Holy Spirit Research Paper
The Old Testament Ministry of the Holy Spirit
Background
The term, "Holy Spirit," seldom occurs in the Old Testament. Actually it is found only three times; once in Psalm 51:5, and twice in Isaiah 63:10-14. The most frequently used terms or expressions for the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament are:
the Spirit of the Lord
My Spirit
the Spirit
the Spirit of God
the spirit of (Judgment, fire, justice, etc.)
your Spirit
In nearly all of these cases, the reference to the Holy Spirit is clear, although there are some instances where the Holy Spirit and the human "spirit" seem almost to merge, so that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Spirit of Elijah" (cf. 2 Kings 2:9-15). This is also the case with the "Spirit" which was on Moses, which also came upon the seventy elders who were to help him (Numbers 11:17-29). If there were any doubt in our minds as to whether or not the "Spirit" of the Old Testament were the same person as the "Holy Spirit" in the New, all we need to do is to read the inspired New Testament references to the Holy Spirit's work in the Old Testament, both by our Lord (cf. Matthew 22:43; Mark 12:36), and by the apostles and others (cf. Acts 1:16; 4:25; 7:51; Hebrews 3:7; 2 Peter 1:21).
Regardless of the infrequency of the precise term, "Holy Spirit," the person …show more content…
One of the common threads or themes I see in these Old Testament passages is that God "filled" (you may use a different term if you prefer) men with His Spirit when men would represent Him in some way, by word or work, and thus they would have to be empowered by His Spirit so as to accurately reflect and represent Him. When prophets spoke or wrote under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, they could rightly say, "Thus saith the Lord." When leaders like Moses and David led, the Spirit's control and power over them enabled them to lead as though God were leading men through them (which He
Background
The term, "Holy Spirit," seldom occurs in the Old Testament. Actually it is found only three times; once in Psalm 51:5, and twice in Isaiah 63:10-14. The most frequently used terms or expressions for the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament are:
the Spirit of the Lord
My Spirit
the Spirit
the Spirit of God
the spirit of (Judgment, fire, justice, etc.)
your Spirit
In nearly all of these cases, the reference to the Holy Spirit is clear, although there are some instances where the Holy Spirit and the human "spirit" seem almost to merge, so that the Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Spirit of Elijah" (cf. 2 Kings 2:9-15). This is also the case with the "Spirit" which was on Moses, which also came upon the seventy elders who were to help him (Numbers 11:17-29). If there were any doubt in our minds as to whether or not the "Spirit" of the Old Testament were the same person as the "Holy Spirit" in the New, all we need to do is to read the inspired New Testament references to the Holy Spirit's work in the Old Testament, both by our Lord (cf. Matthew 22:43; Mark 12:36), and by the apostles and others (cf. Acts 1:16; 4:25; 7:51; Hebrews 3:7; 2 Peter 1:21).
Regardless of the infrequency of the precise term, "Holy Spirit," the person …show more content…
One of the common threads or themes I see in these Old Testament passages is that God "filled" (you may use a different term if you prefer) men with His Spirit when men would represent Him in some way, by word or work, and thus they would have to be empowered by His Spirit so as to accurately reflect and represent Him. When prophets spoke or wrote under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit, they could rightly say, "Thus saith the Lord." When leaders like Moses and David led, the Spirit's control and power over them enabled them to lead as though God were leading men through them (which He