Theology Paper - The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

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Theology Paper: The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Kion D. Bolden BIBL 323 – C02: Johns February 15, 2024

Introduction The Gospel of John is comparatively different from the Synoptic Gospels in its approach to the Holy Spirit. While the three accounts do not delve much into the narrative of this the third installment of the trinity, the Apostle John “has a good deal to tell us about the Holy Spirit, and he does it in his own way.” 1 Thus, he offers “the most explicit teaching” 2 on the subject matter. While the Holy Spirit is first mentioned in Genesis 1:2, “there is perhaps no more important picture of the extent of His nature and work than the one expressed in the Gospel of John.” 3 He descriptively takes the believer on a journey to understand the role that the Holy Spirit was employed to play in the lives of believers by helping to explain the person of the Holy Spirit. Moreover, he describes the importance and connotations behind when the Holy Spirit is received and its work in and through Jesus and His followers. In accordance with the teaching of the Apostle Paul who tells us, “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit, (1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV)” we must understand that “John is writing for believers, not for nominal adherents of the Christian religion.” 4 To fully appreciate and grasp the works of the Spirit that John seeks to convey, one must be a believer. Therefore, Morris offers the notion that, “We cannot assume that anyone who lays a casual claim to being Christian will really understand what the work of the Holy Spirit is, and the teaching of John on the subject will accordingly not necessarily be obvious.” 5 The desire to know and the access to 1 Leon Morris (2015). (p. 145). Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 2 Andreas Köstenberger (2017). (p. 21). Encountering John. Baker Academic. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 3 Frederick R. Harm, 1987, "Distinctive titles of the Holy Spirit in the writings of John," Concordia Journal 13, no. 2: 119-135, ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCO host, (accessed September 27,2009), 119. 4 Leon Morris (2015). (p. 145). Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 5 Leon Morris (2015). (p. 145). Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 2

understand the things of the Spirit is granted once a person has accepted salvation through Jesus Christ and has had a genuine encounter with the Holy Spirit. As a prerequisite to gaining an understanding of the Person of the Holy Spirit, one must first recognize the position of the Holy Spirit. Many are familiar with the first two installments of the Holy Trinity, they being God the Father and God the Son. Jesus denotes the relationship between Him and the Father in his words to the disciples, “You believe in God; believe also in me. (John 14:1 NIV)” Moreover, He replies to Thomas’ inquiry saying, “No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. (John 14:6-7 NIV)” However, we cannot negate the final segment to the coeternal consubstantial persons. Prior to Jesus’ ascension, He made a promise to the disciples that He would not leave them alone. He would petition God the Father to send in His stead “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit.” (John 14:26 NIV). Though we know there is only one God, we understand that He exists in three persons. “Although only the Second Person of the Trinity became incarnate, it is clear that the Incarnation as the saving work of God for the salvation of the world involved the whole Trinity,” 6 subsequently making the Holy Spirit an essential facet of the Trinity to study. The Person of the Holy Spirit The initial reference to John’s account of the Holy Spirit is during his testimony to the disciples of his experience baptizing Jesus, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. (John 1:32 NIV)” This testimonial account is captured in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10 and Luke 3:22) as well. Moreover, Johns imagery of the Spirit portrayed as a dove that “remain” on Jesus can be harmoniously linked to that of the Spirit 6 John O’Donnell, In Him and over Him: The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus. p 27. 3

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that was described in Genesis 1:2 as “hovering over the face of the waters,” 7 In addition, it is important to emphasis the coequality of the Holy Spirit with God the Father and God the Son. While each facet of the trinity are distinct beings separate from the other, they are of the same essence and are all still God as well. Through this encounter, John presents the Spirit as a witness “but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One. (John 1: 33-34 NIV)” that foretells part of His work in the Gospel of John. The Work of the Holy Spirit During Jesus’ baptism, the implication of the work of the Spirit was introduced. “The Holy Spirit came on Jesus as he began his public ministry. Thus it is a fair inference that the human Jesus needed the divine Spirit as he began his work for God and for sinners.” 8 Thus, solidifying Jesus’ words to the disciples when He promised to send “another Helper.” 9 While, Jesus commissioned them to continue His work in the earth, He understood this to be “such an overwhelming task [that] demand[ed] heavenly support and sponsorship. This Jesus provides with his eschatological gift to his disciples-the promised Holy Spirit -- and his upper room teaching explains exactly how the Spirit will be their sponsor in the work of prophetic proclamation.” 10 Hence, Jesus’ words to the disciples “but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14:26 ESV)” 7 D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1991, 153. 8 Leon Morris (2015). (p. 147). Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 9 John 14:16, English Standard Version 10 Russell, Walt. “THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRY IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL.” Grace Theological Journal, vol. 8.2, 1987, pp. 227–239. 4

