What we have been doing the last few months on Fridays is do a systematic study of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. In order to understand any biblical subject, we have to gather all the verses that deal with that subject, study those passages, and then draw only conclusions based on that evidence. There is certainly a lot of misunderstanding / false teaching relative to the Holy Spirit so it is imperative that we allow the Bible to speak but not make the Bible say more than what it says.
We are considering now, the Holy Spirit in the letter of Hebrews.
2:4 – The author here is attributing the miracles performed by an earlier generation to the work of the Holy Spirit. We have seen this point frequently. Early Christians obeyed the gospel, often as it was preached with accompanying miracles. Those miracles were performed by the power of the Holy Spirit to authenticate that preached message.
3:7 – This is a quotation from Psalm 95 and therefore an affirmation of the author’s inspiration. This has been repeated often, as well.
6:4 – The word translated “partakers” (NASV) means “companion” or someone “participating in” with someone else. It is used of Peter, John, and their business partners in Luke 5:7. It is used here in Hebrews at 1:9 where it suggests that Jesus is a “companion” of His followers.
Here, the Hebrew writer is giving a list of blessings a Christian enjoys, as he tries to encourage the Christian not to turn his back on those very blessings. The Christian has been enlightened. He has tasted of the heavenly gift. He has been a companion, a co-worker, of the Holy Spirit. Just as Paul pointed out in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9, we each do our share in evangelizing and the Holy Spirit does His work. He cannot do His work if we do not do ours. His work is to bring about regeneration through the new birth; our work is to get His seed (Luke 8:11) into the hearts of the lost.
9:8 – Here is another attribution of inspiration on the author of the books of law, likely Exodus, in which is found the description and regulations of the temple that will serve as a metaphor for the sacrifice and ministry of Jesus Christ.
10:15, 29 – Verse 15 is a statement of the inspiration of Jeremiah as the writer goes on to quote Jeremiah 31 in verses 16-17.
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Verse 29 says that if we turn our backs on Jesus Christ, we will receive a “severer punishment” than those who died under the law of Moses. Why? Because, in essence, we will have trampled the Son of God under foot. We will have considered the blood of the covenant an unclean matter, the very blood by which we were sanctified. Finally, we will have insulted the Spirit who makes the grace of God available through Jesus Christ. Turning your nose up at such a costly gift is quite insulting. How can we do that to the Spirit of God?
1 Peter
1:2, 11-12 – Verse 2 reaffirms that the Spirit sanctifies us, as we obey His word, or (here), as we obey Jesus. Verses 11-12 affirm the inspiration of the prophets in the OT who were predicting the sufferings of Christ. In the same text, the prophets/apostles in the NT era are also said to have been guided by the Holy Spirit as they preached the gospel to Peter’s generation.
3:18 – We have made some comment on this verse in our thoughts on 1 Timothy 3:16. Jesus was either made alive in His spirit or He was made alive by the Holy Spirit, depending on how we interpret the word “spirit” here. The New Testament was not written with capital letters, originally. So, unless “S/spirit” has some type of modifier like “holy” or “of God / Christ,” then we, the students, have to decide, based on context, whether the spirit is divine or not.
4:14 – If you suffer because you are being faithful to the message from and about Jesus Christ, then you are blessed. Know that the Spirit that brings glory, the Spirit of God, dwells / rests on you. Here is a promise that we will be glorified if we remain faithful to the message from Jesus Christ.
2 Peter
1:21 – This text shows, once again, that the prophets who taught in the OT were men “moved by the Holy Spirit” as they spoke God’s message. The Holy Spirit “picked them up” (speaking metaphorically) where they were in their understanding and “put them down” where they needed to be. He made sure they were teaching what He wanted them to say. Of course, if we read what they wrote (Eph. 3:3-5) and understand it accurately, then we will have the same understanding they did.
–Paul Holland
