The Gift of the Holy Spirit

What do you know about the Holy Spirit?  This question receives much attention in the religious world as a whole and specifically in the body of Christ.  “The history of Christian thought tells us that the eighteenth century placed great emphasis on the study of God as the Father.  In the nineteenth century the theologians placed stress on the upon the study of Christ.  The twentieth century should accentuate equal emphasis on the Holy Spirit” [1].

     Within the church of Christ there is much confusion over the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38.  Many debates have been held, books have been written, and sermons have been given in an attempt to determine what the gift is.  The aim of this paper is not to criticize the men in the past that have held different theories concerning the gift, but instead examine arguments for each of the positions and address the arguments for and against them. A conclusion will be given at the end of the paper after weighing all of the evidence and arguments, then comparing them with different hermeneutical principles positions in an attempt to determine; “What is the gift of the Holy Spirit?”

     Peter on the day of Pentecost in the city of Jerusalem gives the first gospel sermon. He preaches the message to the multitudes and “when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38 ASV).  There are four prominent theories in the church concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit that will be discussed in this paper.  Those four positions are 1.  That the gift is the Holy Spirit indwelling us exclusively through the word.  2.  The gift is the miraculous gift measure.  3. The gift is the personal indwelling. 4. The gift is a gift given by the Holy Spirit. 

     The first position that will be examined in the light of the context of the book of Acts is the theory that the gift is the Holy Spirit indwelling us exclusively through the word.  This is the position better described as a representative indwelling.  This group believes that the Holy Spirit does dwell inside the Christian; however it is representatively through the word of God.² This position is often labeled as the “word only position” however this label is often taken in a way that that is contrary to the position stated.  Those that hold to this position do believe that the Holy Spirit indwells the Christian, but it is only through the word of God.  There are many in the church that believe in this type of indwelling, however not all agree that this is what the “gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2:38 is in reference to. 

     The Cecil N. Wright outlines several reasons on why he believes that the best interpretation of Acts 2 in light of the context is the aforementioned position.  First off Bro. Wright notes that Acts 2:41 shows that  “Whatever the promise meant it was (a) for the generation of Jews and proselytes who heard Peter preach, (b) for their descendents, or future generations, and (c) for Gentiles, described as afar off”.[2] It is believed that these reasons eliminate the miraculous gift interpretation of Acts 2:38 because miraculous gifts have ceased (1 Corinthians 13). 

     Arguments for this position can be classified into two categories; scriptural arguments, and philosophical arguments.  The arguments from scripture are fourfold:

1.  The representative indwelling position is consistent with the Holy Spirits work in the conversion of sinners. “In the restoration movement it was universally taught, and correctly so, that in converting sinners the Holy Spirit does so with the word of God, and not separate and apart from it as the denominational world teaches”.

2.  The work of the Holy Spirit is seen through the scriptures as the same as the word. That is that everything that the Spirit does it does representatively through the word.  This is the reason why it is believed that the Gift of the Holy Spirit is exclusively the representative indwelling of the Spirit.

3.  It is believed that Galatians 3:2 proves this position where it states “This only would I learn from you. Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” This is supposed to mean that the Spirit was received only representatively by means of the word, since faith comes by hearing it (Romans 10:17)[3]

4.  Another argument is based on Ephesians 3:16-17, which speaks of Christians being “strengthened with might through his Spirit in the inward man” and Christ dwelling in their hearts “through faith” which Romans 10:17 says comes from hearing the word of God. “It is insisted that the Holy Spirit, being a member of the Godhead, must of necessity indwell Christians only in the way that Christ and the father do, not literally or personally, but only in the sense that their word indwells them” ^5.

     There are also many philosophical arguments that can be examined but all of them can be best summed up in the idea that if God were to actually dwell in man, it would make man God, which would be blasphemy. 

