The Spirit and the Word by Zachary Taylor Sweeney

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THE SPIRIT AND THE WORD

_A Treatise on the Holy Spirit in the Light
of a Rational Interpretation of
the Word of Truth_

_By Z. T. SWEENEY_

GOSPEL ADVOCATE COMPANY
Nashville, Tennessee

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE
INTRODUCTION 5

I
THE SPIRIT AND THE OLD TESTAMENT 9

II
THE SPIRIT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT 15

III
THE PERSONALITY AND DIVINITY OF THE
SPIRIT 35

IV
THE SPIRIT AND JOHN THE BAPTIST 43

V
THE SPIRIT AND JESUS 53

VI
THE SPIRIT AND THE APOSTLES 65

VII
THE SPIRIT AND THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH 81

VIII
THE SPIRIT AND THE WORLD 98

IX
THE SPIRIT AND CHRISTIANS 117

X
THE PARTING WORD 141

INTRODUCTION

Christianity is differentiated from all the other religions by the fact
that it offers its followers a spiritual dynamic in living up to its
precepts. That dynamic is the Holy Spirit, that sets the word of God on
fire, warms the church from coldness to enthusiasm, and strengthens the
Christian with a power not his own in the great battle between the flesh
and the spirit.

Christianity is unique in making this offer. No other religion has any
equivalent for it. The Holy Spirit is not obtained from the deductions
of logic, the conclusions of philosophy nor from the investigations of
science. All these are as silent as the grave regarding his presence and
potency.

It is solely and distinctly a matter of divine revelation. It is not my
purpose, therefore, to view this subject in the light of philosophic
induction, logical deduction nor scientific investigation, but solely in
the light of God's revelation. I shall gather the teaching of God's word
around several important phases of the nature, mission and work of the
Spirit. I do not speculate upon what God may do through his Spirit; I
put no limit upon the power of the Spirit. He may work in a thousand
ways, for aught I know. I am treating solely of that work of the Spirit
which God has made plain in his revealed word.

For the sake of simplifying the treatment of the subject, I shall use
the words "Spirit" and "Holy Spirit" instead of other terms used in the
Scriptures. The Old Testament has eighty-eight distinct references to
the Holy Spirit. In these references there are eighteen names applied.
The New Testament refers to the Spirit two hundred and sixty-four times
and uses thirty-nine names. Five names are common to both Testaments,
which leaves fifty-two different appellatives for the Spirit. Seventeen
appellatives express his relation to God, five his relation to the Son,
five indicate his divine nature, seven describe his own character, while
seventeen are used to indicate his relation to man. He is called the
Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of
Jesus, the Spirit of his Son, of the Lord, of Truth, of Grace, of
Holiness, of Glory, and of Adoption. He is called the Comforter, but
this term never denotes his relation to man in general. It always
describes a special relation to the apostles and their work.

I wish my readers to bring to the perusal of this work the same spirit
of earnestness that I shall put into the task of producing it. We read
in the language of Jesus that "every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven
unto men; but the blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven"
(Matt. 12:31). "And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of
man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the
Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven" (Luke 12:10).

Whatever else these terrible warnings may teach, they undoubtedly teach
that the greatest care should be taken by those who venture to discuss
this subject or investigate such discussion. Let both writer and reader
therefore cast aside any flippancy of spirit, also any preconceptions or
prejudices, and say like young Samuel of old: "Speak, Lord; thy servant
heareth."

The subject may be made plain or simple according to the manner we may
treat it. If we view it in the light of psychological manifestation in
our own hearts, or in the lives of those around us, which are ascribed
to the Spirit, we shall find ourselves wandering in a maze of mystery.
If we follow the word of God, which is the only source of knowledge, we
shall find ourselves walking in a light that shall grow brighter as we
proceed. It is impossible in a book the size of this to treat all the
many passages that refer to the Holy Spirit, but we shall give those
that have important bearing upon the subject.

