Receiving the Holy Spirit - John 20:19-23 and Acts 2

[Mendalla]

I was looking at Working Preacher to see what was on deck as far as lectionary readings and discovered that tomorrow is Pentecost Sunday. Interestingly, the discussion on the site is about John 20:19-23, which ends with Jesus breathing on the disciples with the words, "“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” So apparently, Jesus is giving the gift of the Spirit here.

Bible Gateway passage: John 20:19-23 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

Jesus Appears to the Disciples - When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then...

www.biblegateway.com

Which is then something of a contrast with the more dramatic account in Acts 2:

Bible Gateway passage: Acts 2 - New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Coming of the Holy Spirit - When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a...

www.biblegateway.com

And here's the commentary from Working Preacher, reflecting on how the John passage relates to Pentecost and gives us a different perspective on the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Commentary on John 20:19-23 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary

Jesus's breathing the Spirit upon the disciples harkens back to the intimacy of creation.

www.workingpreacher.org

So let's try kicking off a revival of BPoTW with a discussion of these passages about receiving the Holy Spirit and what it means in the stories and in our modern religious lives.

And that's probably how I'll do this. Rather than trying to figure out something, since I've hit on a lot of the passages that interest me, I'll see what's happening in the church calendar and lectionary and draw from that. Not to say I won't do other things, but it's a way to keep it going more steadily even when I can't come up with something on my own.

As always, do read the passages in question and keep the discussion to them and your reactions to them. I am not averse to moving discussion that strays off topic. Be mindful of the values in your interactions here, too. Not everyone sees the Holy Spirit and its role in life and faith the same way and there needs to respect even where there is not agreement.

Here is the sticky post at the top of this forum that gives the purpose and rules of the forum.

Thread 'Bible Passage of the Week 101'

Jan 22, 2023

Hello and welcome to this new incarnation of a feature we first introduced in April of 2021. The idea is simple. On Sunday, a host (sometimes me, sometimes others) posts a new thread with a bible passage and some commentary. Other WC2 members are then invited to chime in with comments, learnings, ideas, what that passage means to their spiritual life, and so on.

We will generally post a link to the passage in our preferred translation (I prefer NRSV but others may use different ones) on BibleGateway or similar, but obviously you can follow along with whatever translation you use. In fact...

• Mendalla
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Bible Passage of the Week (BPoTW)

• 

 

[ninj]

This phenomenon is described in other practices as well, but includes Christianity. It's the idea of  transmission, a gift of awareness beyond words, or as I like to think of it, an upgrade. If you have the starter pack.
Not sure of the source, but it seems a good enough synopsis.
Transmitting Awakened Spirit Consciousness — Integral Christian Network Transmitting Awakened Spirit Consciousness — Integral Christian Network

 

[Kimmio Laughterlove]

Having that ability is supposed to be a healing force.

 

[unsafe]

My Spiritual view

So this is from the Commentary posted

Breath and Spirit​

“When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (20:22).
In contrast to our typical Pentecost scene, with “the rush of a violent wind” (Acts 2:2), the Spirit arrives with more intimacy and sensuality in John’s Gospel. Not with tongues of fire, but with warm breath upon skin.

I say -----What you have here in John 20:22 ---is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Disciples ---

You need to go back to John 14 AMP where Jesus tells them--- His Father will send them a Helper

Role of the Spirit​

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—

17 the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive [and take to its heart] because it does not see Him or know Him,
but you know Him because He (the Holy Spirit) remains with you continually and will be in you.