     The arguments presented for the representative indwelling are scriptural in nature, and seem to be in harmony with the many different passages that deal with the work of the Holy Spirit.  The problem with this line of argumentation is just because other passages prove a representative indwelling does not mean that is what Peter is referring to in Acts 2:38.  Throughout Acts chapter 2 the Holy Spirit is being manifested in a miraculous way, and if the multitudes were told that they were to receive the Holy Spirit also, it would have to be assumed that they would have thought they would receive a measure like an apostle had.  For one to insert the phrase “representative indwelling of the Holy Spirit” in to the text would be eisegesis and in violation of many exegetical and hermeneutical rules. 

     The second prominent position that is taken within the brotherhood is that that gift of the Holy Spirit is in reference to miraculous gifts.  This position is taken, because most feel that this fits the immediate context of the passage best, which is the miraculous[4].  Those that hold to this position, due so by implementing basic exegetical and hermeneutical principles andprocedures. 

     In Acts 2:38 the word “gift” is used.  Gift is the Greek word dorea and is used to describe a gift from God[5].  This word is used 6 times in the New Testament, and in every place besides Acts 2:38 it is said to be in reference to the miraculous. Those other passages deserve quotation because they outline the reasons for taking the aforementioned position. 

Acts 8:20: “But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money” (Emphasis author’s unless otherwise stated).

Acts 10:45: “And they of the circumcision that believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit”. 

One should note here that the phrase in the above verse is exactly the same as Acts 2:38 and that the context is of the miraculous.  

Acts 11:17: “If then God gave unto them the like gift as he did also unto us, when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could withstand God?”

Ephesians 3:7:  “whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power”.

Ephesians 4:7:  “But unto each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ”.

     As it can be clearly seen when examining these verses that at least in these passages the gift being referred to is miraculous.  Franklin Camp when observing these verses notes “Does it not strike you as being strange that the word ‘gift’ is used six times in the passages that refer to the Holy Spirit, and that five of them are miraculous and one non-miraculous?”[6].  Brother Camp goes on to say that “This was the first thing that caused me to re-study Acts 2:38, and it was them that I decided that the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 was miraculous?”[7] To most students of the word it we be unreasonable to conclude that God would use a phrase five times in reference to the miraculous and only one not refer to it. 

     One of the best arguments for Acts 2:38 being in reference to the miraculous gifts is the immediate context of the passage.  In Acts chapter 2 the Holy Spirit Came on the apostles and they were able to perform miracles and that is the context of which the promise of Acts 2:38 is given.  When observing this interpretation of the passage Robert Taylor writes:

It must be remembered that first and foremost that this message was given initially in the first century—not the twentieth century!  In the second place it must be kept firmly mixed in mind that Acts 2:38 was first spoken within the framework of miraculous activity (Holy Spirit baptism, inspiration and supernatural tongue speaking) and not within a totally non-miraculous framework which so many are determined to interpret it today[8].

The major criticism of this interpretation of Acts 2:38 being miraculous is; how do you work in vs.39 which states “For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him”.  Those opposed to this position see this verse as an insurmountable barrier.  If the gift of the Holy Spirit was miracles, than all for all generations could be partakers of the gift. Marion Fox, however, notes that verse 39 has “no distinctions being made to whom would receive the gift” and he notes Acts 10 as the example[9].

     The third prominent position in the brotherhood concerning the gift of the Holy Spirit is that it is in reference to the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Roy Lanier outlines six reasons on why this is the best position.

1.  Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all believers.  He notes John 7:37-39 which says “Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath     said, from within him shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believed on him were to receive: for the Spirit was not yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified.

2.  According to Acts 2:38 as many as repented and were baptized received the gift of the     Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit as a gift.

3.  Acts 5:32 which states: “And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him”.

4.  Those who belong to Christ have the spirit (Romans 8:9). 

5.  Every Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says: “Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own”.

6.  Paul says the Holy Spirit is in you, and Brother Lanier cites many verses to back this position up.[10]

This is also the position held by many other prominent preachers such as Thomas Warren and Wayne Jackson.

     The opposition that this position receives is not against whether or not the Holy Spirit dwells the Christian, but what is Acts 2 is in reference to.  To many it would not make sense that in a context where miracles have taken place and no one had ever heard of a personal non-miraculous indwelling for a “gift of the Holy Spirit” to be interpreted that way.