I

THE SPIRIT AND THE OLD TESTAMENT

The Old Testament does not give the same prominence to the Holy Spirit
as does the New Testament. This is doubtless true because the Old
Testament deals largely with material things, while the New Testament is
primarily and essentially dealing with the spiritual nature and actions
of man. It is, however, referred to in more than half of the books of
the Old Testament, while in sixteen of them there is no specific mention
of the Spirit. It is, however, mentioned specifically eighty-eight times
in the Old Testament. It is generally spoken of as the Spirit of God.
The New Testament refers to these passages in such a way as to identify
the Holy Spirit of the New with the Spirit of God of the Old. In Luke
4:18 Jesus says:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
Because he anointed me to preach good
tidings to the poor:
He hath sent me to proclaim release to
the captives,
And recovering of sight to the blind.
To set at liberty them that are bruised,
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

This is directly connected with the "Spirit of the Lord Jehovah" in Isa.
61: 1, 2.

In the second chapter of Acts we have a direct connection with Joel 2.
These are two of many such connections that bind together and identify
the Spirit of the Lord of the Old Testament with the Holy Spirit of the
New. In both Testaments we find God working by his Spirit. The Old
Testament gives three lines of work performed by the Spirit:

1. HIS RELATION TO THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE.

(1) In Gen. 1:2 we are told: "And the Spirit of God moved on the face of
the waters." The word "moved" carries the sense of "hovered" or
"brooded." The previous condition of the world was "waste and void," or
a "formless waste." In some way the Spirit of God fashioned this
formless waste into the multiplicity of contrasts that followed. It
bound together those elements that were homogeneous, and separated the
heterogeneous and so prepared the way for the dividing the light from
the darkness that followed. The mode of the operation we do not know,
but the fact of the operation is clearly revealed.

(2) "By his Spirit the heavens are garnished" (Job 26:13). The
expression could be better translated, "The heavens are made fair," or
beautiful. That is, he set the constellations in their order. He gives
one illustration when he says: "His hand hath pierced the swift
serpent." Reference is here made to the beautiful constellation of
"Serpens," or Draco, of graceful and striking appearance.

(3) God's Spirit made me man; 'twas the Almighty's breath that gave me
life. This higher life that was given to man by an inbreathing of the
Spirit distinguishes man (_homo_) from all other animal species.

2. THE RELATION OF THE SPIRIT TO CREATED MAN.

(1) Gen. 6:3. God tells Noah: "My Spirit shall not strive with man for
ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and
twenty years." Here the work of the Spirit passes from the form of
omnipotence to one of pleading or striving. The Spirit no more impresses
his will upon the material universe, but expresses (rolls it out) to a
rational creature. By the preaching of the faithful Noah the Spirit
plead with the antediluvians to do right and escape the destruction that
was coming upon a corrupt and wicked world. From this time onward the
Spirit comes on men in various ways, qualifying them with supernatural
power for the performance of special duties. (See Num. 11:25; Judg.
3:10; 1 Sam. 18:10; 10:11.)

(2) But we find no case of the Spirit falling on man to cleanse him from
sin, or to confer upon him a special blessing. Later on in the prophets
the Spirit becomes a revealing and inspiring Spirit. (See Isa. 61:1;
Ezek. 2:2; Zech. 7:12; 4:6.) As a result of this revealing power, we
have the great facts of the New Testament set forth in detail. The life,
nature, character and mission of the world's Redeemer stand forth in
beauty and symmetry.

3. THE RELATION OF THE SPIRIT TO THE INDIVIDUAL MAN.

The idea of holiness is not usually associated with the Spirit in the
Old Testament. The term "Holy Spirit" occurs but three times in it.
David prays (Ps. 51:11): "Take not thy holy Spirit from me." Isaiah says
(63:10): "They rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit;" and again (63:11)
he asks: "Where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?" It
is, however, called "good Spirit" twice (Neh. 9:20; Ps. 143:10).

It is mainly in reference to Messianic days that we find this ethical
and personal relation to the Spirit of God.

These three relations of the Spirit are in perfect harmony with God's
law of progressive development in the world. We find him at first
working upon a chaotic material universe; second, upon society, and,
third, upon the individual character.

The work of the Spirit upon the material universe makes it a fit
dwelling-place for man. His work upon society makes man fit to dwell in
the universe, and his work upon the individual character makes man fit
for a righteous and holy fellowship with similar characters.