So in John 20 ---they are Receiving the indwelling of the Holy Spirit ---so first they Receive the Holy Spirit -through the Breath of Christ breathing upon them here because Jesus hasn't ascended to the Father yet ---- only after He ascends does the Holy Spirit indwell the Believer immediately when they Receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour -----


The Greek word for Received in this scripture is

Lexical Summary
lambanó: To take, receive, obtain

actively lay hold of , to take or receive," (actively) accepting what is available (offered).
take in, unto , to take to oneself:

So Here =====they have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in John 20 ---

This indwelling of the Holy Spirit is to help them with spiritual discernment and Preaching the real truth of the Gospel to the Jewish Nation -----

In Acts 2---at Pentecost

This is the Infilling of the Holy Spirit -----

The Day of Pentecost​

2 When the day Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place,

2 and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them

4 And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

The contrast is that these were 2 separate events ---the indwelling and then the infilling ----

The infilling of the Holy Spirit is given to people to preform certain tasks that God has entrusted to the person to preform -----

In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit mostly came upon the person and on occasion indwelled the person but then withdrew -----the Holy Spirit was never given permanently in the Old Testament -----

I liked the reference in the commentary where the Preacher takes the breath that Jesus breaths on the Disciples back to where God breaths the breath of life into Adam -----very neatly done -----

 

[GordW]

Only the author of Luke/Acts seems to know the PEntecost story as we have it. Matthew and Mark have no account of the giving of the Holy SPirit (and little reference to the concept of the giving of the HOly SPirit as a discrete event IIRC). John, as @Mendalla has already pointed out, has the SPirit being breathed onto the disciples on Easter Day (in the evening). [I remember some discussion about how we might preach that verse on Easter 2 {John 20 is always the reading on Easter 2} back in 202 when breathing on people was heavily frowned upon] Paul never really refers to the Pentecost event, but does talk about the power of the Holy Spirit working in the community.

REally it reminds us that there are multiple voices and understanding in Scripture. I like the Acts story for its drama and the reminder that the story speaks in many languages. However I like the fact that John links it so clearly to the Easter event. The beauty of varied voices is is allows us to drawn out different aspects of the story.

THis image was in my FB memories today, talks about the muli-lingual aspect of the Acts story:

 

[unsafe]

​

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today?​

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today? | GotQuestions.org

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today? How is the role of the Holy Spirit today different than in the Old Testament?

www.gotquestions.org

Jesus gave the Spirit as a “compensation” for His absence, to perform the functions toward us that He would have done if He had remained personally with us.

The Spirit’s presence within us enables us to understand and interpret God’s Word. Jesus told His disciples that “when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). He reveals to our minds the whole counsel of God as it relates to worship, doctrine, and Christian living. He is the ultimate guide, going before, leading the way, removing obstructions, opening the understanding, and making all things plain and clear. He leads in the way we should go in all spiritual things. Without such a guide, we would be apt to fall into error. A crucial part of the truth He reveals is that Jesus is who He said He is (John 15:26; 1 Corinthians 12:3). The Spirit convinces us of Christ’s deity and incarnation, His being the Messiah, His suffering and death, His resurrection and ascension, His exaltation at the right hand of God, and His role as the judge of all. He gives glory to Christ in all things (John 16:14).

the Holy Spirit’s roles is that of gift-giver. First Corinthians 12 describes the spiritual gifts given to believers in order that we may function as the body of Christ on earth. All these gifts, both great and small, are given by the Spirit so that we may be His ambassadors to the world, showing forth His grace and glorifying Him.

The Spirit also functions as fruit-producer in our lives. When He indwells us, He begins the work of harvesting His fruit in our lives—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not works of our flesh, which is incapable of producing such fruit, but they are products of the Spirit’s presence in our lives.

 

[unsafe]

What Role does the Holy Spirit play towards Unbelievers today

Read all yourselves --just posting this part

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/stewart_don/faq/the-holy-spirit-how-he-works/18-what-is-the-ministry-of-the-holy-spirt-to-unbelievers.cf

Don Stewart​

What Is the Ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Unbelieving World?​

The Holy Spirit: How He Works

The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit has a ministry not only to the believer but also to the unbelieving world. The Scripture teaches the following on this subject.

Jesus Revealed the Ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Unbelieving World​

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus, in talking to His disciples, revealed to them the Holy Spirit’s ministry to the world. He said.

However, I am telling you the truth: It’s good for you that I’m going away. If I don’t go away, the helper won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. He will come to convict the world of sin, to show the world what has God’s approval, and to convince the world that God judges it. He will convict the world of sin, because people don’t believe in me. He will show the world what has God’s approval, because I’m going to the Father and you won’t see me anymore. He will convince the world that God judges it, because the ruler of this world has been judged (John 16:7-11 God’s Word).

