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 Bro.
Turner:
What
is the “gift of the Holy Spirit” in Acts 2: 38?
GM
Reply:
I
would be less than honest if I did not admit some feeling of
uncertainty in making this reply. The grammatical construction
is genitive with the article, and many greek scholars say the
Holy Spirit is the gift. But there are genitives of possession;
objective genitives; and the anarthrous use of words where ou
endings prove neither possession nor objective genitive. Even
with article, the genitive in the N.T. may have the force of a
qualifying adjective, as “the steward of unrighteousness”
translated, “the unjust steward.” See Robertson’s Grammar;
Bagster’s, Sect. XLVII Pp. XIV Analytical Greek Lexicon. Does
Acts 2:38 mean (a) the H.S. as a gift, (b) something the H.S.
gives, or (c) a gift, spiritual in nature???
The
thing that brought the multitude together was the miraculous
outpouring of the H.S. In explanation, Peter said, “This is
that — ”spoken by Joel. (Acts 2:16 Joel 2:28 -f) The single
outpouring, upon Apostles, is not the whole of “that”
prophesied, for that included “daughters and hand-maidens”
“all flesh” (Gentiles, as well as Jews: rt) deliverance for
the “remnant” — in fact, the Christian dispensation, signaled
by the out-pouring of the H.S.
Now
the Apostles have proclaimed Christ, listeners are pricked, and
ask what to do; and are told what to do that they might be
forgiven of their sins, and receive THE BLESSINGS OF THE
CHRISTIAN
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DISPENSATION — or so the context
seems to me to say.
The
promise of Joel 2: was to “who- so-ever shall call on the name
of the Lord” (Acts 2:21) and “deliverance” or salvation in
Christ is the object. Now, following vs. 38, Peter says, ”For
the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that
are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” If
this refers to the H.S. as the gift. it must be in the same vein
as Christians receive God the Father, and Christ. the
Son. (See Jn. 14:23 Eph. 3:17) Note the likeness of thought in
Acts 3:19-20.
The
language “gift of the H.S.” is used in Acts 10:45 with
reference to Cornelius, and indicates to me that “gift” does
not necessitate the same results. (Was Cornelius inspired; did
he have same power as Apostles??) One may conclude that “the
gift of the H.S.” in Acts 2 :38 included miraculous “measures”
to some. but not to all. In a sense the Holy Spirit was “given”
to Christians (the church) representatively. He brought
inspiration, power, to chosen Apostles and prophets; but all
believers were recipients of the blessings derived from the Holy
Spirit.
Cornelius
received the H.S., not as a result of obedience (Acts 10:44;
11:15) but to show Gentiles acceptable. Yet, it was within
boundaries of Christian dispensation, making the promised
blessings available to “all flesh”. The H.S. is the
manifestation of deity in the Christian dispensation:
representative of, and conveying all of its promised blessings.
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