Accordingly, it is in John’s account where we are introduced to the expression, “paraklētos (perhaps meaning “advocate” or “helping presence”) used to designate the Holy Spirit” 11 John’s sole premise on the teaching of the Holy Spirit is to record the transition of Jesus from earth to heaven while emphasizing “the continuity between Jesus’s teaching and the Holy Spirit’s mission of explaining that teaching.” 12 Thus, Jesus says: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (Jon 16:12-15 ESV)” It is the Spirit that provokes conviction in the unbeliever and reveals to them the truth of the gospel. Those who make the conscious decision to respond to that conviction and place their faith in Jesus Christ are promised eternal life 13 and to become a new creature. 14 It is the ultimate job of the Holy Spirit to hone the marriage between bride and groom 15 and to place them in the body of Christ, which is the church. 16 A Life in the Spirit The significance of the Spirit in life is conveyed in Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus. Jesus tells an already convinced Jew, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he 11 Andreas Köstenberger (2017). (p. 27). Encountering John. Baker Academic. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 12 IBID, p. 27 13 John 3:3; Titus 3:5 14 2 Corinthians 5:17 15 Jeremiah 3:14 16 1 Corinthians 12:13 5

cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3 ESV)” Thereby, enlightening him on the necessity of being born again or as He refers to it in His employment of an analogy “born of the Spirit. (vs.8)” Thus Morris offers, “Jesus is surely affirming that the way into the kingdom is not by any human device. It is by regeneration brought about by the Spirit of God.” 17 Conclusion John’s overall reason for penning this gospel account was “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:31)” Thus, from his writings he offers an understanding of the humanity and deity of Christ, his ministry, and his provision for believers post His ascension. The remaining presence and workings of the Holy Spirit acts for us as a conduit reconnecting and maintaining a communal life with the God. “Although the actual references to the Holy Spirit are few in the Gospel of John, his presence is felt everywhere. John, then has an exceedingly rich and full amount of teaching about the Holy Spirit, considering the small amount of space he devotes to the subject. In this book, John provides the most complete picture of the nature, person, character, and operations of the Holy Spirit.” 18 In conclusion, Kostenberger suggests that there are three (3) main functions of the Spirit: “they include (1) indwelling believers (14:16–17), (2) teaching and guiding believers (14:26; 16:13), and (3) witnessing to and convicting the world (16:7–11).” 19 Thus, we understand that when a sinner accepts Jesus as their personal savior, they are gifted with the “Helper and Advocate” to aid in illuminating the Scripture, encouraging good works, convicting of sin, and preserving the believer. 17 Leon Morris (2015). (p. 149). Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John. William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 18 Morris, Leon. New Testament Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1990. 19 Andreas Köstenberger (2017). (p. 28). Encountering John. Baker Academic. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.com 6

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Bibliography D. A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1991, 153. Frederick R. Harm, 1987, "Distinctive titles of the Holy Spirit in the writings of John," Concordia Journal 13, no. 2: 119-135, ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCO host, (accessed September 27,2009), 119. Köstenberger, Andreas J. Encountering John: the Gospel in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective. Baker Academic, 2013. O'Donnell, John. “In Him and Over Him: The Holy Spirit in the Life of Jesus.” Gregorianum, vol. 70, no. 1, 1989, pp. 25–45. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23577763 . Morris, Leon. Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in Theology of John. Eerdmans, 1989. Morris, Leon. New Testament Theology. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1990. 7

Russell, Walt. “THE HOLY SPIRIT'S MINISTRY IN THE FOURTH GOSPEL.” Grace Theological Journal, vol. 8.2, 1987, pp. 227–239., doi:https://faculty.gordon.edu/hu/bi/ted_hildebrandt/NTeSources/NTArticles/GTJ-NT/ Russell-HSJohn-GTJ-87.pdf. 8

Theology Paper - The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

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