By W. H. Griffith Thomas
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ST. PAUL'S EPISTLES.Great prominence is given to the subject of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. It is found in every book except three short and personal ones: Philemon, 2 and 3 John.
The human and literary sources of the New Testament doctrine are the Old Testament and Palestinian Judaism; there is little, if anything, of Alexandrian Judaism. The doctrine may be derived by one or other of two methods of approach, or we can take both in turn. We can study the New Testament as it is, in five or six distinct groups; the Synoptic Gospels; the Fourth Gospel; the Acts; the Pauline Epistles; the Catholic Epistles; and the Apocalypse. But this has already been done adequately, and in some respects finally.2 Or we can study it in approximate chronological order. The latter is perhaps preferable for our present purpose, since it will enable us to keep closely in touch with the spiritual experience of the primitive Church, and also with modern critical thought as to the New Testament. The earliest New Testament documents are included in the writings of St. Paul, making his teaching a suitable starting-point for the New Testament doctrine of the Holy Spirit. A remarkable fulness of teaching is seen therein; it is much fuller than in any other part of the New Testament.
The teaching touches every part of his message. The Spirit is regarded as essentially characteristic of the New Covenant.
This is the more remarkable because we usually think of St. Paul mainly and almost entirely as the Apostle of righteousness by faith. But his doctrine of the Spirit is ' the necessary, vital, and essential complement of his doctrine of justification.7 In harmony with the methods of modern thought several attempts have been made to discover and trace the source of the Pauline doctrine of the Spirit, and the greatest possible differences of opinion exist. According to Sanday and Headlam, ' the doctrine of the Spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit, is taken over from the Old Testament.'8 With this agree Wendt and Gloel. Gunkel derives the doctrine from St. Paul's own experience and originality, with very little connection with the Old Testament. Pfleiderer and Holtzmann connect it with Hellenistic thought, especially with the Book of Wisdom. Stevens,9 after quoting the above, thinks that the root is in the Old Testament, but that personal experience and originality had greater importance in determining development. Swete speaks of St. Paul's treatment as characterised by
It is hardly possible to doubt that the Old Testament and also the specific revelation of Jesus Christ in St. Paul's own experience combine to give this doctrine both its contents and form. The teaching is found in each group of the Epistles under special aspects.
The first group consists of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and here ' he scarcely exceeds the usual teaching of the first generation '12 (1 Thess. i. i, 5, 6; iv. 7, 8; v. 19; 2 Thess. ii. 13). Two points of special interest are (1) the reference to man's nature as ' spirit, soul, and body ' (1 Thess, v. 23), and (2) the statement that the Holy Spirit is associated with the truth (2 Thess. ii. 13). The second group includes Galatians; 1 and 2 Corinthians, Romans. Of these Swete remarks:
Starting with Galatians iii. and v., we see the force of the statement that
' The three special points of interest and importance in I Corinthians are (1) the relation of the Holy Spirit to spiritual insight (ch. ii.); (2) the action of the Holy Spirit f in the formation of the Church (ch. xii. 13); (3) the great I question of spiritual gifts in relation to the Holy Spirit (chs. xii., xiv.).15 In 2 Corinthians the Holy Spirit is i associated very largely with the Apostle's ministry. In Romans, while there are allusions in chs. v. and xv., the most important place is ch. viii., which may almost be called the Apostle's locus classicus of the subject.16 No single passage is so full. While concerned almost entirely with the relation of the Holy Spirit to the believer's deliverance through the victory over sin, the treatment is remarkably varied and complete.
