ACC ~ John 3 v7 - 8
THE POWER OF THE WIND, THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
CHRYSOSTOM: By saying, “Do not be amazed,” he indicates [Nicodemus’s] confusion and leads him by way of example to something lighter than the body…. He speaks neither of dense bodies nor of things that are purely incorporeal. For if Nicodemus had heard this there is no way he could have received it. Instead, he found something in between what is and what is not a body, namely, the motion of the wind…. Although he says “it blows where it pleases,” he does not say this as if the wind had any power of choice. He is simply declaring that its natural motion is powerful and cannot be hindered…. The expression, therefore, “blows where it pleases,” is that of one who would show that it cannot be restrained, that it is spread abroad everywhere and that no one can stop it from passing here and there. It goes abroad with great might, and no one is able to turn aside its violence…. It establishes the power of the Comforter. For no one can hold the wind; it moves where it pleases. And so, whether it is the laws of nature or the limits of bodily generation or anything else like this—they have no ability to restrain the operations of the Spirit. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 26.1-2. [1]
[1] NPNF 1 14:91**.
REBIRTH AND SPIRIT’S MOVEMENT ARE BEYOND UNDERSTANDING
HILARY OF POITIERS: Though I have received faith by my regeneration, I am still in ignorance. And yet, I have a firm hold on a reality I do not understand. I am born again, capable of rebirth, but without conscious perception of it. Moreover, the Spirit has no limits. He speaks when he wants, what he wants and where he wants. We are conscious of his presence when he comes, but the reason for his approach or his departure remains unknown to us. ON THE TRINITY 12.56. [1]
[1] HE WORD IN THE BEGINNING | JOHN 1:1
THE NATURE OF THE SPIRIT IS ITS FREEDOM
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: The Holy Spirit, because it is omnipotent, performs everything as it wants, and nothing can resist its operations. You hear its voice, that is, perceive the sound of its coming. You cannot ascertain in which place its person is contained so that you might otherwise understand its way of operating. Its nature is immense, and therefore it is everywhere it chooses to be. In the same way, its action is beyond comprehension because it does everything according to its own will. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 2.3.7-8. [1]
[1] CSCO 4 3:68-69.
THE SPIRIT HAS ABSOLUTE FREEDOM, AS HAS THE SON
AMBROSE: “Where it chooses,” says the Scripture, not “where it is ordered.” If, then, the Spirit does breathe where it chooses, cannot the Son do what he wills? Why, it is the very same Son of God who in his gospel says that the Spirit has power to breathe where it chooses. Does the Son, therefore, confess the Spirit to be greater, in that it has power to do what is not permitted to himself? ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 2.6.47. [1]
[1] NPNF 2 10:229*.
THE SPIRIT’S WILL IS ONE WITH FATHER AND SON
BEDE: When the grace of the Spirit is given to human beings, the Spirit is unquestionably sent by the Father and sent by the Son, and he proceeds from the Father and proceeds from the Son. [1] [The Spirit] also comes of his own accord, because just as he is equal to the Father and the Son, so he has the same will in common with the Father and the Son. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.16. [2]
[1] There will be a much fuller discussion of the Spirit’s procession in comments from East and West on Jn 14:26; 15:26.
[2] CS 111:150. But see also comments on Jn 15:26.
THE SOUND OF THE WIND AT PENTECOST
THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: He said rightly “you hear the sound of it,” because by descending first on the apostles it came with a noise. They heard the sound of a strong wind and spoke different languages through the power of the Spirit that was over them. Thus, after speaking in such lofty language of the generation of the Spirit, he concluded perfectly: “So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit,” that is, such is the generation of the Spirit. It cannot be comprehended by the thoughts of humankind. Since it is beyond their grasp, it can only be perceived through its sound for their apprehension. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 2.3.7-8. [1]
[1] CSCO 4 3:69.