The unbelieving world will be convicted of their sins by the working of God the Holy Spirit. In other words, He will show them their need for salvation through Jesus Christ.

 

[GordW]

Lost in the Christian stories of the "gift" of the Holy Spirit (as noted in John and in Acts) is the fact that the Holy SPirit is a part of the faith story from Genesis 1.
Maybe the question we have to ask is more along the lines of "what is different now?"

THen in the development of Christian theology there is the filiogue controversy where East and West differed on whether the Spirit Proceeds only from the Father or from both the Father and the Son. This was one of the points of contention that led to the Great Schism. If the Spirit is part of the Godhead from the beginning does it really flow from either or is it part of the Great Mystery that is God? If the latter how can we talk about the SPirit being 'given' or 'poured out' (to use language 2 used in other places, notably the Joel passage Peter cites in his Acts 2 sermon) at one specific time and place?

Deep behind how we read John 20 (and earlier in John where the promise of teh Advocate is given) or Acts 2 is how we understand who the HS is and when they(it? she?) is present in the faith story.

 

[Mendalla]

Some thoughts.

On the John passage.

To be honest, I was not really aware of this one before. Maybe came up in my Christian days and just didn't stay in my head. This is an interesting account because it's a rather different picture of receiving the spirit than the more familiar one from Acts. Jesus' breath is the medium here. No tongues of fire, just Jesus breathing on his disciples. It's quiet, intimate, suggesting the Spirit's coming can be something that happens in private moments. That it can be contemplative rather than a shining miraculous event.

On Acts.

FIrst off, gotta love Peter's line, "Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning." Who says you can't be drunk at 9 in the morning?

But I think there is a drama to this that is different from what we see in John. It's closer to what we see in spirit-filled worship or similar gatherings. It's a big, obvious manifestation that kind of contrasts with the subtlety of Jesus' breathing.

We probably see the Spirit working in both ways, too. The subtlety in individual lives and smaller assemblies, the big dramatic manifestations in larger gatherings or public events. There is certainly room for both.

On the Holy Spirit in general

I think this is actually one of the most interesting elements of Christianity and the Trinity for me. Jesus gives us God breaking through into history in a singular event (or events if you think there's a Second Coming on the way). The Spirit gives us God as an immanent presence who can inspire and influence anyone at any time. In TV terms (if that's not too crass), Jesus is the big event special, the Spirit is the ongoing weekly series. And the Father/Creator? Stands behind them both, I guess. As someone who is pan(en)theistically inclined, I am far more interested in and engaged by an immanent God than a remote, transcendant one.

 

[unsafe]

THen in the development of Christian theology there is the filiogue controversy where East and West differed on whether the Spirit Proceeds only from the Father or from both the Father and the Son.

Well the Scripture is clear -----that the HS is sent by the Father -----in Jesus Name

John 14:26

Amplified Bible
But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.

So Here The Father is the Godhead -----the SON is in the Father ---Jesus is the Word that dwells in the Father and the Holy Spirit is given by the Father ------through the Son -----that is what makes sense ------

The Father does'n send the Holy Spirit out until the person receives Jesus as their Lord and Saviour ---so the HS comes through Receiving the Son ----

I did find this article on the Filioque angle

What the Early Church Believed: Filioque

Not all Christians believe that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son." The evidence from the early Christians for this belief is overwhelming.

www.catholic.com

It says -----which gave me pause ----as we like to add to scripture ----

The Western Church commonly uses a version of the Nicene creed which has the Latin word filioque (“and the Son”) added after the declaration that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father.

The Article goes on to say this ----

Just as the Father externally sent the Son into the world in time, the Son internally proceeds from the Father in the Trinity.

