 3, God’s statement that his spirit will not always strive
with man “for man is also flesh” is intended to denote that
God’s spirit strove with the spirits of men, but that man
was also comprised of a natural, mortal body from the ground.
As such, God could limit the length of men’s lives severely
to only one hundred and twenty years, as the text denotes.
Thus, in this passage as well as in other details of the opening
chapters of Genesis, we learn that man is mortal and that
this mortality is connected to the composition of his body
from the earthen matter or ground. And when a man’s body dies,
his spirit lives on. The immortality of the spirit is indicated
clearly in scripture. Consequently, immortality is tied to
the term “spirit” and is figuratively represented by “wind”
in the same way that mortality is tied to the term “adam”
and is figuratively represented by the term “ground,” “earth,”
(or perhaps more poetically, “clay”).
From
these pieces, it becomes even clearer that the term “spirit,”
not “angel,” is the proper designation for the immortal
class of beings, whose name is derived from the wind similar
to how man’s name is derived from the ground. This is only
highlighted by the fact that the term “angel” only becomes
associated with these immortal spirits developmentally sometime
later.
Effectively,
man was created part spirit and part mortal body but the creatures
commonly known as “angels” are also spirits but in their entirety,
so that even their bodies are spirit bodies, in contrast to
man’s body which is regarded as mortal and natural. These
facts are spelled out plainly in the New Testament.
In
Matthew 22, Mark 12, and Luke 20, Jesus specifies that through
the resurrection men become “equal to the angels.” The account
in Luke also states that this specifically includes men becoming
immortal as the angels are.
Matthew
22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry,
nor are given in marriage, but are as (5613) the angels
(32) of God in heaven.
Mark
12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they
neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as (5613)
the angels (32) which are in heaven.
Luke
20:36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal
unto the angels (2465); and are the children of God, being
the children of the resurrection.
The
Greek terms underlying these statements highlight the emphasis.
In Matthew 22 and Mark 12, the Greek word for “as” is the
word “hos” (Strong’s No. 5613), which simply means “as, like,
even as.” In Luke 20, the Greek terms for “equal to” and “angels”
are really a single, compound word, “isaggelos” (Strong’s
No. 2465). “Isoaggelos” is formed from the word “isos” (Strong’s
No. 2470), which means “equal, in quantity or quality” and
the word “aggelos” (Strong’s No. 32), which means “messenger”
or “angel” and is here being used to refer to the immortal
class of creatures. As a result, “isoaggelos” literally means
“equal in quality to the angels.” And consequently, in plain
language, Jesus himself is teaching that through the resurrection,
men become equal to the immortal creatures commonly known
as angels. And this lead leads directly to our next point.
When
teaching on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle
Paul discusses the human body, both concerning its present
form prior to the resurrection and concerning its form after
it is resurrected.
1
Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How
are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
In
fact, Paul’s comments here are a virtual treatise on the points
we’ve been outlining. After asking the question concerning
what kind of body the resurrected will have, Paul uses an
illustration to explain that the resurrected body is a transformed
and greater version of our natural body in the same way that
a plant is a greater transformation from a seed.
1
Corinthians 15:36 Thou fool, that which thou
sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that
which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be,
but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other
grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased
him, and to every seed his own body.
As
we will see, this one to one correspondence in which the current,
mortal body is itself transformed, rather than being replaced
with a substitute, is also reasserted in verses 42-44 below.
In those verses, Paul writes that concerning the body that,
“It is sown in corruption, dishonor, and weakness. It is raised
in incorruption, glory, and power.” Here Paul makes it plain
that the body, which is raised, is the same body that died.
Through the resurrection, this same body is simply transformed.
However,
after explaining in verses 36-38 that the resurrected body
is simply a transformed version of our current body, Paul
further explain that there are different kinds of bodies.
The purpose of these comments is to identify our present body
as only one of many different forms of matter. We notice that
Paul lists not only living things such as beasts, fish, and
birds, but also the kind of matter that stars are comprised
of.
1
Corinthians 15:39 All flesh is not the same
flesh: but there is one kind of flesh
of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and
another of birds. 40 There are also celestial
bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial
is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is
another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another
glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one
star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So
also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown
in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown
in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness;
it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it
is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there
is a spiritual body.
As
Paul continues his delineation of the different types of bodies,
it is most relevant that Paul lists “spiritual bodies” right
alongside these other types of bodies such as mortal bodies,
planets, and stars. All of the other items in this category
are physical things but in different states. According to
Paul, this is how we should understand the spiritual body
as well. It is a physical thing as is our current body. But
it is in a different condition or state. And in the case of
the spiritual bodies that result from the resurrection, they
are a transformed version of our current physical body, simply
in a different state than at present.
We
should not move over verse 44 too quickly. It is most important
that Paul informs his audience in no uncertain terms that
“there is a spiritual body.” There is a version of our bodies
that is not just natural but spiritual, a version of our body
that is suited to our immortal spirits, unlike the present
version of our bodies, which are merely natural and mortal.
In
Paul’s next series of statements, he asserts a point that
we made earlier from the text of Genesis.
