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Date Posted: 16:31:05 06/11/02 Tue
Author: Doug
Subject: Acts 2 - "gift of the Holy Spirit" #2
In reply to: Doug 's message, "Acts 2 - "gift of the Holy Spirit"" on 17:40:22 06/10/02 Mon

Continuing on with Acts 2/Joel 2. What was given on Pentecost? The Spirit Himself, or that which the Spirit gives?

According to Acts 2:16, Peter declares, "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel." The "this" of Acts 2 is essentially what took place just prior in vv. 1-4. They (Peter & the apostles) were accused of being drunk, but Peter stands up to explain. The "that" is the promise of Joel 2:38-42 and PEter is declaring that it is now happening.

Notice the next two verses - verses 17 and 18. The NIV and a few other trasnlations leave some words out and do so on purpose. The KJV is acutally accurate in its rendering of the original language. The original Greek specifically says in verse 17: "And it shall be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out from My Spirit upon all flesh..."

The idea is that something OUT FROM the Spirit would be poured or shed forth From the Spirit. The actual text does not say that He would pour forth His Spirit, but that He would pour forth OUT FROM His Spirit. In fact, to make it even more clear, the word "apo" is used and it literally means "out from." This Greek word is in the genitive case and for those of you who know Greek that means the genitive preposition simply means it is in the "case of separation." That is, "apo" in the genitive always means "away from" or in our case, "out from," signifying "separation." Therefore, He would pour "out from His Spirit" and that is what the text literally says and means. What would be poured out is not the Spirit Himself but that which is poured "out from" the Spirit. Verse 18 says the same exact thing in the original language.

Well, in our text,so far, what has been "poured out from the Spirit"? Again the context is "the this" is "the that." The "this" = what was seen and heard of verses 1-4 and the "that" = the promise of the miraculous as promised by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32).

Acts 2:33 is essentially more commentary on what I have mentioned above. "He poured out THIS, which you now see and hear." Again, the "this" is nothing more than the miraculous happenings of that day (Pentecost) and the "that" is nothing more than what Joel had promised some 800 years earlier in Joel 2:28:32 and that is dealing with nothing more than the promise of miraculous endowments to those of the first century. Furthermore, what the people both saw and heard on that day was not the Spirit, Himself (since no man can actually see God and live), but the works of the Spirit on the apostles (Acts 2:1-4).

Throughout this entire passage, Peter is talking about the promise of Joel and then he says that the promise has arrived on that day, Pentecost. He continues referring to that promise in Acts 2:16-18, Acts 2:33 and Acts 2:38-39. In Acts 2:39 he simply summarizes the promise of Joel and that promise was nothing more than the miraculous endowments that those of the first century would enjoy. I

I see nothing here in this context that remotely indicates a literal, non-miraculous indwelling, as is so commonly taught in our brotherhood (those on this list who are members of the churches of Christ). Again, as I mentioned yesterday - Joel 2 is dealing with the miraculous, Acts 2:1-4 is dealing with the miraculous. Acts 2:16-18 Peter is discussing the miraculous. Acts 2:33 Peter is continuing discussing the miraculous as it relates to the promise of Joel. And finally, in Acts 2:38-39, Peter is summarazing the promise of the miraculous of the prophet Joel.

Therefore, the "gift of the Holy Spirit" is nothing more than what was promised by Joel in Joel 2 - which is nothing more than miraculous endowments - and not the Spirit Himself! The gift OF the Holy Spirit is what the Spirit gave and not He, Himself. I believe that is what the context is teaching and nothing else. Looking forward to your thoughts.

Brotherly,
Doug

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Replies:

  • Re: Acts 2 - "gift of the Holy Spirit" -- Jay Dee, 13:24:21 06/17/02 Mon
  • Re: Acts 2 - "gift of the Holy Spirit" -- Doug, 20:35:15 06/17/02 Mon
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