I agree with this above------here

Just as the Spirit is externally sent into the world by the Son as well as the Father (John 15:26, Acts 2:33)

I disagree with the article here for the word sent ------neither scripture says Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to anyone ====

:John 16:26 --I have already posted ---the Father sends the Holy Spirit -----not Jesus

Acts 2:33 ----does not say that the Son sends the Holy Spirit -------it says the HS is sent by the Father ---

This is the whole verse in Context AMP ===verse 33 is the one quoted in the article

29 “Brothers, I may confidently and freely say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, being a prophet and knowing fully that God had sworn to him with an oath that He would seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke [prophetically] of the resurrection of the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), that He was not abandoned [in death] to Hades (the realm of the dead), nor did His body undergo decay. 32 God raised this Jesus [bodily from the dead], and of that [fact] we are all witnesses.

33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this [blessing] which you both see and hear.

I say -----So Jesus received from the Father the Promise of the HS ----and now through receiving Jesus one can receive the Promise of the HS that is sent by the Father -----

So we could say that both the Father and the Son have a part in sending out the HS and receiving the indwelling HS -----

 

[unsafe]

the Holy SPirit is a part of the faith story from Genesis 1.
Maybe the question we have to ask is more along the lines of "what is different now?"

this is verse 2 AMP

2 The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

So we see the Holy Spirit doing His work -----moving over chaos to bring order and peace ----to dispel the darkness and expose the light ----to bring about life -----to bring form to emptiness ---

in Genesis 2 ---He gives us a look at what He did to bring order out of Chaos ---

I say -------Today the HS wears many hats and has many functions that believers can lay hold of ----here are Listed 70 functions of the HS

70 Functions of the Holy Spirit

We just had a an incredible weekend with the Holy Spirit... yes, I know He's already in us, around us and on us at all times...but there are moments and times when He's more palpable and people are healed, relationships are restored and good things happen...I'm still shaking sensing His presence...

revtrev.com

In her book, Spiritual Revolution Patricia King shows really good Biblical research on the function of the Holy Spirit. This list of the 70 Functions of the Holy Spirit come from her research.