1
Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man
Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made
a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not
first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward
that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of
the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from
heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also
that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are
they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image
of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Specifically,
in verse 47, Paul explains that man “is of the earth” and
is “earthly.” This is a reference back to Genesis 2:7, which
states that God formed adam, or man, out of the dust of the
adamah, or ground. However, we also stated that the Hebrew
term for “spirit” also means “wind.” And, in that sense, the
name of this category of creatures reflects a connection with
the wind that is comparable to man’s connection to the ground.
Of course, in a poetic sense, the wind is the substance of
the heavens just as the dust is the substance of the ground.
Paul
himself makes these connections in the text by stating that
“the first man is of the earth…the second man is the Lord
from heaven” and “as is the earthy, such are they also that
are earthy…as is the heavenly, such are they also that are
heavenly.” It is interesting that Paul is making these statements
immediately after verse 45 where he uses the word “spirit”
to refer to the Lord and verse 46 where he twice uses the
word “spiritual.” Like its Hebrew counterpart, the Greek word
for “spirit” also directly relates to the idea of “wind.”
The Greek term for “spirit” is “pneuma” (Strong’s No. 4151)
and the Greek word for “spiritual” is “pneumatikos” (Strong’s
No. 4152). Both of these terms are derived from the Greek
word “pneo” (Strong’s No. 4154), which means, “to breathe,
to blow, of the wind.” Effectively, Paul first uses two Greek
words that relate to “wind” to describe a particular form
of matter and then he describes that wind-like form of matter
as being “of heaven” where winds roam comparable to the way
that our dust-like current bodies are “of earth” where dust
resides.
In
addition, the Greek word that Paul uses for “natural” is “psuchikos”
(Strong’s No. 5591). “Psuchikos” means, “of or belonging to
breath.” Here, Paul is clearly reflecting back to Genesis
2. Moreover, he is clearly using “psuchikos” and “pneumatikos”
in contrast to one another. The words are similar in meaning
so we must understand that what Paul is contrasting is a matter
of degree. One is a “breathed-into” body “of the soil or earth.”
The other is so imbued with spirit that it can be described
as “of the wind” rather than “of the earth” and “breathed
into.”
There
can be no doubt that Paul understood the two categories of
created sentient beings in exactly the manner, which we described.
One is called “adam” because its body is from the “adamah”
or earth. The other is called “spirit” because its body is
from the wind or heaven. This is important because it fundamentally
demonstrates that the proper name for the immortal class of
creatures is “spirit,” not angel.
In
addition, in the following section of Paul’s comments, he
describes that the resurrected body is transformed into a
state that is no longer subject to corruption or decay and
it is immortal.
1
Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth
corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery;
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this
corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must
put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying
that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
In
light of the fact that Paul has already identified that the
resurrected body is the same body we currently have only in
a transformed greater state, Paul’s statement that “flesh
and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” must be understood
to refer to “mere flesh and blood.” That is to say, a body
that is only flesh and blood and has not been transformed
to spiritual as well cannot inherit the kingdom of God. And
the reason for this is simple. The kingdom will continue forever.
So, in order to live in that kingdom, we need bodies that
are immortal and will continue forever as well.
And
Paul’s comments in verses 51-54 again confirm the fact that
our current bodies are transformed rather than replaced. Furthermore,
his comments in verses 51-54 also confirm that it is specifically
this transformation to an immortal condition, which is required
in order for us to receive the unending kingdom. In verse
51, Paul describes how our current bodies will be “changed”
rather than replaced. And in verses 52-54, Paul describes
how our current bodies will “take on” the added traits of
incorruptibility and immortality. Thus, it is clear that our
current flesh and blood in its present condition is not sufficient
but that our flesh and blood bodies will become sufficient
when they are upgraded and transformed to a higher state of
matter, which is immortal and incorruptible. This is the second
way in the passage that Paul has confirmed the existence and
description of spiritual bodies. They are physical, as our
current bodies are, and they are immortal and incorruptible.
Lastly,
we should note that Paul’s specific commentary on humans becoming
immortal through the resurrection, of course, directly parallels
Jesus’ own teaching on this topic from Matthew 22, Mark 12,
and Luke 20. And when describing what our bodies will be like
after the resurrection, Paul specifically contrasts the current
“natural” body to a “spiritual body.” Moreover, this phrase
“there is a spiritual body” is rendered in the present tense,
indicating that such bodies already exist. No doubt this category
of “spiritual bodies” includes Jesus Christ’s resurrected
body. However, given the statements in Matthew 22, Mark 12,
and Luke 20, it would also seem that the category of spiritual
bodies pertains to angels’ bodies as well. After all, the
spirit of a man is already immortal, as scripture plainly
attests. It is only our body that is mortal. Therefore, in
Jesus’ teaching, it is in the acquiring of an immortal body
that we become equal in quality to the angels. Since we become
equal in quality to the angels when we obtain an immortal
body, this fact also informs us quite clearly that the angels
do have bodies. Otherwise, Jesus’ comparison in Matthew 22,
Mark 12, and Luke 20 would not be possible. They have immortal
bodies. They have what Paul explains are spiritual bodies,
bodies suited to endure for the immortal existence of spirits.
(And we should not be surprised to find that angels have bodies,
albeit bodies which are of a superior quality and attributes.
After all, throughout scripture, we are told of angels touching
things and even eating earthly food – Genesis 18:2, 7-8, 16,
Genesis 19:1-3, 10, 16, Acts 12:7, Isaiah 6:6-7, Daniel 8:18,
and Matthew 28:2.)
Consequently,
the creatures known commonly as “angels” are seen to be entirely
spirit, including their bodies while in contrast man was created
part spirit and part “natural” or mortal with regard to his
natural, mortal body. On this point, someone might ask, “What
about Jesus’ statement in Luke 24, when he says that spirits
do not have flesh and bone? Doesn’t that indicate that angels
don’t have bodies?”
It
is important to address this question. Once again we need
to consider the components of the proposed model. Since humans
are only part spirit, having mortal bodies, when the mortal
human body dies, the human spirit becomes disembodied. Therefore,
disembodied humans are also described by the title “spirit.”
Consequently, the term spirit can refer either to those beings
who are entirely spirit including their bodies or it can refer
to deceased humans who exist as bodiless spirits. After all,
at that point both angels and bodiless humans consist solely
of spirit.
Scripture
attests that at physical death, the spirit and the body are
separated, at which point men exist as disembodied spirits.
(Note: The word for “breath” in Psalms 146:4 below is “ruwach,”
Strong’s No. 07307, which is the Hebrew term for “spirit.”
The same word is used in Ecclesiastes 12:7, where it is in
fact translated as “spirit.”)
Psalms
146:4 His breath 07307 goeth forth, he returneth to
his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
Ecclesiastes
12:7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
was: and the spirit 07307 shall return unto God who gave
it.
James
2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.
We
also see this fact attested to in two separate biblical narratives,
one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament.
In 1 Samuel 28, King Saul finds a witch to communicate with
the deceased prophet Samuel. The story describes how the witch
does indeed raise the ghost of Samuel from within the earth.
It is not that she has resurrected Samuel bringing his body
back to life. Instead, in the narrative, she has simply brought
up his disembodied spirit.
1
Samuel 28:7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek
me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her,
and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold,
there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.
8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and
he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman
by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the
familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall
name unto thee…11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring
up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice:
and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived
me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto
her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said
unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And
he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said,
An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle.
And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped
with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me,
to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for
the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from
me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by
dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make
known unto me what I shall do.
Likewise,
in Revelation, John describes seeing the souls of those who
had been slain. At first, in chapter 6 they are before the
altar of God in heaven awaiting their enemies to be defeated.
But then, in chapters 19-20, their enemies have been defeated
and they themselves have been resurrected.
Revelation
6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under
the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of
God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they
cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy
and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them
that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given
unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they
should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants
also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled.
Revelation
19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with
it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with
a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness
and wrath of Almighty God…20:4 And I saw thrones,
and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them:
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for
the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had
not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received
his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and
they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand
years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Consequently,
since the resurrection of these saints does not take place
until chapter 20, their depiction in chapter 6 clearly constitutes
the existence of their disembodied spirits. And the fact that
disembodied humans are also called “spirits” informs how to
properly understand Jesus’ statement to his disciples in Luke
24 after his resurrection.
Lu
24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed
that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them,
Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your
hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is
I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh
and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus
spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered,
he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And
they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
When
Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, they
thought they were seeing “a spirit.” This is indicated plainly
in verse 37. When the text says they “supposed that they had
seen a spirit,” the word “spirit” is not being used as a synonym
for an angelic being. It is being used to refer to a disembodied
spirit. The disciples thought they were seeing Jesus in the
same way that the witch in 1 Samuel 28 saw the prophet Samuel,
as a spirit without a body. The text goes on to record how
Jesus proved to them that he was not a disembodied spirit
but, in fact, his body had been restored to him. To prove
this, Jesus shows them his hands and feet, the very same hands
and feet that had scars from the nails when he was crucified.
And he also eats food.
Consequently,
these statements by Jesus do not negate that through the resurrection
he has become equal to an angel. Nor do they deny that the
term “spirit” generally denotes the immortal creatures known
commonly as “angels.” Jesus was certainly a spirit in the
sense of being equal to the angels through the resurrection.
But he was not a spirit in the sense of being a mere disembodied
spirit of a man that is still dead. His statements only imply
that the disembodied spirits of dead men don’t have bodies.
His statements do not imply that angels don’t have bodies
or that “spirit” or “spiritual” means “non-corporeal, without
body, physicality, mass, or form, etc.”
Since
Jesus’ statements in Luke 24 do not negate that angels have
bodies, we are left with the conclusion established clearly
by the rest of the scriptures presented above. Specifically,
angels do have bodies, spiritual bodies, which are immortal.
And more to the point, the proper name for the beings commonly
called “angels” is “spirit” because they were created entirely
of spirit, including their bodies. And perhaps equally important,
we have also seen that the term “spirit” is the comparable
counterpart for the term “man.” Consequently, the very use
of the term “spirit” in the title “the Spirit of God” would
very much reflect the perception of this figure of God as
God in the guise of a spirit. In contrast, however, the use
of the term “angel” in the title “the angel of YHWH” would
not have associated that figure with the immortal spirits,
especially not at the very early time when this title “the
angel of YHWH” originated. Instead, the title “angel” only
denoted his role as a messenger, a role that in the earliest
and most frequent accounts he carried out in the guise of
a man.
In
conclusion, the title “the Spirit of YHWH” was developed to
specifically delineate one figure was YHWH that visited in
the guise of a spirit being. And the title “the angel of YHWH”
was developed to specifically delineate another figure of
YHWH that visited in the guise of a man bearing messages to
mankind.
Overall
History of the Holy Spirit’s Interactions
Now
that we know the term “Spirit” in the title “the Spirit of
YHWH” is meant to denote God visiting in the guise of the
immortal spirits commonly called “angels,” we can proceed
to further examine the overall history of the Third Person
of the Trinity in terms of this guise. In this segment,
two things will be established. First, we will establish a
better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is and how he
relates to us by surveying the history of his activity in
the scripture. And second, the concepts that we encounter
as we trace the Holy Spirit’s interaction with men will further
establish that the Third Person of the Trinity is indeed acting
in the guise of the spirits commonly called “angels.”
This
second fact can particularly be seen in the next segment,
which will lists the common activities of the Holy Spirit
side by side with the common activities of other spirits,
both good and evil. In summary, the common activities of the
Holy Spirit throughout both the Old and the New Testaments
is identical to the general activities of the spirit beings
we commonly call angels.
1A.)
Evil Spirits Can Come Upon or Enter Into Men
1
Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the
LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel
rose up, and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD
departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled
him.
1
Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that
the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied
in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand,
as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s
hand.
1
Samuel 19:9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon
Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand:
and David played with his hand.
Ezekiel
37:11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are
the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones
are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the
Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and
cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into
the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am
the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and
brought you up out of your graves, 14 And shall put my
spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you
in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have
spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
Matthew
8:16 When the even was come, they brought unto him many
that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits
with his word, and healed all that were sick:
Matthew
12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,
he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence
I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it
empty, swept, and garnished. 45 Then goeth he, and taketh
with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself,
and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state
of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also
unto this wicked generation.
Mark
5:9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he
answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are
many.
Luke
8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And
he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
Luke
4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves,
saying, What a word is this! for with authority and
power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come
out.
Luke
11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man,
he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding
none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came
out. 25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept
and garnished. 26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him
seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter
in, and dwell there: and the last state of that
man is worse than the first.
Luke
22:3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot,
being of the number of the twelve.
John
13:27 And after the sop Satan entered into him.
Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
Acts
19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped
on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so
that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
1B.)
The Holy Spirit Can Come Upon or Enter Into Men
Numbers
24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel
abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and
the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his
parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and
the man whose eyes are open hath said: 4 He hath said,
which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the
Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes
open.
Judges
3:9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD,
the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel,
who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz,
Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the LORD
came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war:
and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia
into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
Judges
6:34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon,
and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
Judges
11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah,
and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh
of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto
the children of Ammon…32 So Jephthah passed over unto the
children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered
them into his hands.
Judges
14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and
his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath:
and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And
the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent
him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing
in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother
what he had done.
Judges
14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and
he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them,
and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them
which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and
he went up to his father’s house.
Judges
15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines
shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily
upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became
as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from
off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass,
and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand
men therewith.
1
Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon
thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt
be turned into another man…10 And when they came thither to
the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the
Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
1
Samuel 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when
he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces,
and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by
the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh
not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done
unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people,
and they came out with one consent.
1
Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the
LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel
rose up, and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD
departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled
him.
1
Chronicles 12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai,
who was chief of the captains, and he said,
Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son
of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be
to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received
them, and made them captains of the band.
2
Chronicles 15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah
the son of Oded: 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and
said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin;
The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if
ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him,
he will forsake you.
2
Chronicles 20:14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah,
the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,
a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD
in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said,
Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and
thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not
afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for
the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2
Chronicles 24:20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah
the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people,
and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye
the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because
ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
Isaiah
59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them,
saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and
my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart
out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out
of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth
and for ever.
Acts
19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,
the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues,
and prophesied.
John
14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the
world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth
him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall
be in you.
Romans
8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if
so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans
8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus
from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from
the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit
that dwelleth in you.
1
Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of
God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
2A.)
Interaction with Evil Spirits Brings Foolishness, False
Doctrine, and False Prophecy
1
Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that
the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied
in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand,
as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s
hand.
1
Kings 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And
he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit
in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt
persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1
Kings 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put
a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets,
and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2
Chronicles 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be
a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the
LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt
also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2
Chronicles 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath
put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets,
and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
Isaiah
19:14 The LORD hath mingled a perverse spirit in
the midst thereof: and they have caused Egypt to err in
every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in
his vomit.
Hosea
4:12 My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their
staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms
hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring
from under their God.
Jeremiah
2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and
they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed
against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and
walked after things that do not profit.
Jeremiah
23:13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria;
they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
Acts
8:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain
damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which
brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17
The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men
are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us
the way of salvation. 18 And this did she many days. But Paul,
being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee
in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he
came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the
hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas,
and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers.
1
Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in
the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.
1
John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets
are gone out into the world.
2B.)
Interaction of the Holy Spirit or other Godly Spirits Brings
Wisdom, True Doctrine, and True Prophecy
Genesis
41:25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of
Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he
is about to do…33 Now therefore let Pharaoh
look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the
land of Egypt…38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can
we find such a one as this is, a man in whom
the Spirit of God is? 39 And Pharaoh said unto
Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there
is none so discreet and wise as thou art.
Numbers
25:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto
him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and
gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to
pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they
prophesied, and did not cease. 26 But there remained
two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was
Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested
upon them; and they were of them that were written,
but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied
in the camp. 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses,
and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And
Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of
his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would
God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that
the LORD would put his spirit upon them!
Deuteronomy
34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit
of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and
the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the
LORD commanded Moses.
1
Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon
thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt
be turned into another man…10 And when they came thither to
the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the
Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
1
Samuel 19:20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and
when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and
Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit
of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit
of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied,
until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
Nehemiah
9:30 Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst
against them by thy spirit in thy prophets: yet would
they not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand
of the people of the lands.
Joel
2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that
I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29 And also
upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will
I pour out my spirit.
(Note:
Even interaction with Gabriel, a created angel, brings skill
and understanding, particularly concerning dreams and prophecy.)
Daniel
9:21 Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even
the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the
beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the
time of the evening oblation. 22 And he informed me,
and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth
to give thee skill and understanding.
Isaiah
11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel
and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in
the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the
sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his
ears:
Ezekiel
11:5 And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me, and said
unto me, Speak; Thus saith the LORD; Thus have ye said,
O house of Israel: for I know the things that come into your
mind, every one of them.
Zechariah
7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant
stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which
the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets:
therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.
(NOTE:
The titles “the Spirit of truth” and “the Holy Spirit” are
clearly meant in direct contrast to “the spirit of err,” “lying
spirit,” ”evil spirit,” and “unclean spirit.”)
John
14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you
another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but
ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
John
15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send
unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth,
which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify
of me:
John
16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,
he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak
of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall
he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
1
John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know
ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that
Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit
of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world. 6 We are of God:
he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth
not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit
of error.
Acts
2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith
God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your
sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men
shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts
11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus,
and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth
throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of
Claudius Caesar.
Acts
23:9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that
were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying,
We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an
angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
1
Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another
faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as he will.
2
Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
3A.)
Spirits in General Can Give Words to Speak
1
Kings 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And
he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit
in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt
persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
1
Kings 22:23 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put
a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and
the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee.
2
Chronicles 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a
lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the
LORD said, Thou shalt entice him, and thou shalt
also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2
Chronicles 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath
put a lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets,
and the LORD hath spoken evil against thee.
Mark
3:11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell
down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of
God.
Luke
4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had
a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with
thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to
destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
Luke
8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down
before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do
with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech
thee, torment me not.
3B.)
The Holy Spirit Gives Men Words to Speak
Numbers
24:2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel
abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and
the spirit of God came upon him. 3 And he took up his
parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and
the man whose eyes are open hath said: 4 He hath said,
which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the
Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes
open.
1
Samuel 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when
he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces,
and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by
the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh
not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done
unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people,
and they came out with one consent.
2
Samuel 23:1 Now these be the last words of David.
David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was
raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the
sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the LORD
spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.
1
Chronicles 12:18 Then the spirit came upon Amasai,
who was chief of the captains, and he said,
Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son
of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be
to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received
them, and made them captains of the band.
2
Chronicles 15:1 And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah
the son of Oded: 2 And he went out to meet Asa, and
said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin;
The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if
ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him,
he will forsake you.
2
Chronicles 20:14 Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah,
the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah,
a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD
in the midst of the congregation; 15 And he said,
Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and
thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not
afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for
the battle is not yours, but God’s.
2
Chronicles 24:20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah
the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people,
and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye
the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because
ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.
Isaiah
59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them,
saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and
my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart
out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out
of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth
and for ever.
Isaiah
61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me;
because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings
unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the
prison to them that are bound.
Matthew
10:19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how
or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that
same hour what ye shall speak. 20 For it is not ye
that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in
you.
Mark
13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver
you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither
do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in
that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but
the Holy Ghost.
Luke
12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and
unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how
or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: 12 For
the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought
to say.
Acts
2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they
were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there
came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and
it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there
appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it
sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with
the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as
the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts
1:16 Men and brethren, this scripture must needs
have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth
of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide
to them that took Jesus.
Acts
4: 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto
them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
Acts
6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great
wonders and miracles among the people. 9 Then there arose
certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue
of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of
them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. 10 And
they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by
which he spake.
Acts
19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,
the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues,
and prophesied.
Acts
28:25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they
departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake
the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,
1
Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another
faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as he will.
2
Peter 3:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the
scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the
prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy
men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
4.)
The Holy Spirit and Godly Spirits in General Can Remove
Senses or Speech
Genesis
19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even;
and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them
rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward
the ground…10 But the men put forth their hand, and
pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11
And they smote the men that were at the door of
the house with blindness, both small and great: so that
they wearied themselves to find the door.
Acts
13:8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name
by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the
deputy from the faith. 9 Then Saul, (who also is called
Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou
child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness,
wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon
thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season.
And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and
he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand.
Daniel
10:15 And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set
my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. 16 And,
behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men
touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and
said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision
my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.
Luke
1:19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel,
that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto
thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20 And, behold,
thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day
that these things shall be performed, because thou believest
not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
Mark
9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master,
I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
5A.)
The Holy Spirit and Spirits in General Can Heal and Perform
Supernatural Works
(Note:
The first passage below concerns an ordinary godly angel.)
Mark
5:25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood
twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians,
and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered,
but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus,
came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For
she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried
up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of
that plague. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself
that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the
press, and said, Who touched my clothes? 31 And his disciples
said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and
sayest thou, Who touched me? 32 And he looked round about
to see her that had done this thing. 33 But the woman fearing
and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell
down before him, and told him all the truth.
Luke
4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit
into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through
all the region round about.
(Note:
The two passages indicate that men can feel when the power
of the Spirit is within them.)
Luke
8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years,
which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could
be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched
the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood
stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When
all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master,
the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest
thou, Who touched me? 46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath
touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling,
and falling down before him, she declared unto him before
all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how
she was healed immediately.
Acts
6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men
of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom,
whom we may appoint over this business…8 And Stephen, full
of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the
people.
1
Corinthians 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit
is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the
word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another
faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits;
to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the
interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that
one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally
as he will.
Galatians
3:5 He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit,
and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by
the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Hebrews
2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with
signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of
the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
John
5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market
a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having
five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent
folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving
of the water. 4 For an angel 32 went down at a certain
season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever
then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was
made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5B.)
Evil Spirits Can Heal and Perform Supernatural Works
2
Thessalonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after
the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying
wonders.
Revelation
13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by
the means of those miracles which he had power to do
in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on
the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which
had the wound by a sword, and did live.
Revelation
16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles,
which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of
the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great
day of God Almighty.
Revelation
19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false
prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he
deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and
them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive
into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
5A.)
Evil Spirits Can Stir Men’s Emotions and Suggest/Impress
upon Men to Certain (Voluntary) Actions
1
Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel,
and provoked 05496 David to number Israel.
Luke
8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come
out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was
kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands,
and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
John
13:2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put
into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to
betray him;
6A.)
The Holy Spirit Can Stir Men’s Emotions and Suggest/Impress
upon Men to Certain (Voluntary) Actions
1
Samuel 26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the
king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred
thee up 05496 against me, let him accept an offering:
but if they be the children of men, cursed be
they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day
from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve
other gods.
Mark
1:12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the
wilderness.
John
16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient
for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter
will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him
unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world
of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
6A.)
Spirits in General Can Pick Men Up and Transport Them
Matthew
13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and
they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend,
and them which do iniquity;
Matthew
24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound
of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Mark
13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall
gather together his elect from the four winds, from the
uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
6B.)
The Holy Spirit Can Pick Men Up and Transport Them
1
Kings 18:11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold,
Elijah is here. 12 And it shall come to pass, as
soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the
LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so
when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall
slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.
2
Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on,
and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire,
and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah
went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw
it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel,
and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and
he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces…16
And they said unto him, Behold now, there be with thy servants
fifty strong men; let them go, we pray thee, and seek thy
master: lest peradventure the Spirit of the LORD hath taken
him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley.
And he said, Ye shall not send.
Ezekiel
8:1 And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth
month, in the fifth day of the month, as
I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me,
that the hand of the Lord GOD fell there upon me. 2
Then I beheld, and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire:
from the appearance of his loins even downward, fire; and
from his loins even upward, as the appearance of brightness,
as the colour of amber. 3 And he put forth the form
of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head; and the spirit
lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought
me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of
the inner gate that looketh toward the north; where was
the seat of the image of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.”
Ezekiel
11:24 Afterwards the spirit took me up, and brought
me in a vision by the Spirit of God into Chaldea, to them
of the captivity. So the vision that I had seen went up from
me.
Ezekiel
37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried
me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst
of the valley which was full of bones.
Ezekiel
43:5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into
the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled
the house. 6 And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house;
and the man stood by me.
John
3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou
hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it
cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born
of the Spirit.
Acts
8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the
Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch
saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. 40 But
Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached
in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
7A.)
The Holy Spirit Can Impart Physical Strength
Judges
3:9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD,
the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel,
who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz,
Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the LORD
came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war:
and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia
into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.
Judges
11:29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah,
and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh
of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto
the children of Ammon…32 So Jephthah passed over unto the
children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered
them into his hands.
Judges
14:5 Then went Samson down, and his father and
his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath:
and, behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And
the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent
him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing
in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother
what he had done.
Judges
14:19 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and
he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them,
and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them
which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and
he went up to his father’s house.
Judges
15:14 And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines
shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily
upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became
as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from
off his hands. 15 And he found a new jawbone of an ass,
and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand
men therewith.
Judges
16:9 Now there were men lying in wait, abiding
with her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistines
be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as
a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his
strength was not known…12 Delilah therefore took new ropes,
and bound him therewith, and said unto him, The Philistines
be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers
in wait abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off
his arms like a thread…28 And Samson called unto the
LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and
strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that
I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which
the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one
with his right hand, and of the other with his left. 30 And
Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed
himself with all his might; and the house fell upon
the lords, and upon all the people that were
therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more
than they which he slew in his life.
Micah
3:8 But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the
LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob
his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
7B.)
Spirits in General Can Impart Physical Strength
Mark
5:2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately
there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man
could bind him, no, not with chains: 4 Because that
he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains
had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in
pieces: neither could any man tame him.
Luke
8:29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come
out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was
kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands,
and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
Daniel
10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision,
and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness
was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength…
17 For how can the servant of this my lord talk with this
my lord? for as for me, straightway there remained no strength
in me, neither is there breath left in me. 18 Then
there came again and touched me one like the appearance
of a man, and he strengthened me, 19 And said, O man greatly
beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong,
yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened,
and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened
me.
Not
only are the specific activities of angels and the Holy Spirit
comparable but in certain passages of scripture actually speak
of the Spirit of God side by side with the general category
of spirits. Below are two prominent examples from each testament
of the Bible. This is just one other factor, which demonstrates
that within scripture, it was understood that the term “the
Spirit of God” was intended to convey God operating as one
among the category of spirits we commonly call “angels.”
1
Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the
LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel
rose up, and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD
departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled
him.
1
John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try
the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye
the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every
spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in
the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit
of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God,
little children, and have overcome them: because greater is
he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are
of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world
heareth them. 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth
us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we
the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
As
we can see, except for instigating life, such as during the
incarnation or even the resurrection, there isn’t a single
activity of the Holy Spirit that we don’t see other spirits
doing to a lesser capacity. This demonstrates not only that
the Third Person of the Trinity is operating in the guise
of the spirits we call angels, but also that he is God given
the fact that his capacity in these matters exceeds theirs
and the fact that he uniquely possesses the very power of
life within him, which is a trait the angels do not have.
This
leads us to our next point. While the list of angel’s activities
and the Holy Spirit’s activities is virtually identical, there
are differences in degree regarding two aspects.
First,
the Holy Spirit is clearly shown to be far more powerful with
regard to these activities. For example, other spirits may
be able to predict the future, but their prophecies are either
vague or outright false, while the Holy Spirit is always precise
and accurate. And, while both the Holy Spirit and other spirits
can enter into men, the Holy Spirit is able to cast out the
other spirits, which also demonstrates his superior prowess
over other spirits – see Matthew 12:28, 1 John 4:1-4. Further
examples of the difference in power might be cited from the
case of Daniel in contrast to the wise men of Babylon and
Moses whose miracles overpowered the wise men of Egypt.
Second,
evil spirits are oppressive, at times even taking control
as ultimately seen in the case of possession. In contrast,
while he may act to persuade and even stir emotions, the Holy
Spirit does not override human will. This fact is demonstrated
by scripture’s assertions that men do resist and grieve the
Holy Spirit. And it is also demonstrated by Paul’s assertions
that although it is the Spirit who enables prophecy, control
is retained by the men themselves – see 1 Corinthians 12:7-11.
Thus, the Holy Spirit always acts cooperatively, and this
cooperation is further facilitates by the likely fact that
men can feel when the Spirit of God is upon them to act supernaturally
just as Jesus did – see 1 Corinthians 14:5-33, 37, 2 Timothy
1:7.
Closing
Comparisons: The Word and the Spirit
In
this closing segment, we would like further explore the history
and role of the Third Person of the Trinity by comparing his
activities with those of the Second Person of the Trinity.
First,
we recall from Jesus’ own words that the Holy Spirit is considered
“another advocate” (John 14:16). Here, Jesus is clearly speaking
of himself as the first advocate and the Holy Spirit as a
second advocate, a counterpart of sorts. When we reflect on
the Word’s own history throughout the Old Testament in the
office of the angel or messenger of YHWH, this comment from
Jesus’ becomes quite plain. As indicated explicitly in John
14:28 and John 16:7 and as reflected in Luke 19:11-15, Acts
1:8-11, Acts 3:21, and elsewhere, after his resurrection,
Jesus was going to ascend to heaven and remain there for some
time until his return. Thus, his visitations of men, which
frequent the Old Testament, would cease. Consequently, he
would no longer operate in the role of the messenger or angel
of YHWH. This would have left men without such a member of
the Godhead to interact with. However, the Third Person of
the Trinity was sent to fill this post. This is what was meant
by another advocate. After the time of the Word’s ascension
to heaven, the Third Person of the Trinity would replace the
Second Person of the Trinity as God’s interactive messenger
and visitor to men. And this is, of course, why we see the
Holy Spirit rather than the Word referred to by the title,
“the angel of YHWH” in the New Testament, just as we discussed
during our main study.
Second,
once we understand the Holy Spirit as a counterpart to the
Word, we can better understand on what level they are counterparts.
And again, the counterpart status surrounds the fact that
in both testaments (and ultimately through the incarnation)
one advocate visits men as a man and the other advocate visits
men in the guise of the spirit beings we commonly call “angels.”
They are counterparts in this regard, one as a man the other
as an angelic spirit.
There
is also addition evidence that it is this “as-a-man” vs. “as-a-spirit”
relationship, which distinguishes the activities of the Second
and Third Person of the Trinity. After all, the main functions
of the Word and the Spirit are the same. It is no coincidence
that in John 14:6 the Word refers to himself as “the truth”
and just 11 verses later, he refers to the Third Person of
the Trinity as “the Spirit of truth.” In the first case, you
have “the Man of truth” in Second Person of the Trinity who
has become a man and in the second case you have “the Spirit
of truth” in the Third Person of the Trinity who operates
in the guise of a spirit. Both are God, for God cannot lie
and is therefore “the truth” (Numbers 23:19 and Titus 1:2).
Both are “the truth,” but one is operating as a man and the
other as a spirit, thereby exemplifying the truth to both
men and angelic spirits. Ultimately, they share the same essential
role. They are counterparts in terms of the guises that they
have taken on.
This
pattern is also seen concerning the role of intercessor or
mediator as well. While we might think of this role as primarily
that of the Word, the scripture attests that the Holy Spirit
functions as our intercessor to the Father as well. Hebrews
7:25 and Romans 8:34 testify to the Word’s intercession before
the Father. But just 8 verses earlier in the very same chapter,
Romans 8:26-27 testify that the Spirit also makes intercession
for us before the Father. In fact, when Paul describes Jesus’
intercession for us in Romans 8:34, he even uses the word
“also,” saying “Christ…also maketh intercession.” This is
due to the fact that he has already ascribed this activity
to the Spirit.
Hebrews
7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better
testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because
they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an
unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also
to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,
seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Romans
8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is
Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession
for us.
Romans
8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts
knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because
he maketh intercession for the saints according to the
will of God.
We
might also notice that when Hebrews 7:22-25 refers to Jesus’
intercession, it specifically does so with his own humanity
in view. Verses 24-25 testify, “But this man, because
he continueth forever…he ever liveth to make intercession
for them.” The same is true concerning Paul’s comments in
1 Timothy 2:5, which likewise asserts Jesus’ role as a mediator
between God and men. This can be seen in the phrase, “one
mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.”
1
Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator
between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
Once
again, we see that Jesus’ unique position as a mediator interceding
between God and men concerns his humanity. Thus, Ephesians
speaks of our access to the Father as through both Jesus Christ
and the Spirit.
Ephesians
2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were
far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ…18 For through
him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Consequently,
once again we that the Second Person of the Trinity and the
Third Person of the Trinity share the same essential function.
What distinction is there between them with regard to these
essential functions? One carries them out as God as a man
and the other as God as a spirit. They are counterparts, carrying
out the same essential roles but under the different guises
of the two categories of sentient creatures, men and angelic
spirits.
Lastly,
we turn our attention to speculation concerning one other
nuance of the counterpart relationship between the Second
and the Third Person of the Trinity (with regard to the way
they interact with creation). This is hinted from the very
beginning of scripture. One announces and works to bring about
the will of God and the other seems to provide the invigorating
force to accomplish the task. In Genesis, the Word speaks
“Let us make man” and he forms man’s body from the dust (Genesis
1:26-27, 2:7). But it is the Spirit who would have breathed
life into man (Genesis 2:7). (The idea that it was the Spirit
who breathed into Adam is also indicated by the comparison
of Adam and Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:45 in combination with
role of the Holy Spirit in making Christ “a quickening spirit”
through the resurrection.) The Word announces the incarnation
ahead of time in the Old Testament (Isaiah 7:10-14) and it
is the Word who becomes incarnate to accomplish that task
(John 1:14). But it is the Spirit who overshadows Mary, causing
her see to conceive without a father (Luke 1:35). It is the
Word who comes to preach the message and to heal the sick
during his life on earth and yet it is the Spirit who empowers
him to do both (Luke 4:18-19). It is the Word who speaks the
command to cast out devils, but it is the Spirit who empowers
him to do so (Mark 1:23-27, 34, 39, Matthew 12:28.) It was
the Word who offered himself as a sacrifice to God, but it
was the Spirit who gave him strength to do this (Hebrews 9:14).
It was the Word that was resurrected from death, but it was
the Spirit who raised him (Romans 8:11, 1 Peter 3:18). It
was the Word who purchased redemption for us (Romans 3:24,
Ephesians 1:13-14, Hebrews 9:12, 15) including the resurrection
of our bodies (Romans 8:23), but it is the Spirit who resurrects
us (Ezekiel 37:11-14, Romans 8:11). It is the Word who came
to make the truth known to us (John 1:17) to us and authored
our obedience and faith through his example (Hebrews 5:9,
12:1-2). Yet it is by the Holy Spirit that we are daily reminded
(John 14:26) and provided strength and encouragement to follow
the Word’s instructions and example (Romans 8:13, 2 Corinthians
3:18, Ephesians 3:16).
Through
these elements outlined in the paragraph above, we also deepen
our understanding of our own relationship with the Holy Spirit.
We see what his role and function toward mankind is. We see
how he relates to us. And in knowing that, we know better
how to relate to him.
This
concludes the section of our addendum exploring the overall
history of the interactions of the Third Person of the Trinity,
including how he has related to the Second Person of the Trinity
and how he relates to mankind. More information on how the
Holy Spirit relates to us under the New Covenant can be found
specifically in our four-part series entitled, “The Role of
the Holy Spirit” under our Church Ethic section and more generally
in our studies on other doctrinal topics.