II

THE SPIRIT AND THE NEW TESTAMENT

There are two hundred and sixty-four references to the Spirit in the New
Testament. But in many of them there is no allusion to the Holy Spirit.
In many places the expressions "the Spirit," and "the Holy Spirit,"
should be rendered "Spirit" and "holy Spirit," or frequently "a holy
Spirit." The passages in this chapter are arranged in two columns:
Column I contains the passages in which the definite article is to be
found in the Greek. These should always be translated "the Holy Spirit."
Column 2 contains the passages where the definite article is not found
and which may be often--but not always--translated "a holy Spirit." The
use of the article is often governed by other parts of speech. Where the
Spirit sustains a universal relation to mankind, the word is italicized.

MATTHEW

3:16. He saw the Spirit of God 1:18. She was found with child of
descending as a dove, and coming the Holy Spirit.
upon him.
1:20. That which is conceived in
4: 1. Then was Jesus led up of the her is of the Holy Spirit.
Spirit into the wilderness to be
tempted of the devil. 3:11. He shall baptize you in the
Holy Spirit, and in fire.
10:20. For it is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your 12:28. If I by the Spirit of God
Father that speaketh in you. cast out demons.

12:18. I will put my Spirit upon 22:43. How then doth David in the
him. Spirit call him Lord.

12:31. The blasphemy against the
Spirit shall not be forgiven.

12:32. Whosoever shall speak
against the Holy Spirit, it shall
not be forgiven him.

28:19. Baptizing them into the
name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.

MARK

1:10. Coming up out of the water,
he saw ... the Spirit as a
dove descending upon him.

1:8 He shall baptize you in the
Holy Spirit dove descending upon
him.

1:12. Straightway the Spirit
driveth him forth into the
wilderness.

3:29. Whosoever shall blaspheme
against the Holy Spirit hath never
forgiveness.

12:36. David himself said in the
Holy Spirit.

13:11. It is not ye that speak,
but the Holy Spirit.

LUKE

2:26. It had been revealed unto 3:16. He shall baptize you in
him by the Holy Spirit. [the] Holy Spirit and in fire.

2:27. He came in the Spirit into 4:18. The Spirit of the Lord is
the temple. upon me.

3:22. The Holy Spirit descended in 10:21. He rejoiced in [the] Holy
a bodily form, as a dove, upon _Spirit_.
him.
11:13. How much more shall your
4:1. Jesus ... was led in the heavenly Father give [the] _Holy
Spirit in the wilderness. Spirit_ to them that ask him?

4:14. Jesus returned in the power 1:15. He shall be filled with
of the Spirit into Galilee. [the] Holy Spirit.

4:1. Jesus, full of the Holy 1:35. [The] Holy Spirit shall come
Spirit, returned from the Jordan. upon thee.

12:10. Unto him that blasphemeth 1:41. Elisabeth was filled with
against the Holy Spirit it shall [the] Holy Spirit.
not be forgiven.
1:67. Zacharias was filled with
12:12. The Holy Spirit shall teach [the] Holy Spirit.
you in that very hour what ye
ought to say. 2:25. There was a man in
Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon;
24:49. Behold, I send forth the ... [the] Holy Spirit was upon
promise of my Father upon you. him.

JOHN.

1:32. I have beheld the Spirit 1:33. The same is he that
descending as a dove out of baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.
heaven; and it abode upon him.
3:5. Except one be born of water
1:33. Upon whomsoever thou shalt and [the] _Spirit_.
see the Spirit descending, and
abiding upon him. 7:39. [The] Spirit was not yet
given.
3:6. That which is born of the
Spirit is spirit. 20:22. He breathed on them, and
saith unto them, Receive ye [the]
3:8. So is every one that is born Holy Spirit.
of the Spirit.

3:34. He giveth not the Spirit by
measure.

6:63. It is the spirit that giveth
life.

7: 39. This spake he of the
Spirit, which they that believed
on him were to receive.

14:16. He shall give you another
Comforter.

14:17. Even the Spirit of truth.

14:26. The Comforter, even the
Holy Spirit, ... he shall teach
you.

15: 26. When the Comforter is
come, ... even the Spirit of truth,
... he shall bear witness of me.

16:7. If I go not away, the
Comforter will not come unto you.

16:8. He, when he is come, will
convict the world in respect of
sin, and of righteousness, and of
judgment.

16:9. Of sin, because they believe
not on me;

16:10. Of righteousness, because I
go to the Father;

16:11. Of judgment, because the
prince of this world hath been
judged.

