The Holy Spirit
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The Triune God Across Scripture (Contents)
Father God in the Old Testament Father God in the New Testament Father God in the Old and New Testaments Jesus Christ in the Old Testament Jesus Christ in the New Testament Jesus Christ in the Old and New Testaments The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament The Holy Spirit…
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The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: Presence, Power, and Prophetic Preparation 1. Introduction The Holy Spirit, often referred to in the Old Testament (OT) as the “Spirit of the LORD” or “Ruach Elohim”, plays a vital but frequently under-recognised role in the narrative of God’s redemptive history. Though not…
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The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
The Holy Spirit in the New Testament: Person, Presence, and Power in the Age of Fulfilment 1. Introduction The New Testament (NT) brings the person and work of the Holy Spirit into clear and decisive focus. No longer operating as a primarily task-specific agent, the Spirit is now revealed as…
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The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments
The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments: From Divine Presence to Indwelling Power 1. Introduction The Holy Spirit is active throughout the entire biblical narrative, yet His role and manifestation differ significantly between the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT). In the OT, the Spirit appears as…
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The Trinity in the Old Testament
The Trinity in the Old Testament: United Presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 1. Introduction While the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly articulated in the New Testament, its roots extend deeply into the Old Testament (OT). The OT does not provide a systematic exposition of one God in…
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The Trinity in the New Testament
The Trinity in the New Testament: The Fully Revealed Presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 1. Introduction The New Testament (NT) brings to completion what the Old Testament anticipates—the full revelation of the Trinity: one God in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is not a philosophical doctrine…
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The Trinity Across Scripture
The Trinity Across Scripture: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Old and New Testament Unity 1. Introduction The doctrine of the Trinity—that God is one essence in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is a cornerstone of Christian theology. While the Old Testament (OT) lays the foundational framework, the New…
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Human Composition in Biblical Theology (Contents)
1: Introduction to Biblical Anthropology – Tripartite and Bipartite Views 2: The Human Body – Vessel of Life and Resurrection 3: The Soul – Life, Emotion, and Personal Identity 4: The Human Spirit – God-Consciousness and Moral Capacity 5: The Holy Spirit – Divine Person, Power, and Regenerator 6: Soul…
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1: Introduction to Biblical Anthropology – Tripartite and Bipartite Views
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction Understanding the constitution of human beings is fundamental to Christian theology. The Bible teaches that humanity was created in the image of God, and this image includes a complex structure involving body, soul, and spirit. However, theologians throughout history have debated whether this…
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2: The Human Body – Vessel of Life and Resurrection
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The human body is central to biblical anthropology, not merely as a container for the soul or spirit, but as a purposeful and dignified aspect of God’s creation. Far from being incidental, the body plays a vital role in creation, incarnation, death, sanctification,…
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3: The Soul – Life, Emotion, and Personal Identity
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The soul occupies a central place in both biblical theology and human experience. It refers to the seat of emotion, will, memory, and personal identity. Scripture reveals that the soul is deeply affected by sin, yet also the recipient of salvation, and it…
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4: The Human Spirit – God-Consciousness and Moral Capacity
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The human spirit (ruach in Hebrew, pneuma in Greek) represents the innermost faculty of a person—the seat of conscience, God-awareness, and moral discernment. It is distinguished in Scripture from both the body and the soul, and its condition determines a person’s spiritual vitality…
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5: The Holy Spirit – Divine Person, Power, and Regenerator
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The Holy Spirit is not a component of human nature, but the third Person of the Trinity—fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. His role in creation, inspiration, regeneration, sanctification, and glorification is foundational to Christian theology. This article…
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6: Soul and Spirit – Distinct or Interchangeable?
