The Neglected Doctrine of the Spirit

The Person and Power of the Holy Spirit Explained

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Introduction

The Holy Spirit remains one of the most profound yet misunderstood aspects of Christian theology. Throughout Scripture, we see the Spirit's work evolving and expanding, particularly in the transition from Old Testament to New Testament covenant. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew concept of "Ruah" (breath, wind, spirit) represents the personal and powerful presence of God, working toward establishing God's Kingdom and shaping faithful citizens within it. In the New Testament we see the seeds planted in the Old Testament grow in fruition towards the desire of God to fulfill His desire to be with His people.

Why is the Holy Spirit Neglected Today?

Why do many Christians know so little about the Holy Spirit? I believe it's partly because we want to compartmentalize theological and biblical teachings—to fit God into neat boxes. We are happy to have the “spiritual” or “miraculous” part of the Bible neatly in one corner, with the “ethical” and “practical” in another corner. But the Holy Spirit refuses such containment, reminding us that God cannot be tucked into a small corner of our lives. Additionally, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit converges in every area of the life of the believer. What a tragedy to not experience the full empowerment of the Spirit in our everyday lives simply because we neglect its presence as a promise for all children of God.

In this Essay, I want to explore the role of the Spirit in Creation, how it influences our ethics, how it was the sustaining power of Christ Jesus in the incarnation, and how it is the tangible hope of the new heavens and new earth.

The Language of the Spirit In the Old and New Testament:

The Old Testament:

First, the Hebrew word for Spirit is - rûaḥ occurs 378 times in Hebrew texts and 11 times in Aramaic passages. Its basic range of meaning is “wind, moving air, breath, or Spirit.”¹

Now, this “range of meaning” is important. The context of the Scriptures gives us the meaning of the word and when it comes to rûaḥ, James Dunn makes the important observation:

“These should not be treated as a set of distinct meanings; rather we are confronted with a spectrum of meaning where the different senses merge into each other”²

“He remembered that they were only flesh, a wind [rûaḥ] that passes and does not return.” (Psalm 78:39, CSB)

Obadiah comments: “But when I leave you, the Spirit [rûaḥ] of the Lord may carry you off to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth.” (1 Kings 18:12, CSB)

“He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!” (Ezekiel 37:9, CSB)

At its heart is the experience of a mysterious, awesome power—the mighty invisible force of the wind, the mystery of vitality, the otherly power that transforms—all rûaḥ, all manifestations of divine energy (including distinct personhood, which we will get to).³

The expression ‘holy spirit’ occurs only three times in the OT (Ps 51:11; Isa 63:10, 11) ⁴

1. “Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.” (Psalm 51:11, CSB)

2. “But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he became their enemy and fought against them.” (Isaiah 63:10, CSB)

3. “Then he remembered the days of the past, the days of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among the flock?” (Isaiah 63:11, CSB)

Two Areas Where the Spirit/rûaḥ is Vital in the OT

(a) the charismatic leadership in the early period before kingship (Patriarchs, Judges, Prophets)

(b) ecstatic prophecy⁵

The New Testament: