Journal of Biblical Literature (Volume 14-17)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895. Excerpt: ... Church and vivifies it (Eph. iv. 4), giving Christian unity (iv. 3), baptizing believers into one body (1 Cor. xii. 13). He prays for believers (Rom. viii. 26, 27; Eph. vi. 18), and speaks to them, or through them (1 Tim. iv. 1; Heb. iii. 7; Rev. ii. 7, etc.; Matt. x. 19, 20; Lk. xii. 12. Cf. xxi. 15; Acts x. 19, 20, xiii. 2). He distributes the charisms and governs their uses (1 Cor. xii. 4, 7-11), hindering labor in one place (Acts xvi. 6, 7), when wishing it elsewhere. He testified, wrought and ruled in the apostles, and so witnessed with them (Acts v. 32); he gave Philip a command (viii. 29), and later (vs. 39) urgently hurried him elsewhere. He gave directions to Peter (x. 19, 20), declaring that he himself had sent the messengers coming to Peter. He committed a trust to Timothy (2 Tim. i. 14). He teaches believers the tmth of the lordship of Christ (1 Cor. xii. 3), and gives Christian teachers the knowledge which they are to teach (1 Cor. ii. 12, 13). This wealth and variety of statements respecting the relation of the Holy Spirit to the life and activities of Christian believers would seem to justify the statement within this sphere at least, that the Holy Spirit is the Executive of the Godhead. 2. The relation of the Holy Spirit in the Deity. By the very names irvcvfrn dcov, irvevfia Tov Otov or To wtvfux To ayiov Tov 6eov it has rightly been said that the Holy Spirit is conceived of as essentially belonging to God. (1) He is God. What is done to the Spirit is done to God (e.g. Acts v. 3). Peter declared to Ananias that in lying to the apostles he had lied to the Holy Spirit, and in vs. 4 he said it was lying to God; thus, although the Spirit is not directly called God, his participation in Deity is implied. The persistent and rebellious refusal...