Grace Institute: Systematic Theology: Pneumatology: Significant Biblical Passages on the Holy Spirit

Pneumatololgy Grace Institute for Biblical Leadership Winter 2006

[Previous Historical Development of Pneumatology]

II. Significant Biblical Passages on the Holy Spirit

Compared to the Father and the Son, the bible has very few passages on the Holy Spirit. With the exception of Jesus' Upper Room Discourse in John 14-17, there is no lengthy exposition regarding the nature of the Spirit. Furthermore, those passages which do discuss the Holy Spirit, it is the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer that is emphasized, not the character or nature of the Spirit. As such, pneumatology spends more time looking at the works of the Holy Spirit and the relationship believers have with the Spirit than searching His character.

A. Old Testament Passages

• Genesis 1:2 – The Holy Spirit was integrally involved in creation. He moved over the surface of the waters covering the earth, as if to be the agent who searched out and reconnoitered the situation prior to the formation.
• Judges 3:10, 15:14, 16:20 – The Holy Spirit came upon the Judges to help them in their office. The presence of the Spirit gave them power to overcome their enemies. However, the Spirit was not permanent, and when He left Samson, he lost his strength.
• 1 Samuel 10:6, 16:13-14 – The Spirit was given to both Saul and David when they were chosen to be the king over Israel. The Spirit gave Saul the ability to prophecy. However, the Spirit could also be removed.
• Psalm 51:11 – David, after his adultery with Bathsheba, is grieved over his offense. Apparently he knows that the Holy Spirit can be removed for cause, and therefore he pleads with God to not take the Holy Spirit from him.
• Psalm 139:7-8 – The Holy Spirit is omnipresent, representing the presence of God in every location.

B. The Gospels

• Matthew 1:18-20, Luke 1:35 – The Holy Spirit was the agent causing the immaculate conception of Christ in Mary.
• Luke 1:15, 41 – John the Baptist is filled with the Holy Spirit even while in his mother's womb.
• Luke 1:67 – John the Baptist's father, Zecharias prophesies when filled with the Spirit.
• Luke 2:25-27 – Simeon prophesies about Jesus when the Holy Spirit reveals that the infant Jesus is the Messiah.
• Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16 – While John the Baptist baptized with water, he stated that Jesus would come and baptize with the Holy Spirit.
• Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32-33 – When Jesus is baptized, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove and came upon Jesus.
• Matthew 4:1, Mark 1:12. Luke 4:1 – After His baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted.
• Luke 4:14 – The Spirit proclaimed the kingdom and performed miracles throughout Galilee in the power of the Spirit.
• John 3:5-8 – Jesus indicates that being “born of the Spirit” is required to enter into the kingdom of God.
• John 3:34 – God gives the Spirit without measure.
• Matthew 10:20, Mark 13:11, Luke 12:12 – Jesus tells his disciples that they will have the opportunity to speak in front of leaders and kings, and that they need not fear for the Spirit will speak in them.
• Matthew 12:18, Luke 4:18 – Matthew states that Jesus is the fulfillment of a prophecy of Isaiah where it says that God will put His Spirit upon the coming Messiah.
• Matthew 12:28 – Jesus contends that his ability to cast out demons comes through the power, not of Satan, but the Spirit.
• Luke 11 : 13 – The Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
• Matthew 12:31-32, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10 – Jesus says that Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unforgivable.
• Matthew 22:43, Mark 12:36 – Jesus uses a quote from David to make a point with the Pharisees. He states that David was “in the Spirit” when He wrote this psalm
• Matthew 28:19 – Jesus puts the Spirit in the same grouping as the Father and the Son.
• John 20:22 – Jesus breathed on His disciples and said to them “receive the Holy Spirit.”