16:13. When he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he shall guide you
into all the truth: for he shall
not speak from himself; but what
things soever he shall hear, these
shall he speak: and he shall
declare unto you the things that
are to come.

16:14. He shall glorify me: for he
shall take of mine, and shall
declare it unto you.

16:15. He taketh of mine, and
shall declare it unto you.

ACTS

1:4. He charged them ... to wait 1:2. He had given commandment
for the promise of the Father. through [the] Holy Spirit unto the
apostles.
1:8. Ye shall receive power, when
the Holy Spirit is come upon you. 1:5. John indeed baptized with
water; but ye shall be baptized in
1:16. The scripture should be [the] Holy Spirit.
fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit
spake before by the mouth of David 2:4. They were all filled with the
concerning Judas. Holy Spirit, and began to speak
with other tongues, as [the]
2:17. I will pour forth of my Spirit gave them utterances.
Spirit upon all flesh:
4:8. Peter, filled with [the] Holy
2:18. On my servants and on my Spirit, said unto them.
handmaidens in those days will I
pour forth my Spirit. 6: 3. Look ye out ... seven men
... full of [the] _Spirit_.
2:33. Having received of the
Father the promise of the Holy 6:5. Stephen, a man full of ...
Spirit, he hath poured forth this. the Holy _Spirit_.

2:38. Ye shall receive the gift of 7:55. He, being full of [the] Holy
the Holy Spirit. _Spirit_.

4:25. Who by the Holy Spirit, by 8:15. Who ... prayed for them,
the mouth of our father David, ... that they might receive [the] Holy
didst say. Spirit.

4:31. They were all filled with 8:16. For as yet it was fallen
the Holy Spirit, and they spake upon none of them.
the word of God with boldness.
8:17. Then laid they their hands
5:3. Why hath Satan filled thy on them, and they received [the]
heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit.

5:9. How is it that ye have agreed 8:19. Give me also this power,
together to try the Spirit of the that on whomsoever I lay my hands,
Lord? he may receive [the] Holy Spirit.

5:32. We are witnesses of these 8:39. [The] Spirit of the Lord
things; and so is the Holy Spirit. caught away Philip.

6:10. They were not able to 9:17. Jesus ... hath sent me, that
withstand ... the Spirit by which thou mayest ... be filled with
he spake. [the] Holy Spirit.

7:51. Ye do always resist the Holy 10: 38. God anointed him with
Spirit. [the] Holy Spirit and with power.

8:18. When Simon saw that through 11:16. Ye shall be baptized in
the laying on of the apostles' [the] Holy Spirit.
hands the Holy Spirit was given,
11:24. He was a good man, and full
8:20. Thou hast thought to obtain of [the] Holy Spirit.
the gift of God with money.
13:9. Paul, filled with [the] Holy
8:29. The Spirit said unto Philip, Spirit, fastened his eyes on him.
Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot. 13:52. The disciples were filled
with joy and with [the] Holy
9:31. The church ... walking ... Spirit.
in the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
was multiplied. 19:2. Did ye receive [the] Holy
Spirit when ye believed?... We
10:19. The Spirit said unto him, did not so much as hear whether
Behold, three men seek thee. [the] Holy Spirit was given.

10: 20. Go with them.... I have
sent them.

10: 44. The Holy Spirit fell on
all them that heard the word.

10: 45. On the Gentiles also was
poured out the gift of the Holy
Spirit.

10:47. Who have received the Holy
Spirit as well as we?

11:12. The Spirit bade me go with
them.

11:25. As I began to speak, the
Holy Spirit fell on them.

11:28. Agabus ... signified by the
Spirit that there should be a
great famine over all the world.

13:2. The Holy Spirit said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul.

13:4. They, being sent forth by
the Holy Spirit.

15:8. God ... bare them witness,
giving them the Holy Spirit.

15:28. It seemed good to the Holy
Spirit, and to us.

16:6. Forbidden of the Holy
Spirit, to speak the word in Asia.

16:7. The Spirit of Jesus suffered
them not.

19:6. When Paul had laid his hands
upon them, the Holy Spirit came on
them.

20: 22. I go bound in the spirit
unto Jerusalem.

20: 28. Take heed ... to all the
flock, in which the Holy Spirit
hath made you bishops.

21: 4. These said to Paul through
the Spirit, that he should not set
foot in Jerusalem.