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction One of the most debated topics in biblical anthropology is whether soul and spirit are two distinct components of human nature or simply two aspects of the same immaterial self. This issue influences how we understand salvation, sanctification, worship, and eternal destiny. This…
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7: The Inner Man and the Image of God
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The Bible speaks not only of the body, soul, and spirit, but also of the “inner man”—the spiritual core of human identity. Closely connected to this is the concept of being created in the image of God (imago Dei). This entry explores what…
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8: Death and the Separation of Parts
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction Death in Scripture is not the end of existence but the separation of body, soul, and spirit. The Bible presents a consistent view that at death, the body returns to the earth, while the immaterial self (soul/spirit) enters a conscious state, awaiting resurrection…
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9: Resurrection and Reunification – Eternal Embodiment
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The doctrine of resurrection is central to biblical theology. Unlike philosophies that view the body as dispensable, the Bible affirms the restoration and reunification of body, soul, and spirit at the end of time. The resurrection is not merely symbolic or spiritual—it is…
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10: Final Judgment – Who Stands Before God?
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction The final judgment is the culmination of God’s plan for humanity, where every person will stand before Him in bodily, spiritual, and moral accountability. Scripture teaches that it is not only the soul or spirit, but the entire human being—body, soul, and spirit—that…
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11: Comparative Analysis – Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism on Human Nature
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction Human nature—what constitutes a person and what happens after death—is a foundational question across all religious traditions. Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism each offer distinct perspectives on the composition of the human being, including views on the body, soul, spirit, and eternity.…
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12: Implications for Pastoral Theology and Discipleship
Human Composition in Biblical Theology 1. Introduction A biblical understanding of body, soul, and spirit is not merely theological—it is deeply practical. It shapes how Christians view conversion, growth, suffering, worship, mental health, and eternal hope. Effective pastoral theology and discipleship must address the whole person. This final entry explores…
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62 – We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight: Trusting the Invisible in a Visible World
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction Christianity presents a radical call: to live not by what is visible and measurable, but by faith in what is unseen. As Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by…
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63 – Seen Things Are Temporary, Unseen Are Eternal: The Inversion of Material and Spiritual Reality
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction In a material world where physical evidence is considered the basis of truth and reality, the Christian faith boldly asserts that what is seen is transient, and what is unseen is eternal. This paradox, drawn…
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64 – Heaven is Far, Yet Within: The Transcendence and Immanence of God’s Kingdom
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction Heaven is traditionally perceived as a realm “above” or “beyond” earthly existence—a transcendent space of glory, angels, and the throne of God. Yet Jesus declared in Luke 17:21, “The kingdom of God is within you.”…
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65 – We Are Seated in Heaven, Yet Still on Earth: Positional Identity and Earthly Pilgrimage
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction Christian believers live daily in the physical world, subject to earthly time, suffering, and social realities. Yet Scripture makes the astounding claim that they are already “seated with Christ in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 2:6).…
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66 – Our Bodies Die, Yet We Will Live Forever: Mortality and the Promise of Eternal Life
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction Death is the inescapable end of all physical life—a result of sin (Romans 6:23). Yet Scripture proclaims that those who are in Christ shall never truly die (John 11:25–26), and are promised eternal life (1…
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67 – Spiritual Battle, Yet Flesh and Blood: Engaging the Invisible Through the Visible
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction Christian theology affirms that believers are engaged in a spiritual battle, described vividly in Ephesians 6:12: “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities… against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Yet, in everyday…
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68 – The Kingdom is Not of This World, Yet Changes This World: The Power of a Spiritual Kingdom in a Physical Realm
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction Jesus boldly declared, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), affirming that His rule does not originate from political systems, military conquest, or human governance. Yet, throughout history, the presence of Christ’s kingdom…
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69 – Christ is Absent in Body, Yet Present in Spirit: The Mystery of the Ascended Lord
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction After His resurrection, Jesus ascended physically into heaven, departing from His disciples in bodily form (Acts 1:9–11). Yet He promised, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). The…
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70 – In Christ, We Are Both Saints and Sinners: Simul Justus et Peccator
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction One of the most profound and debated paradoxes in Christian theology is the simultaneous reality that believers are declared righteous in Christ yet still wrestle with sin. Martin Luther captured this tension with the Latin…
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71 – The Church is Local and Universal: One Body in Many Places
Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian TheologyCategory 5: Spiritual vs. Physical Realities 1. Introduction The Church of Jesus Christ is described in Scripture both as a local, visible gathering of believers and as a universal, invisible body encompassing all the redeemed throughout history. This dual reality presents a paradox:…