C. Upper Room Discourse

• John 14:16-17 – Jesus asked the Father to give another Helper, the Spirit of Truth, to the disciples. The world cannot receive the Spirit, but the disciples can know Him for He abides in them.
• John 14:26 – The Helper is sent by the Father in Jesus name. He will teach the disciples all things by bringing the words of Jesus to their remembrance.
• John 15:26 – The Helper is sent from the Father by Jesus. The Spirit of truth proceeds out of the Father and testifies about Jesus.
• John 16:7 – It is advantageous for Jesus to leave the disciples, for otherwise they would not receive the Spirit.
• John 16:8-11 – The Spirit convicts the world regarding sin, righteousness and judgment.
• John 16:13-14 – The Spirit will guide the disciples into all truth, not speaking of His own initiative. The Spirit glorifies Jesus.

D. Acts

• Acts 1:5, 8 – Prior to His ascension, Jesus tells His disciples that they will soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit, and that as a result they will receive power.
• Acts 2:4 – Forty days after Jesus ascension, the apostles receive the Holy Spirit and begin speaking in languages.
• Acts 2:38 – Peter proclaims that all who repent, and are baptized, will receive the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 8:17 – The apostles lay hands on Samaritans to receive Holy Spirit after their belief and baptism.
• Acts 10:44-47 – Cornelius & his Gentile friends received Holy Spirit while Peter was speaking, and before their baptism and without the laying on of hands.
• Acts 19:1-6 – When Paul came to Ephesus he found some others who evidently may have been converted through Apollos' incomplete teaching of Jesus. Paul explained to them the fuller message of Jesus as the fulfillment of John the Baptist, and they immediately became baptized and received the Holy Spirit.

E. Pauline Epistles

• Romans 8:9, 16, 23 – The Spirit is a marker of being in Christ. If one does not have the Spirit, one does not have Christ. However, if one has the Spirit, He testifies to that person that he or she is a child of God. The Spirit serves as the “first fruits,” and is a guarantee of adoption.
• Romans 8:26-27 – The Spirit helps in times of weakness by interceding with groaning.
• 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 – The Spirit of God knows the depths of God's thoughts, and therefore those who have received the Spirit can also know the things of God. The Spirit teaches believers the thoughts of God. However, the natural man cannot accept the teaching of the Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-13 – While the Spirit may manifest Himself differently in believers (through various “spiritual gifts”), there is only one Spirit and one body.
• 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 – Those in Christ are sealed by the Spirit. The Spirit is given as a pledge.
• Galatians 5:25 – Those who live by the Spirit are commanded to walk by the Spirit.
• Ephesians 1:13-14 – Those in Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is a pledge or down payment on the inheritance to be received by those in Christ.
• Ephesians 4:3-4 – The Spirit unifies believers.
• Ephesians 5:18 – The Ephesians are commanded to be filled by the Spirit.
• Philippians 2:1-2 – The Spirit is the basis for Christian unity.
• Titus 3:5 – The Spirit is involved in the regeneration and renewing of the believer.

F. The General Epistles

• Hebrews 2:4 – The Holy Spirit testifies regarding the gospel through the gifts He gives according to His will.
• Hebrews 10:15 - The writer of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34, stating that it was the Holy Spirit who spoke to Isaiah. When we refer to the original text of Jeremiah, however, he attributes these words to Yahweh. Therefore, the writer of Hebrews clearly sees the Holy Spirit to be the same as Yahweh himself.
• Hebrews 10:29 – The Spirit can be insulted by considering the blood of Jesus as “unclean.”
• 1 Peter 1:2 – The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers.
• 1 Peter 1:11-12 – The Spirit was sent from heaven to proclaim the gospel. The prophets predicted the coming of the Son through the Spirit.
• 2 Peter 1:21 - Peter informs us that the process of biblical inspiration was accomplished through the movement of the Holy Spirit.
• 1 John 3:24, 4:13 – The Holy Spirit is proof that a person abides in Christ.
• 1 John 5 :6-8 – The Spirit testifies of Christ in agreement with the water and the blood.

[Next: Nature of the Holy Spirit]