The Holy Spirit

By Domenico Barbera

The subject of the "holy spirit", the third person of the Trinity, as the Holy Scriptures present it, is one of those arguments which, both in the past centuries as well as up to us that we live in the twenty-first century, has been the object of bitter and long polemics, for the simple fact that not everyone believes and accepts the doctrine of His "personality", since for some it is nothing other than the "active force of God" and not a real person distinct from God the Father. Therefore, knowing what the Bible has to tell us about the Holy Spirit is very important, not only to learn what the Holy Scriptures have to refer to in this regard, but also to know how they present it and with what characteristics they define it.

Having an overview of the many steps that the Bible has around the Holy Spirit will primarily serve not only to have clear ideas, but also to be able to objectively evaluate what the writers of the Old and New Testaments intended to tell us about the Spirit of God. In fact, the Bible presents it, indicating it in several passages such as: "The Holy Spirit", "the Spirit of God" and "the Spirit of the Lord"

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Sep 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781071504024

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@ 2014, Domenico Barbera

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Original title: Lo Spirito Santo

Works by the same author

❖  Gesù Cristo è Dio?

❖  Is Jesus Christ God? (Translated from Italian: Gesù Cristo è Dio?)

❖  Il gran mandato di Gesù Cristo

❖  Gli eroi della fede secondo Ebrei 11

❖  Heroes of faith (Translated from Italian: Gli eroi della fede secondo Ebrei 11)

❖  Il matrimonio, è un’istituzione divina?

❖  La prima moltiplicazione dei pani

❖  Nehemia - Uomo spinto e sorretto da una motivazione eroica

❖  Il mondo degli spiriti

❖  The Spirit World (Translated from Italian: Il mondo degli spiriti)

❖  Gesù - Il divin guaritore

❖  La fede nell’insegnamento della Bibbia

❖  Giacobbe - L’uomo trasformato da Dio

❖  Il cammino di un popolo Dall’Egitto alla terra di Canaan

❖  L’uomo si comporta ed agisce in conformità a quel che crede

❖  I believe Therefore I behave (Translated from Italian: L’uomo si comporta ed agisce in conformità a quel che crede

❖  Fare del bene per amore di qualcuno

❖  Quel che la Bibbia riferisce intorno a Satana

❖  What the Bible says about Satan (Translated from Italian: Quel che la Bibbia riferisce intorno a Satana)

❖  Lo que la Biblia refiere sobre Satanás (Translated from Italian: Quel che la Bibbia riferisce intorno a Satana)

❖  Donne menzionate nella Bibbia

❖  Alcuni imperativi della Bibbia

❖  Some Imperatives from the Bible (Translated from Italian: Alcuni imperativi della Bibbia

❖  Gedeone... Un conduttore scelto da Dio

❖  Profeti e profezie nel Nuovo Testamento

❖  Giuseppe... L’uomo denominato Safnat-Panea

❖  Le parabole di Gesù

❖  Il perdono dei peccati

❖  Mosè... Quello che la Bibbia riferisce intorno a Mosè, uomo di Dio e servo dell’Eterno

❖  Conoscere le cose che Dio ci ha donate

❖  Lo Spirito Santo

DEDICATION

In consideration of Jesus Christ’s promise to send the Comforter to His disciples, that is, the Holy Spirit, we dedicate the pages of this book to those who care to know what the Holy Scriptures have to tell us about the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God.

VOLUME INDEX

DEDICATION

VOLUME INDEX

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1

THE PHRASE HOLY SPIRIT  IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TEXT

The Phrase Holy Spirit

Chapter 2

THE PHRASE THE SPIRIT OF GOD IN THE BIBLE

Introductory Note

Three Passages from the Old Testament With the Phrase the Spirit of God

BALAK AND BALAAM

Israel’s Victory

A Lesson For Everyone

Victory Over Bashan

Balak Sends For Balaam

Balak and Balaam

Other Texts Concerning Balaam

Chapter 3

THE PHRASE THE SPIRIT OF GOD  IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

Other Old Testament passages that speak of the Spirit of God with the definite article the

Chapter 4

THE PHRASE THE SPIRIT OF GOD  IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Introductory Note