THE SPIRIT SPOKE BY THE PROPHETS
AMMONIUS: One hears the voice of the Spirit through the prophets. FRAGMENTS ON JOHN 77. [1]
[1] JKGK 216.
FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
BEDE: “The Spirit breathes where he wills” because he has in his power [to choose the] heart he will enlighten by the grace of his visitation. “And you hear his voice” when one filled with the Holy Spirit speaks in your presence. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.18. [1]
[1] CCL 122:313; CS 111:181.
THE WORD AND SACRAMENT ARE THE SOUND OF THE SPIRIT
AUGUSTINE: A father, a man who will one day die, begets through his wife a son to succeed him; God begets from the church sons, not to succeed him but to remain with him. And [the Gospel] continues: “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Therefore we are born spiritually, and in the Spirit we are born by word and sacrament. The Spirit is present that we may be born. The Spirit is present invisibly from whom you are born, because you too are born invisibly. For [the Gospel] continues and says, “Do not wonder that I have said to you, ’You must hear his voice but do not know where he comes from or where he goes.” No one sees the Spirit. And how do we hear the voice of the Spirit? A psalm sounds forth: it is the Spirit’s voice. The gospel sounds forth: it is the Spirit’s voice. God’s word sounds forth: it is the Spirit’s voice. “You hear his voice, but do not know where he comes from or where he goes.” But if you too should be born of the Spirit, you will be such that he who is not yet born of the spirit has no idea where you come from or where you go. For he continues and says, “So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12.5. [1]
[1] NPNF 1 7:82-83*.
THE SPIRIT IS NOT DECEIVED
IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH: For though some would have deceived me according to the flesh, yet the Spirit, as being from God, is not deceived. For it knows both where it comes from and where it goes, and it detects the secrets [of the heart]. EPISTLE TO THE PHILADELPHIANS 7.1. [1]
[1] ANF 1:83.
MANIFESTATIONS OF THE SPIRIT FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH
ANONYMOUS: The Spirit, indeed, continues to this day invisible to people, as the Lord says, The Spirit breathes where he will, and you know not where it comes from or where it goes.” But in the beginning of the mystery of the faith and of spiritual baptism, the same Spirit was manifestly seen to have sat upon the disciples as fire [at Pentecost]. Moreover, when the heavens were opened, the Spirit was seen to have descended upon the Lord like a dove. Many things… are shown to the eyes and to the incredulity of people, either partially, or at certain times or in symbols, for the strengthening and confirming of our faith…. From all these manifestations it is shown that hearts are purified by faith but that souls are washed by the Spirit. It is further shown that bodies are washed by water and, moreover, that by the blood of Christ we may more readily attain at once to the rewards of salvation. A TREATISE ON REBAPTISM 18. [1]
[1] ANF 5:677**.
HUMAN LIMITS IN RECEIVING THE SPIRIT
BEDE: The Spirit comes to the saints [and] goes from the saints, so that they may be refreshed from time to time by the frequently recurring light of the return of him whom they are not capable of having always. However, the Spirit remains continually in the only Mediator between God and human beings, the man Jesus Christ, [1] in whom he does not find any stain of unclean thought, which he would shun. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.15. [2]
[1] 1 Tim 2:5.
[2] CS 110:153.
ANALOGY BETWEEN WIND AND SPIRIT
CHRYSOSTOM: Here is the conclusion of the whole matter. If, he says, you do not even know how to explain the motion or path of this wind, [1] which you perceive by hearing and feeling, why are you so over anxious about the working of the divine Spirit, when you do not even understand how the wind works, although you hear its voice?… As then the wind is not visible, although it utters a sound, so neither is the birth of that which is spiritual visible to our bodily eyes. And yet, the wind is a body, although a very subtle one. For whatever is the object of our senses is bodily. If then you do not complain when you cannot see this body and you still believe, why, when you hear of “the Spirit,” do you hesitate and demand such exact accounts, although you do not act this way in the case of a body? HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 26.2. [2]
[1] Or “spirit.”
[2] NPNF 1 14:91**.
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