The third group consists of Colossians, Ephesians, and Philippians. Uniting these and the later Pastoral Epistles, Swete remarks:
In Colossians the only reference to the Spirit is found in ch. i. 8. In Philippians the teaching is also only occasional and incidental. But in Ephesians the doctrine is remarkably full, both in regard to the individual and also to the community.19 It should never be forgotten that Ephesians is the next place in the New Testament after Matthew where the Church universal, as distinct from the Church local, is treated. In 1 Corinthians he is dealing with the Ecclesia of a single city, but in the Epistle to the Ephesians he is dealing with the universal Ecclesia.20 The fourth group is formed of 1 Timothy, Titus, 2 Timothy. The teaching as to the Holy Spirit in these Epistles is concerned almost entirely with the ministry (1 Tim. iv. I; 2 Tim. i. 6, 7, 14). Although there is a natural and inevitable difference in these Epistles by reason of the very different topics of discussion, yet
As we study these four groups, it is impossible to avoid' noticing that the main and important elements of the Apostle's teaching are found in Galatians; 1 and 2 Corinthians; Romans; Ephesians. From these Epistles alone we are able to derive the specific outline of his doctrine of the Holy Spirit. When we endeavour to combine and correlate the various aspects of teaching, we find that they can clearly be resolved into the two main aspects of the Work of the Spirit and the Nature of the Spirit. Each of these needs careful attention. A. The Work of the Spirit. Swete says:
Indeed, His operations may perhaps be best understood by commencing with St. Paul's idea of the human spirit in relation to the Spirit of God. Bruce remarks that
In every part of a believer's life the Holy Spirit is made prominent. From beginning to end He is all, and nothing seems to be outside His operations. Smeaton says:
Denney speaks of
The following points seem to be the most important, and to call for special notice. I. He is the Source, Principle, and Support of the spiritual life, (a) In relation to the past He is the Spirit of sonship (Rom. viii. 15), and liberty (2 Cor. iii. 17), (b) In relation to the present He is the Spirit of holiness Whose presence is the guarantee of ' fruit ' (Gal. v. 22).26 (c) In relation to the future life He is the Spirit of heirship as the earnest of our inheritance (Eph. i. 14; cf. Rom. viii. 23), and the guarantee of our resurrection (Rom. viii. II). 2. There is a fundamental distinction between the ' flesh ' and the ' spirit.'27 According to St. Paul the ' flesh ' is either physical or ethical. In the latter sense it is the sphere, seat, instrument, but not the principle of sin. This remarkable contrast
3. The use of ' spirit ' to describe both Divine and human elements.29 In several passages where this is discussed
Probably in several of the doubtful passages we are to understand πνεῠμα ' as the human spirit influenced by and so far identified with the Spirit of God.'31 It would seem as though no hard and fast rule can be laid down, especially in such a passage as Rom. ch. viii.32 A similar difficulty arises in connection with the adjectives πνευματικός and ψνχικός (1 Cor. ii. 14; xv. 44). The former is the man under the control of the πνεῠμα; the latter under the control of the ψνχή But it would seem as though the former must mean the highest nature of man as possessed and ruled by the Holy Spirit of God. One thing is quite clear; the πνεῠμα is a faculty that belongs to the unregenerate, and cannot be limited to the regenerate only. 2 Cor. vii. i is conclusive on this point.
Discussion has often been rife as to the meaning of spirit, soul, and body in i Thess. v. 23.34 Is man tripartite or bipartite? There are great names on both sides, and certainly in passages like Luke i. 46, 47 there is no essential difference between soul and spirit. Perhaps we may say that ' spirit ' is that element or aspect of human nature which is capable of fellowship with God; ' soul ' is that non-material part which includes the thoughts, emotions, and volition, while ' body ' is the physical element.
Summing up the whole question of the relation of the Divine to the human ' spirit,' we may remark that they are so intimate as to be indistinguishable, although their union is always regarded as equivalent to communion, never to identity.36 4. A clear distinction is drawn between the grace and the gifts of the Spirit, between the ordinary and the extraordinary; between χάρις and χάρισμα. It has been thought that while the Apostle fully accepted the χάρισματα, he saw their spiritual danger, and thereupon was led to emphasise more definitely the ordinary graces of the Spirit. There is no doubt whatever that he held quite as firmly as any of his contemporaries the supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the form of miraculous gifts.
His teaching as to the relation of spiritual gifts to the normal graces of the Spirit clearly shows his view of their relative value and importance (i Cor. xii. 31; xiii. i; xiv. i).39 But although he emphasises the normal element of the Christian life, he is none the less emphatic as to the source of everything being the Holy Spirit.
5. The doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the Church is based on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit in individuals. Because He dwells in individuals, He is therefore in the community; the Church has the Spirit because individuals have the Spirit. As we review the teaching of the Apostle on the Work of the Holy Spirit, we see that
And so
B. The Nature of the Spirit.43 As already noted, the great majority of St. Paul's references to the Spirit are concerned with His Work rather than with His Nature, and it is only as we combine and correlate the references to the Work that we can really derive his doctrine of the Nature. It is asserted that
Though the writer adds that it is certain
But we must still face the problem:
The main teaching can be thus summarised: 1. A close relation of the Holy Spirit to God. He is called the Spirit of God (Rom. viii. 9), and the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead (Rom. viii. ii). The same results are attributed to Him as to God (Rom. XV. 16; I Thess. v. 23). Thus in some way the Spirit is regarded as possessing a Divine objective reality. 2. An attribution of Divine personal activities. That the Spirit is personal is seen from the fact that He can be, grieved (Eph. iv. 30; 1 Thess. v. 19); and can inhabit human lives (1 Cor. vi. 19). A further proof of the same idea is the distinction between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and yet the possession of identical names and work (1 Cor. ii. 10; ' searcheth '; 1 Cor. xii. 4-6; 2 Cor. xiii. 14; Eph. iv. 4-6). It is impossible to speak of these statements as implying merely a personification.