      The final position that will be examined in this paper is that the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 is in reference to a gift which the Spirit gives. This position is taken by men such as Richard Black who try to parallel it to Acts 3:19 and make the gift of the Holy Spirit be in reference to salvation.

     This position makes sense with the word usage but not with the immediate context. Also, it would not make sense for Peter to be telling the multitudes to be “baptized for the remission of sins” or “salvation” and then receive the “gift of the Holy Spirit” or otherwise known as “salvation”. This interpretation would interrupt the word flow of the of the text and also the crowds at this time, when they heard the term “holy spirit” they would immediately think of the power which they see the apostles possessing. 

     To this student, the issue of the “gift of the Holy Spirit” will probably never be solved. There are good arguments by good men on all sides who have been debating the issue for years.  In this writers opinion the position that best fits the context of Acts 2 is that the “gift of the Holy Spirit” is in reference to miraculous endowments. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit does not indwell the Christian, for 1 Corinthians 6:19 shows that he does. However, for one to pull a teaching concerning the Holy Spirit from one context and apply to one where it cannot apply, that individual is not “handling aright the word of truth”. This interpretation of Acts 2:38 is not to say that we have the miraculous manifestation of the Spirit today, 1 Corinthians 13 shows that it has ceased.  The only thing that one can be absolutely sure of, is that in Acts 2 the people there knew what the “gift of the Holy Spirit” was, and they wanted it.  For “there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls”.

Hermeneutical Principles Employed

1. I observed that the passage did not use a synecdoche with the usage of the word repent and be baptized as some assert.
2. I observed that the preposition “eis” is not a metonymy as some assert.
3. I did observe the and form an analysis of the intended audience, such as there history, education and customs, in accordance with Dungan page 162.
4. I noted what covenant the speakers and audience were under at the time of composition according to Dungan pages 122-154.
5. I observed the usage of key words in this passage and compared them with the word usage in the same book or similar literature in an attempt to come to the best understanding of the text being examined.
6. I examined the historical context in which this passage is in.
7. I did observe the passage to contain any sort of Allegorical Figure of Speech, so I then interpreted the passage in its most literal sense.

Works Referenced

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature.2^nd E.d. Edited By. W.F Arndt and F.W Gingrich. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1979.

Black, Richard.What is the Gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38: A Gift Given by The Holy Spirit. “What do you Know About the Holy Spirit: The Third Annual Fort Worth Lectures” Edited By: Wendell Winkler. Montgomery: Winkler Publications, 1980.

Cage, Gary T. The Holy Spirit: A source book with commentary. Reno: Charlotte House Publishers, 1995.

Camp, Franklin.The Work of the Holy Spirit in Redemption. Birmingham: Roberts and Sons, 1979.

Fox, Marion. The Work of the Holy Spirit Vol.1. Oklahoma City: Five F Publishing, 2003.

Lanier, Roy. What is the gift of the Holy Spirit Acts2:38: The Personal Indwelling. “What do you Know About the Holy Spirit: The Third Annual Fort Worth Lectures” Edited By: Wendell Winkler. Montgomery: Winkler Publications, 1980.

Lanier, Roy. The Timeless Trinity for the Ceaseless Centuries. Denver: Roy H. Lanier, 1974.

Music, Goebel. A Resource and Reference Volume on the Indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Colleyville: Goebel Music Publications, 2000.

Taylor, Robert R. What is the Gift of the Holy Spirit Acts2:38: The Miraculous Gift Measure.     “What do you Know About the Holy Spirit: The Third Annual Fort Worth Lectures” Edited By: Wendell Winkler. Montgomery: Winkler Publications, 1980.

Wright, Cecil R. What is the Gift of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38: The Holy Spirit Indwelling Us Exclusively From the Word. “What do you Know About the Holy Spirit: The Third Annual Fort Worth Lectures” Edited By: Wendell Winkler. Montgomery: Winkler Publications, 1980.