21.11. Thus saith the Holy
Spirit, So shall the Jews at
Jerusalem bind the man that owneth
this girdle.

28: 25. Well spake the Holy Spirit
through Isaiah the prophet.

ROMANS

8:2. The law of the _Spirit_ 1:4. Who was declared to be the
of life in Christ Jesus made me Son of God with power, according
free from the law of sin and of to [the] spirit of holiness.
death.
5:5. The love of God hath been
8: 10. The spirit is life because shed abroad in our hearts through
of righteousness. [the] Holy _Spirit_.

8: 11. If the Spirit of him that 8:4. The ordinance of the law
raised up Jesus from the dead might be fulfilled in us, who walk
dwelleth in you, he ... shall ... after [the] _Spirit_.
give life also to your mortal
bodies through his Spirit. 8:5. They that are after [the]
_Spirit_ the things of [the]
8:16. The _Spirit_ himself _Spirit_.
beareth witness with our spirit.
8:9. Ye are ... in the
8:23. Who have the first-fruits of _Spirit_, if ... [the] Spirit
the Spirit. of God dwelleth in you. But if
any man hath not the _Spirit_
8:20. The Spirit also helpeth our of Christ, he is none of his.
infirmity: ... the Spirit himself
maketh intercession for us. 8:13. If by [the] _Spirit_ ye
put to death the deeds of the
8:27. He ... knoweth what is the body, ye shall live.
mind of the Spirit.
8:14. As many as are led by [the]
9:1. I say the truth ... my _Spirit_ of God, these are
conscience bearing witness with me the sons of God.
in the Holy Spirit.
8:15. Ye received [the]
15:30. I beseech you ... by the _spirit_ of adoption.
love of the Spirit.
14:17. The kingdom of God is ...
righteousness and peace and joy in
[the] Holy _Spirit_.

15:13. That ye may abound in hope,
in the power of [the] Holy
_Spirit_.

15:16. The offering up of the
Gentiles might be made acceptable,
being sanctified by [the] Holy
Spirit.

15:19. In the power of [the] Holy
Spirit.

1 CORINTHIANS

2:10. God revealed them 2:4. My speech and my preaching
through the Spirit; for the were ... in demonstration of
Spirit searcheth all [the] Spirit.
things.
2:13 In words ... which [the]
2:11. The things of God none Spirit teacheth.
knoweth, save the Spirit of
God. 7:40 I think that I also have
[the] spirit of God.
2:12. But we received ... the
spirit which is from God. 12:3 No man speaking in the Spirit
of God saith, Jesus is anathema;
2:14. The natural man and no man can say, Jesus is Lord,
receiveth not the things of but in [the] Holy Spirit.
the Spirit of God.
14:2 In [the] Spirit he speaketh
3:16. Know ye not ... that mysteries.
the Spirit of God dwelleth in
you?

6:11. Ye were justified ... in
the Spirit of our God.

6:19. Your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit.

12:4. There are diversities of
gifts, but the same Spirit.

12:7. To each one is given the
manifestation of the Spirit to
profit withal.

12:8. To one is given through the
Spirit the word of wisdom; and to
another the word of knowledge,
according to the same Spirit.

12:9. To another faith, in the
same Spirit; and to another gifts
of healings, in the one Spirit.

12:11. All these worketh the one
and the same Spirit, dividing to
each one severally even as he
will.

2 CORINTHIANS

1:22. Who ... gave us the earnest 3:3. Ye are an epistle of Christ,
of the Spirit in our hearts. ... written ... with [the]
_Spirit_ of the living God.
3:6. The letter killeth, but the
spirit giveth life. 3:18. We all ... are transformed
into the same image from glory to
3:8. How shall not rather the glory, even us from the Lord [the]
ministration of the spirit be with Spirit.
glory?

6:6. In kindness, in [the] Holy
4:13. Having the same spirit of _Spirit_, in love unfeigned.
faith.
11:4 If ye receive a different
5:5. Who gave unto us the earnest _spirit_, which ye did not
of the Spirit. receive.

12:18. Walked we not in the same 6:6. In kindness, in [the] Holy
Spirit? _Spirit_, in love unfeigned.
If ye receive a different
13:14. The communion of the Holy _spirit_, which ye did not
Spirit, be with you all, from receive.
glory to glory, even as from the
Lord [the] Spirit.

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