3. The relation of the Spirit to Christ is more difficult, because it is something altogether novel and strange.
The Titles must be noticed: of Christ (Rom. viii, 9); of His Son (Gal. iv. 6). The Spirit is the unseen Agent by Whom Christ is made real to the believer.
The activity of Christ as the Redeemer and Head of the Church is regarded as continued by the Holy Spirit Who is at once transcendent and immanent, Lord and Life. The Spirit of God is identified with the Spirit of Christ (Rom. viii. 9-11); the Spirit is given through Christ; the Spirit reveals Christ and makes Him real to the believer; the Spirit is the active principle of Christ's personality. The value of this as a criterion of alleged spiritual phenomena is evident. The supreme question is whether such phenomena come from Christ. The one and only purpose of the Spirit is to reveal and glorify Christ. Then there is a close association of the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ with the Person of Christ. No line of demarcation is drawn between Christ and the Spirit. The great passage is 2 Cor. iii. 17, ' Now the Lord is the Spirit.' So close is the association that Bruce is able to say, ' The Spirit is the Alter Ego of the Lord.'50 And yet with all this intimacy of association they are never absolutely identified; they are distinguished and yet united; united and yet distinguished.
And so it is possible to say that
4. The implications of the doctrine of the Trinity are obvious. While we find nothing approaching a definite, metaphysical, ontological Trinity in the New Testament, it is impossible to avoid observing the contributions made by St. Paul to the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. The association of God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit with Divine operations carries its own definite implication, however far this may be from any systematic or philosophic expression.
We may perhaps sum up the Pauline doctrine by distinguishing the following uses of the word ' Spirit.' (a) The Spirit of God. This is in the direct line of the Old Testament thought, though with significant developments. In the Old Testament the Spirit is revealed as mainly temporary for endowment, but leading up to the idea of a permanent element for life. The latter becomes normal in St. Paul though the former is still visible in the New Testament idea of spiritual gifts. H. W. Robinson says:
(b) The Spirit of Christ, i.e. as sent by Christ, and revealing Him. Christ is the Son of God; the medium of God for us. Whom the Spirit could use, and to our consciousness both are one and the same (Gal. ii. 20; 1 Cor. vi. 17, 19; Rom. viii. 10, 11). Christ dwelling in us by the Spirit is the essential truth for the believer's life. (c) The spirit as a human faculty (1 Cor. ii. 11; v. 5). (d) The spirit as a human faculty renewed by grace (Rom. viii. 10, 15). (e) The Spirit in the Church as proved by the phenomena of graces and gifts. (f) The Spirit in individual Christians indwelling, working, and transforming. (g) The Spirit with the genitive, e.g. ' Spirit of life,' ' Spirit of adoption.' But this is not to be understood in the modern sense of ' disposition,' or temperament, a usage which is almost certainly not found in the New Testament.57 We must never forget that St. Paul's doctrine of the Spirit is uniformly practical, not speculative. It is conceived and maintained in close and constant connection with his own personal Christian experience.
As we leave this subject it is again essential to call attention to the prominence and importance of the doctrine of the Spirit of God in the writings of St. Paul. It is scarcely possible to exaggerate its significance for a true conception of essential Christianity.
Gloel remarks that ' the Apostle's entire thinking stands under the influence of his estimate of the Spirit.' The possession of the human spirit by the Spirit of God; its purification, control, guidance, assurance, and transformation constitute the very heart of the Pauline doctrine of the indwelling of Christ by the Spirit, and there will never be any practical difficulty in the relation of the human to the Divine Spirit if both are kept in constant contact with the reality of a living experience.
