Pneumatology

Question 1

Discuss the emphasis (or lack or emphasis) on the Holy Spirit in the early Christian church.

Answer 1

The early Church was spending much of its time defending accurate Doctrine of God and Christology that Pneumatology was overshadowed. The Holy Spirit was known as the one who inspired Scripture. The basic beliefs of the Holy Spirit’s work was implied and never articulated. Thus his personhood and even deity was not fully developed.

Question 2

What was the statement about the Holy Spirit in the Nicene Creed

Answer 2

We believe…and in the Holy Spirit

Question 3

What was the statement about the Council of Constantinople.

Answer 3

“in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who, with the Father and Son, is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.”

Question 4

Explain the the Filioque controversy

Answer 4

Filioque – And the Son (Filio – son, Que – and)

A church controversy grew out of this. The Filioque controversy which would ultimately split (among other factors) the Eastern Church (in Constantinople) from the Western Church (in Rome). The filioque was first suggested, supposedly, at the Council of Toledo in 589. It was formally adopted by the Western Church in 1017, causing the schism.

Question 5

Defend the Deity of the Holy Spirit

Answer 5

Declared to be God:
1 Cor 3:16.

OT to NT Comparison
Isa 6:8-10 and Acts 28:25-27.

Attributes of God alone:
Eternity – Heb 9:14.
Omniscience – 1 Cor 2:10.
Omnipresence – Ps 139:7-10.

Prerogatives of Deity:
Leading – Acts 8
Distributes Gifts – 1 Cor 12
Deserves worship – Matt 12

Works: 
Creates  (Gen 1:1 and Jn 1:1) Gen 1:2. 
Regeneration John 3
Sanctification 1 Pet 1 
Conviction of Sin – Jn 16:8. 
Raising the dead – Rom 8:11.

Question 6

Defend the Personhood of the Holy Spirit

Answer 6

Attributes of personhood
Mind: 1 Cor 2:10-11
Will: Eph 4:30
Emotions:1 Cor 12:11

Qualities
Gal 5:22-23 – Fruit of the Spirit seem to indicate qualities of the Spirit
Called Holy x94 in NT

Actions:
Teaches: John 14:26
Bears witness: Jn 12:26 
Guides: Rom. 8:14 
Interceedes: Rom 8:26
Sends Missionaries: Acts 13:4 

Treated Like a Person: 
He can be lied to – Acts 5:3. 
He can be resisted – Acts 7:51. 

He can be insulted – Heb 10:29. 
He can be blasphemed – Matt 12:31.

Question 7

What categories of people did the Holy Spirit empower in the OT? Can you characterize anything about that empowerment?

Answer 7

Judges, Prophets, Craftsmen, Civil Leaders

Selective
Temporary
Task Oriented

Question 8

What was the role that OT prophecy ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the “age to come.”

Answer 8

Looking forward to what was to come.

When the Spirit has come, the Kingdom of God has been inaugurated Isa 32

New Heart where the Spirit and Word are within the hearts of his people Ez 36, Jer 31

The Spirit is granted to all who believer (male, female, free, slave, jew, gentile) Joel 2

Question 9

What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ?

Answer 9

Conception Luke 1
Baptism Matt 3 
Leading Luke 4 
Empowerment Matt 12 
Death & Resurrection Heb. 9, Rom 8 

Is 11 – The Spirit will rest upon him, knowledgeable and wise because of the Spirit, Delighted in the fear of the Lord

Is 42 – God delights in him as well

Is 61 – Passage Jesus identifies himself with.

The main point is that Jesus is the Spirit-anointed Messiah that has come and the progressive fulfillment has begun.

Question 10

From Scripture, be able to discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the church.

Answer 10

From Scripture, be able to discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in the church.
chief purpose and goal of the Holy Spirit’s activity is To Glorify Christ – John 16:14

the Holy Spirit achieve that purpose by
Empower believers for witness Acts 1:8
Empowers Church for Service through gifts 1 Cor 12, Rom 12, 1 Pet 4, Eph 4

Four passages that discuss the spiritual gifts. What is the nature of those gifts?
1 Cor 12, Rom 12, 1 Pet 4, Eph 4

The Spirit is the giver of the gifts and determines who has what
(Spiritual or natural, both are gifts)
Every Christian is gifted and empowered for the good of the body.
The lists are not identical, much overlap but no copies.

Question 11

What is the work of the Holy Spirit in the individual, both in the unbeliever and the believer?

Answer 11

He convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

Allows people to respond to God.

Question 12

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the “age to come”?

Answer 12

1. Be able to explain the nature of the Holy Spirit as “first fruits,” “pledge,” and “seal.”

First fruit, Aparche – First picking of harvest. Sample taste of the Thanksgiving meal.
1 Cor. 15:20,23
Rom 8:18-23
Eph. 2:4-7

Pledge, Arabwn – pledge, guarantee. Firm promise, what God has stated he will do. Down payment. Token given for engadement.
2 Cor. 1:22
2 Cor 5:5
Eph 1:13-14

Sphragidzw, Seal – to seal, indication of ownership.
2 Cor. 1:22
Eph 1:13
Eph 4:30

Question 13

What is the nature of Spirit-baptism and Spirit-filling?

Answer 13

Spirit-baptism – either this speaks of the initial regeneration of the Holy Spirit upon conversion or it speaks of the Pentecostal second filling that finds no Biblical support

Spirit-filling is a command. To be given over to a life that is controlled by the Spirit. Eph.4 The Spirit filled living has a lot to do with being Bible-filled hearts and minds Cor 3:16