ACC ~ John 7 v39

A NEW DISPENSATION OF THE ONE SPIRIT

AUGUSTINE: Why then did the Lord Jesus Christ determine not to give the Holy Spirit until he should be glorified? We need to first inquire in what manner the Holy Spirit was not yet in holy people, as best as we are able, before we speak further, in case this should trouble anyone. We read in the Gospel concerning the Lord himself newly born that Simeon by the Holy Spirit recognized him; that Anna the widow, a prophetess, also recognized him; [1] that John, who baptized him, recognized him; [2] that Zachariah, being filled with the Holy Spirit, said many things; that Mary herself received the Holy Spirit to conceive the Lord. [3] We have therefore many preceding evidences of the Holy Spirit before the Lord was glorified by the resurrection of his flesh. Nor was it another spirit that the prophets also had, who proclaimed beforehand the coming of Christ. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 32.6. [4]

[1] See Lk 2:25-38.

[2] See Jn 1:26-34.

[3] See Lk 1:35-79.

[4] NPNF 1 7:194-95*.

THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE MADE KNOWN IN A SPECIAL WAY AT PENTECOST

AUGUSTINE: How is this to be understood, unless the special giving or sending of the Holy Spirit after the glorification of Christ was to be such as it had never been before? For it was not that it had never occurred previously, but that it had never been known in a way such as this. For if the Holy Spirit was not given before, how were the prophets who spoke filled? [1] … How then was “the Spirit not given, since Jesus was not yet glorified,” unless because that giving or granting or mission of the Holy Spirit was to have a certain character of its own in its very advent such as never had happened before? For we read nowhere that people spoke in tongues that they did not know through the Holy Spirit coming on them. But this is what happened then [in Acts], when it was necessary that his coming should be made plain by visible signs, in order to show that the whole world, and all nations constituted with different tongues, should believe in Christ through the gift of the Holy Spirit to fulfill that which is sung in the psalm: “There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard; their sound is gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.” [2] … The Holy Spirit, whether by the shape of a dove or by fiery tongues… by motion within time and by [various] forms, manifested himself co-eternal and unchangeable with the Father and the Son. ON THE TRINITY 4.20.29-21.30. [3]

[1] Augustine also provides numerous other examples of the Spirit having been given before Christ spoke here.

[2] Ps 19:3-4 (18:4-5 LXX).

[3] NPNF 1 3:85*.

BAPTISM HERE INDICATED

CYPRIAN: Christ reminds of what was previously foretold by the prophet [1] and says, “If anyone thirst, let him come and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture says, rivers from his belly shall flow of living water.” And that it might be the more clear that the Lord is there speaking not of the cup [2] but of baptism, Scripture has added, “But this he said of the Spirit that those who believed in him were to receive.” But by baptism the Holy Spirit is received, and so those who are baptized and have secured the Holy Spirit go on to drink the cup of the Lord. Let no one be troubled because when divine Scripture speaks of baptism it says that we thirst and drink, since the Lord also says this in the Gospel. [3] This is because what is received with keen and thirsty desire is more fully and completely [4] drained. LETTER 62.8. [5]

[1] Is 43:18-21; 48:21.

[2] The Lord’s Supper.

[3] See Mt 5:6.

[4] Lat uberius.

[5] NF 5:360**. See also Basil On the Holy Spirit 15.34-36 (OHS 57-60).

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

CHRYSOSTOM: But in the case of the prophets, all allow that the gift was that of the Holy Spirit. But this [prophetic] grace was limited and departed and failed from off the earth from the day in which it was said, “Your house is left to you desolate.” [1] Even before that day, its dearth had begun, for there was no longer any prophet among them, nor did grace visit their holy things. Since then, the Holy Spirit had been withheld. It was, instead, to be shed forth abundantly for the future. The beginning of this imparting was after the crucifixion, not only as to its abundance but also as to the increased greatness of the gifts. (For the gift was more marvelous… and the people of old possessed the Spirit themselves but did not impart it to others, while the apostles filled tens of thousands with it.) Since then, I say, they were to receive this Gift, but it was not yet given. For this reason he adds, “The Holy Spirit was not yet.” But because then the Lord spoke of this grace, the Evangelist says, “For the Holy Spirit was not yet,” that is, “was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 51.2. [2]

[1] Mt 23:38.

[2] NPNF 1 14:184*. Theodore says “Holy Spirit” here does not mean the person but his works and grace (CSCO 4 3:162).

THE GIFT OF THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The Spirit came to be in the prophets so that they could prophesy, and now the Spirit dwells in believers through Christ, having first dwelled in Christ when he was made man. For as God, Christ has the Spirit unceasingly, since the Spirit is essentially of Christ’s nature: the Spirit is his own. Christ is anointed and is said to receive the Spirit as a man, not so that he could participate in the divine good things but rather for our sake and for the sake of human nature, as we have been taught. When the Evangelist says to us, “The Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified,” let us understand him to mean the full and complete indwelling of the Holy Spirit in humankind. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 5.2. [1]

[1] LF 43:551-52**.