Chapter 5

THE PHRASE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

Samson’s Birth

2. Samson’s Heroic Deeds

3. The Three Cases Where It Is Written ... the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him

A Particular Reflection On This Word

The Act of Choosing Completed

A Special Reflection

A Good Lesson to Learn

A Plan to Deceive the Apostles and Appear Praiseworthy Before Them

A Lesson to Learn to Always Speak the Truth

Chapter 6

THE PHRASE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE FOUR GOSPELS

1. THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

Introduction

Premise

A Consideration

SCRIPTURAL PROOFS - THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Definition of Personality

The Personality of the Holy Spirit

2. The Names and Symbols Used For the Holy Spirit Make One Think of Something Impersonal

3. The Holy Spirit Is Not Always Included With the Father and the Son In New Testament Greetings

EVIDENCE OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

His Description

2. THE GOSPEL OF MARK

3. THE Gospel OF LUke

4. THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Chapter 7

THE PHRASE THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES

Introduction

Chapter 8

THE PHRASE, THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE VARIOUS EPISTLES

Paul's Epistles

THE EPISTLE TO THE ROMANS

1 CORINTHIANS

2 CORINTHIANS

1 THESSALONIANS

2 TIMOTHY

TITus

EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

The General Epistles

1 PETER

2 PETER

JUDE

CONCLUSION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION

T

he subject of the Holy Spirit, third person of the Trinity, as presented in the Holy Scriptures, is one of those topics that both in past centuries as well as up to now in the twenty-first century, has been the object of bitter and long contention, for the simple reason that not everyone believes and accepts the doctrine of His personality; since for some He is nothing other than the active force of God and not a real person distinct from God the Father. Therefore, knowing what the Bible has to say to us about the Holy Spirit is very important, not only to learn what the Holy Scriptures have to say in this regard, but also to know how they present Him and with what characteristics they define Him.

Having an overview of the many passages that speak about the Holy Spirit in the Bible will primarily serve, not only to provide clarity, but also to objectively evaluate what the writers of the Old and New Testaments intended to tell us about the Spirit of God. In fact, the Bible presents Him, in several passages as; The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the Lord.

It is also important to know the grammatical form that the Holy Scriptures use when referring to the Holy Spirit, which will undoubtedly help us to understand His functions and various activities. Here are the grammatical forms that the writers of the Old and New Testaments have used;

Holy Spirit

"To the Holy Spirit"

"From the Holy Spirit"

"Of the Holy Spirit"

"The Holy Spirit"

"In the Holy Spirit"

"His holy spirit"

"Your holy spirit"

"The Spirit of God"

"From the Spirit of God"

"Of the Spirit of God"

"The Spirit of the Lord"

***********************************************

Faced with this grammatical form and without forcing the biblical text in regard to its interpretation, one can grasp the meaning and understand why the sacred writers have expressed themselves as they have.

Since the Bible passages do not number in the order of several hundred, we propose to review them so as to know them, both where they are found in the various books of the Bible and also to keep their contexts in mind in order to better evaluate them. In this way, we will have a complete overview of what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit.

The version of the Bible that we will use in this work of ours will be the Nuova Riveduta[1] and when we think it appropriate to refer to other translations, we will not hesitate to do so.

Moreover, since our purpose is to examine the biblical text to try to understand it, we will not be concerned with the various technicalities that a thorough discussion on the subject would require, including the Hebrew and Greek terms that the Scriptures use. For those that are interested in this, we can recommend the systematic works that deal with the specific theme[2].

Our prayer for those who will hold this book in their hands, is that each would know how to treasure what they read to the praise and glory of our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and for our edification.

Niagara Falls, 2014

Domenico Barbera

Chapter 1

THE PHRASE HOLY SPIRIT

IN THE OLD TESTAMENT TEXT

S

ince we have proposed to examine all the passages of the Bible that speak of the Holy Spirit or Spirit of God (the two phrases have the same meaning because they refer to the same Spirit), we will begin the examination, as is proper to do, from the writings of the Old Testament

The Phrase Holy Spirit

In the writings of the Old Testament, the phrase Holy Spirit is found in two passages; once in the book of Psalms and the other in the book of the prophet Isaiah. Although in the passage of Psalm 51 the two words are inverted[3], that is, holy spirit, written in lowercase[4], [5] however, the meaning does not change, it refers without doubt to the Holy Spirit. 