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Literature. — The Holy Spirit in the New Testament. Humphries, The Holy Spirit in Faith and Experience, ch. iv.; Wood, The Spirit of God in Biblical Literature, Part II.; Swete, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament; Winstanley, Spirit in the New Testament; Bullinger, The Giver and His Gifts, W. T. Davison, The Indwelling Spirit, ch. ii.; Denio, The Supreme Leader, pp. 28-54.' W. L. Walker, The Holy Spirit, ch. ii.; J. S. Candlish, The Work of the Holy Spirit, p. 21; Elder Cumming, Through the Eternal Spirit, pp. 31, 60; A. B. Simpson, Power from on High, Vol. II. The Holy Spirit in St. Paul's Writings. Humphries, op. cit. ch. viii.; Wood, op. cit. p. 198; Welldon, The Revelation of the Holy Spirit, p. 177; Moule, Veni Creator, chs. ix.-xii.; Downer, The Mission and Ministration of the Holy Spirit; Smeaton, The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, pp. 57-85; Redford, Vox Dei, p. 259. 1 Denney, Article ' Holy Spirit,' Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, p. 731. 2 Swete; Smeaton; Downer; Simpson; ut supra. 3 Swete, Article ' Holy Spirit,' Hastings' Bible Dictionary, p. 409. 4 Denney, ut supra, p. 738. 5 Swete, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, p. 226. 6 Davison, The Indwelling Spirit, p. 59. 7 Moule, Veni Creator, pp. 164-167. 8 Sanday and Headlam, Romans, p. IQ9. 9 Stevens, The Theology of the New Testament, p. 432, note. 10 Swete, Article 'Holy Spirit,' Hastings' Bible Dictionary, p. 409. 11 Swete, ut supra, p. 409. 12 Swete, ut supra, p. 409. 13 Swete, ut supra, p. 409. 14 Davison, op. cit. p. 75. 15 See note P, p. 282. 16 See note A, p. 274. 17 Swete, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, p. 221. 18 Swete, Article 'Holy Spirit,' Hastings' Bible Dictionary, p. 410. 19 See note A, p. 272. 20 Hort, Christian Ecclesia, p. 141. 21 Swete, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, p. 243. 22 Swete, Article 'Holy Spirit,' Hastings' Bible Dictionary, p. 409. 23 Bruce, St. Paul's Conception of Christianity, p. 242. 24 Smeaton, The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, p. 58. 25 Denney, Article ' Holy Spirit,' Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, p. 738. 26 Davison, op. cit. ch. v. 27 Swete, The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, p. 193. 28 Denney, ut supra, p. 739. Cf. Bruce, St. Paul's Conception of Christianity, p. 262 ff. 29 Davison, op. cit. ch. iii.; Fletcher, The Psychology of the New Testament. 30 Swete, Article ' Holy Spirit,' Hastings' Bible Dictionary, p. 410. 31 Swete, ut supra, p. 410. 32 Cf. Sanday and Headlam, Romans, p. 196. 33 Davison, op. cit. p. 70. 34 Denney, ' Thessalonians,' Expositor's Bible, p. 255 f. 35 Davison, op. cit. p. 70. 36 An able modern writer. Dr. J. Moffatt of Oxford, recently remarked that, ' The psychology of the " spiritual " man, in Paulinism, is an extremely difficult problem, and the general relation of " flesh " and " spirit," in the apostle's teaching, involves a pretty accurate knowledge of the rabbinic doctrine of the evil impulse, if it is to be appreciated aright ' (British Weekly). 37 Somerville, St. Paul's Conception of Christ, p. 114. 38 Bruce, op cit. p. 248. 39 Cf. Stevens, The Theology of the New Testament, pp. 433-436. 40 Somerville, op. cit. p. 116. 41 Stevens, ut supra, p. 437. 42 Stevens, op. cit. p. 439. 43 For different opinions of St. Paul's view of the Nature of the Spirit, see Stevens, ut supra, p. 441, note I. 44 Stevens, ut supra, p. 444. 45 Stevens, ut supra, p. 444. 46 Stevens, op. cit. p. 445. 47 Wood, The Spirit of God in Biblical Literature, p. 228. 48 Denio, The Supreme Leader, p. 45. 49 Denney, Article ' Holy Spirit,' Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, p. 738. 50 Bruce, op. cit. p. 254. 51 Somerville, op. cit. p. 118. 52 Somerville, ut supra, p. 113. 53 Davison, op. cit. p. 74. 54 Somerville, op. cit. p. 121. 55 Adeney, The Theology of the New Testament, p. 184. Cf. Wood, op. cit. p. 231 f. 56 'Hebrew Psychology in Relation to Pauline Anthropology, ' in Mansfield College Essays, p. 285. See the same idea elaborated in his Christian Doctrine of Man, pp. 125-129. 57 Humphries, The Holy Spirit in Faith and Experience, p. 261, and note 2. 58 Wood, op. cit. p. 218. 59 Somerville, op. cit. p. 119. 60 Wood, op. cit. p. 198. 61 Davison, op. cit. p. 77.
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