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Neil_Anthony
Guest
Was the Holy Spirit on earth before the resurrection and Pentecost?
If yes, what changed at Pentecost?
If yes, what changed at Pentecost?
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valentino
Guest
For one thing proved without a doubt there was life after this death on earth.The Saducees believed that there was no resurrection.Christ proved them wrong.
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Barbkw
Guest
This is such an interesting question. Pinning down what Jews in the 2nd Temple Period thought concerning the Holy Spirit and both the resurrection of the body and the resurrection of the soul.
A while back, I asked a question concerning Judaism’s monotheism in relationship to Genesis 1:26:
Even for Jews today, the “us” “our” and “our” has significantly different meanings than how Christians read that text.
The Psalms speak of Sheol - and from their reading - I at least come away with the idea that death was an end from which they pleaded with God for rescue.
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Della
Guest
Before then the Holy Spirit only came upon a few whom God chose to bring his word to Israel. Even though the Holy Spirit was the one who was the “hand of God”, brooding over the waters, moving men to prophesy, making the tabernacle holy, etc. not all who believed were filled with the Holy Spirit. They needed to be sanctified by the “water and the blood” which couldn’t happen until Christ’s sacrificial death and his resurrection. Only one person had the benefits of the redemption gained by Christ given to her beforehand, and that was Mary. Everyone else had to wait for the time to come when these things would be done. It’s why Jesus said Moses and the prophets longed to see his [Jesus’] day. The prophecy of Joel came to pass because of Christ’s death and resurrection. Jesus set up the sacraments so that every baptized person could receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
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Neil_Anthony
Guest
Thank you.
So is it possible then, that people like Moses and Elijah had the Holy Spirit in the same way that the apostles received it?
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StTommyMore
Guest
The Holy Spirit descended on individuals, for a limited time. Pentecost was differin in that the gift of the Spirit is universal and enduring.
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Soldier_Of_God
Guest
The Holy Spirit is one Person of the Truine God. It’s my understanding The Holy Spirit is mentioned in in Psalm 51:11 and in Isaiah 63:10/11 of the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit is related to prophecy or is used as another name for God.
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Della
Guest
Not quite the same way. The “shekinah” glory faded from Moses’ face although he continued to wear the veil he had taken when it was at its full power. The Holy Spirit was given when and as needed. The prophets seemed to have been filled with the Spirit from the moment they were called, but others lost their gift even though they had prophesied, such as King Saul. King David seems to have never to have lost his gift even though he sinned because his heart was always malleable to God.
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Warandpeace
Guest
I had been wondering about this question for awhile!
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TimothyH
Guest
The word “Spirit” comes from the Latin word spiritus, which means breath. In Greek it is pneuma, from which we get the words pneumatic, and pneumonia. In Hebrew it is ruah.
*In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 RSV)
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2 NAB)*
A “Mighty wind”, the Holy Spirit of God, his creating force, his life giving breath, is right here in the second vese of the Bible, present at the beginning of time, acting to create the universe.
the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
The Holy Spirit, the life giving force of God, is present when the first man was created.
Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." (Ezekiel 37:9)
Ezekiel phophesied and the life giving breath of God came from the four winds. That’s the life giving Holy Spirit. John, the author of the fourth Gospel, understood that the Holy Spirit was the breath of God, God’s life giving force.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (John 6:63)
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (John 20:22)
What changed at Pentacost? This same life giving spirit, the life giving breath of God, the same creative force which was present at the creation of the universe, entered the believers, and brought them to life. Before Pentacost they were afraid, locked in an upper room for fear of the Jews. After Pentecost however, they spoke out boldly.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Sama’ria and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
They recieved the power to speak out boldly without fear, without even fear of death.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders,… (Acts 4:8)
Peter spoke out boldly, with power. St. Stephen went to his death without fear. That’s what changed at Pentecost - they were given the life, the breath of God, were given the power of God to speak out boldly, the power to speak in the name of Jesus without fear.
That’s what the sacrament of confirmation is. It is our personal participation in Pentecost, when we are given the same power to speak out boldly without fear.
-Tim-
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Prairie_Rose
Guest
THIS was AWESOME - Thanks for putting it so clearly
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Robbinson
Guest
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