Here is the text;

Psalm 51:11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

The context of the Psalm in question is a specific prayer that the psalmist David raised to his God, with reference to an actual situation in which he found himself when he slept with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite. It is also a Psalm of repentance in the sense that David, recognizing his sin and confessing it without shame, asked his God to blot out his transgressions and to purify him from his sin.

The account of David’s sin is found in 2 Samuel, chapters 11 and 12. Reading the entire account of the event that has been handed down, it is immediately clear that David’s sin was terrible, not only because he went to bed with the wife of Uriah the Hittite, thereby committing the sin of adultery, but also because he went so far as to order the murder of Bathsheba’s husband (which took place on the battlefield by David’s explicit command), thus making it premeditated murder.

What would the sentence have been if David had been judged by an earthly court? For the two crimes committed; adultery and premeditated murder, the sentence would have been severe; the maximum sentence, that is to say life imprisonment. However, since David was not judged by an earthly court, the condemnation he deserved on the basis of the crime committed was not applied.

With a double crime committed of adultery and premeditated murder, David devised a scheme that he thought and believed would keep his sin hidden and covered; but that did not happen, because Nathan, the prophet of God, revealed it directly to the person in question when he went to visit David at his home.

The tale that Nathan told David of a rich man who wanted to save his flock by taking the only lamb that a poor man had and offering it to his guest to eat, incited King David to anger, because of the unjust deed of the rich man, causing David to pronounce a severe condemnation.

So David’s anger was greatly aroused against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this shall surely die! And he shall restore fourfold for the lamb, because he did this thing and because he had no pity. (2 Samuel 12:5-6)

Understandably, David’s judgment, upon hearing the story that day, was more than reasonable and fair considering the obvious injustice that had been committed. But whatever David thought that day in the presence of the prophet Nathan, it was anything but himself and what he had done. In fact, since the prophet had not given him the slightest hint that the story he recounted was about him, he had no hesitation in stating that the rich man, who had acted so selfishly to the detriment of the poor man, deserved to be put to death.

Man has always acted like that. He has always placed responsibility on others not thinking of himself. The judgment that he expresses at certain specific acts that are done (which sometimes reflect the truth, in the sense that they are consistent with justice and legality), apply to the lives of others. Seldom does such behavior resemble (because it is very often not accepted) the golden rule that Jesus taught;

Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

If this golden rule were practiced by men, there would not be so many social injustices evident in the midst of humanity at all levels.

Returning to Nathan and David, after the prophet heard the resolute and severe judgment that King David gave; without further preamble, he replied, "You are the man!" And immediately he followed with the pronouncement;

Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me, and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.’ (2 Samuel 12:7-12)

There was little for David to say in response to that clear and harsh message pronounced by the prophet of God! If David had been another person, as often happens among men and even among Christians, he would immediately have tried his best to seek some justification or perhaps take some time to reflect on the prophet’s message, instead, without hesitation, he answered,

I have sinned against the Lord.

And Nathan said to David, The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die. (2 Samuel 12:13-14)

With the assurance that the prophet gave David that the Lord had forgiven his sin and that he would not die, why in Psalm 51, did David ask;

Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:1-11)

Why, above all, did he ask the Lord not to take away His Holy Spirit? Probably, David thought that because of the grave sin he had committed in having gone to bed with Bathsheba and having ordered the death of her husband, even though God had forgiven him, He would not have left His Holy Spirit on him, but would have simply withdrawn it.

His concern, however, did not correspond to reality for the simple reason that when God forgives, it is a full pardon, that is, He does not leave any sin nor does He leave any remnant of sin, because He cancels it. Consequently, the Holy Spirit that God gives to the sinner is not withdrawn, because it is part of the forgiveness that He grants. Later, David himself, understanding this truth, wrote in one of his Psalms, speaking about God's mercy;

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As a father pities his children,

So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust. (Psalm 103:10-14)

Finally, if David obtained forgiveness from God for his grave sin, it was essentially because he knew how to acknowledge and confess it openly, without resorting to any form of self justification. The position that David took in that specific case was in perfect harmony with what the Scriptures