1. He leads and directs. (Matthew 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 2:27; 4:1; Acts 8:29; Romans 8:14)
2. The Holy Spirit speaks – in, to and through. (Matthew 10:20; Acts 1:16; 2:4; 13:2; 28:25; Hebrews 3:7)
3. He gives power to cast out devils. (Matthew 12:28)
4. He releases power. (Luke 4:14)
5. The Holy Spirit anoints. (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38)
6. The Holy Spirit “comes upon” or “falls on”. (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 2:25; 3:22; 4:18; John 1:32,33; Acts 10:44; 11:15)
7. He baptizes and fills. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 1:15,41,67; 3:16, 4:1; John 1:33; Acts 1:4-5; 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 10:47; 11:24; 13:9,52; 1 Corinthians 12:12)
8. He gives new birth. (John 3:5,8)
9. He leads into worship. (John 4:23)
10. He flows like a river from the spirit man. (John 7:38-39)
11. He ministers truth. (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)
12. He dwells in people. (John 14:17; Romans 8:9,11; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
13. The Holy Spirit gives comfort, health, and strength. (John 15:26; Acts 9:31)
14. He proceeds from the Father. (John 15:26)
15. He shows us things to come. (John 16:13)
16. He gives the gift of tongues. (Acts 2:4)
17. He releases prophecy, dreams and visions. (Acts 2:17,18; 11:28)
18. He can transport people physically. (Acts 8:39)
19. The Holy Spirit brings direction and guidance. (Mark 13:36; 13:11; Acts 10:19; 11:12; 21:11; 1 Timothy 4:1
20. He is Holiness. (Romans 1:4)
21. He is the Spirit of life and gives life. (Romans 8:1,10)
22. The Holy Spirit invites us to walk with Him. (Romans 8:4-5)
23. He groans, prays and intercedes. (Romans 8:26-27)
24. He is a Sword. (Ephesians 6:17)
25. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9)
26. He helps us in our weakness. (Romans 8:26)
27. He bears witness. (Acts 5:32 15:28; 20:23; Romans 8:15-16; Hebrews 10:15; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-8)
28. He is the Spirit of Adoption. (Romans 8:15)
29. He gives power to mortify the deeds of the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
30. He provides power for signs, wonders and preaching. (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4)
31. He ministers love. (Romans 15:30)
32. He searches the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
33. He quickens the mortal body. (Romans 8:13)
34. He brings revelation. (Luke 2:25; 1 COrinthians 2:10,12; Ephesians 1:17-19; 3:5)
35. The Holy Spirit reveals to us what has been given by God. (1 Corinthians 2:12)
36. He washes, sanctifies, purifies and justifies. (Romans 15;16, 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:2,22)
37. He gives gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Hebrews 2:4)
38. He seals us. (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 4:30)
39. He is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
40. He changes us into the image of Christ. (2 Corinthians 3:17)
41. He is the promise of the blessing of Abraham. (Galatians 3:14)
42. He releases a cry to the Father. (Galatians 4:6)
43. He gives access to the Father. (Ephesians 2:18)
44. The Holy Spirit builds us together for a house for God. (Ephesians 2:22)
45. He strengthens us with might. (Ephesians 3:16)
46. He is unity. (Ephesians 4:3-4)
47. He is wine. (Ephesians 5:18)
48. He supplies. (Philippians 1:19)
49. He is fellowship. (2 Corinthians 13;14; Philippians 2:1)
50. He is grace. (Hebrews 10:29)
51. He is glory. (1 Peter 4:14)
52. The Holy Spirit speaks to the churches. (Revelation 2:11,17,29; 3:6,13,22)
53. He calls for the Bridegroom. (Revelation 22:17)
54. The Holy Spirit has the power of conception and anointing for God’s purposes. (Matthew 1:18,20; Luke 1:35)
55. He teaches. (Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13; 1 John 2:27)
56. He gives commandments. (Acts 1:2)
57. He provides power to be a witness. (Acts 1:8)
58. He provides boldness. (Acts 4:31)
59. He give sight. (Acts 9:17)
60. He commissions. (Acts 13:4)
61. He restrains. (Acts 16:6)
62. He appoints ministries and gives them authority. (Acts 20:28)
63. He releases love. (Romans 5:5)
64. He is righteousness, peace and joy. (Romans 14:17; 15:13; 1 Thessalonians 1:6)
65. He confesses Christ’s Lordship. (1 Corinthians 12:3)
66. The Holy Spirit brings the gospel. (1 Thessalonians 1:5-6)
67. He is keeping power. (2 Timothy 1:14)
68. He brings renewal. (Titus 3:5)
69. He moves on believers. (2 Peter 1:21)
70. He convicts the world. (John 16:8)

 

[BetteTheRed]

A major complaint. The Spirit is defintely a "she", so seeing 70 "he"s is quite irritating. But what else is new?

 

[unsafe]

A major complaint. The Spirit is defintely a "she", so seeing 70 "he"s is quite irritating. But what else is new?

Not in Scripture ----God is a He in Scripture ----God's Wisdom is a She in Scripture ----

But here is the thing to really grasp -----
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit Being ---so rightly ---the Holy Spirit has No gender and no Nationality -----neither Male nor Female -----Neither Jew or Gentile -----

In Scripture the Godhead is Named the Father ----a Father in this world that I am aware of is a Male not a Female ---so why people get their nose out of joint about the Godhead being called Father Blows My Mind ------

AI says this ----

Patriarchy and Gender: Feminist theologians, such as Mary Daly, have pointed out that referring to the highest power exclusively in masculine terms reinforces human patriarchy. The argument is that if God is inherently male, it culturally exalts men while positioning women as secondary or subservient.

I say -----So I guess that is how the World sees God as the Father ------exhaling the male image over the female -----Spiritual ignorance and no Spiritual understanding is what I see in this Statement as well as fear and a lack of self confidence ---

----------------SO

 

[Luce NDs]

Without an open mind one could not the Hebrew icon (sometimes sounded as hEh that represents space) or maybe a break in the string of code ... and thus a vaporous sort of sign of how to sound out thoughts!

Is that fey of me or just dull fate ... when viewed through the stardust ... the farther you look the thicker it gets ... to find a clear way one has to wobble ... among the glowing indications!

Really quite and adversary out there ...

 

[ninj]

 

[GordW]

A major complaint. The Spirit is defintely a "she", so seeing 70 "he"s is quite irritating. But what else is new?

YEs the words used for Spirit in Greek and Hebrew (and possibly Aramaic?) are feminine nouns.

HOwever the Godhead is beyond genger anyway, so maybe the modern English usage for the first and third persons of the Trinity should really be They.

 

[unsafe]

Male and Female bodies were created by God to function in this physical world only ----so the Male and Female distinction comes from our Physical bodies -----Not our Spirit ----

God is Spirit with no Physical body --so the gender factor is Moot when it comes to God ---Just because the Hebrew word or any other word for Spirit says it is feminine does not mean that God is Feminine and not male --Folks ----- God is Spirit and neither male or female ---

​

Is the Holy Spirit a “He,” “She,” or “It,” male, female, or neuter?​

Is the Holy Spirit a “He,” “She,” or “It,” male, female, or neuter? | GotQuestions.org

Is the Holy Spirit a “He,” “She,” or “It,” male, female, or neuter? Does the Holy Spirit have a gender?

www.gotquestions.org

Linguistically, it is clear that masculine theistic terminology dominates the Scriptures. Throughout both testaments, references to God use masculine pronouns. Specific names for God (e.g., Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai, Kurios, Theos, etc.) are all in the masculine gender. God is never given a feminine name or referred to using feminine pronouns. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is referred to by the Greek word for "spirit" (pneuma), a gender-neutral term. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "spirit" (ruach) is feminine (see Genesis 1:2). But the gender of a word in Greek or Hebrew has nothing to do with gender identity.

 

[Luce NDs]

YEs the words used for Spirit in Greek and Hebrew (and possibly Aramaic?) are feminine nouns.

HOwever the Godhead is beyond genger anyway, so maybe the modern English usage for the first and third persons of the Trinity should really be They.

This doesn't work for those that reject a spook as god ... that heh must be physically solid and voluminous ... without question!

Then there be a discussion about volume, etc. that matter n the wrap ...

 

[Luce NDs]

Male and Female bodies were created by God to function in this physical world only ----so the Male and Female distinction comes from our Physical bodies -----Not our Spirit ----

God is Spirit with no Physical body --so the gender factor is Moot when it comes to God ---Just because the Hebrew word or any other word for Spirit says it is feminine does not mean that God is Feminine and not male --Folks ----- God is Spirit and neither male or female ---

​

Is the Holy Spirit a “He,” “She,” or “It,” male, female, or neuter?​

Is the Holy Spirit a “He,” “She,” or “It,” male, female, or neuter? | GotQuestions.org

Is the Holy Spirit a “He,” “She,” or “It,” male, female, or neuter? Does the Holy Spirit have a gender?

www.gotquestions.org

Linguistically, it is clear that masculine theistic terminology dominates the Scriptures. Throughout both testaments, references to God use masculine pronouns. Specific names for God (e.g., Yahweh, Elohim, Adonai, Kurios, Theos, etc.) are all in the masculine gender. God is never given a feminine name or referred to using feminine pronouns. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is referred to by the Greek word for "spirit" (pneuma), a gender-neutral term. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for "spirit" (ruach) is feminine (see Genesis 1:2). But the gender of a word in Greek or Hebrew has nothing to do with gender identity.

Far too rigid and pious to allow for the 4 elements ... little flows to a blossoming point ... where it swirls about ... these things are delicate ... not difficult amazon-like ... no real person to talk to ... because of the great stretch of business ... over runs any belief ...

A little essence is relief ... thus some word settles in ... it is just how word goes down in descent ... humbled to those rising on the road ... like good old Fred ...

 

[Luce NDs]

Roman Centurions were good at running down the free ... Constantine saw to it ...

Near the end watch for it ... it can come on you like nothing ... no matter what you held dear ...