Questions tagged [pneumatology]
The theology, or doctrine, of the Holy Spirit. For the majority of Christians, the Holy Spirit is a person of the Holy Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and is Almighty God.
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How might a Christian convince an atheist that the Holy Spirit is real and not just warm fuzzy feelings? [closed]
In 1998, Dr William Lane Craig debated Professor Keith M. Parsons at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX. The topic of the debate was "Why I Am/Am Not a Christian." After the debate ...
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What factors, according to Young-Earth Creationists, might inhibit the Holy Spirit from guiding a Christian to a literal interpretation of Genesis?
This question lies at the intersection of spirituality and exegesis.
If we assume that the Holy Spirit guides Christians in understanding scripture and that Young-Earth Creationism is true, what ...
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What is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' perspective on gaining a testimony through prophecies, dreams, and visions?
Latter-day Saints often claim to gain a personal witness of the truth of their beliefs through the Holy Ghost. Sometimes this has been described as a "burning in the bosom":
A Latter-day ...
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What is the biblical basis for the Holy Ghost revealing truth privately and personally in an absolute and unmistakable manner?
I understand this belief is held by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as indicated by the following quote:
This is the true, solid evidence of religious faith. Millions upon millions ...
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How do Christians outside of the LDS faith interpret the reported spiritual encounters of Latter-day Saints with the Holy Ghost?
Latter-day Saints believe in the concept of 'gaining a testimony'. I provide supporting quotes in my previous question How crucial is it for Christians in general (not only LDS) to “gain a testimony” ...
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Is it official Catholic dogma that Mary is the wife of the Holy Spirit?
I've seen many posts here from Catholics describing Mary as the spouse or wife of the Holy Spirit. Catholic Answers calls it a "pious custom".
Is this official Catholic dogma? If so, when was it ...
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If you do not believe the Holy Spirit is a person, then what is it? What do Bible verses that reference the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God mean?
Question: If you do not believe the Holy Spirit is a person, then what is it?
The Bible includes over 100 verses that mention the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God or just the Spirit. Here are four ...
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Did Early Church acknowledge the Holy Spirit as Feminine?
Did the Early Church acknowledge the Holy Spirit as Feminine?
An article recently titled “ The Holy Spirit as feminine: Early Christian testimonies and their interpretation”
note that the early Church ...
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Do Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit still speaks specific messages or instructions to Christians today?
The book of Acts includes several examples:
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Acts 8:29
While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three ...
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What does it mean that the Spirit proceeds from the Father?
The Bible describes the Son as "the only begotten from the Father" (John 1:14). A child is begotten only once. Therefore, I understand "begotten" as a human analogy for how the ...
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Is the Holy Spirit more effective at restoring people's mental health than secular therapeutic approaches and treatments?
Mental health is an essential component of a person's well-being and, as everything else in life, it is subject to a plethora of potential maladies, some of which are quite difficult to cure even for ...
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Why does the Book of Revelation allocate such a subordinate role to the Holy Spirit?
Revelation’s visions often put the Son with the Father, but the Holy Spirit is generally absent. For example:
Receiving the Book of Revelation
“God” gave the visions of Revelation to “Jesus Christ” ...
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Naive question: Origin of the Holy Ghost
I have heard that there is a lot of influence from the Greeks in the development of Christianity, the Stoics and Platonists, and the concept of logos, the Word, and Jesus. You can see this in the ...
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How should we judge the trustworthiness of a given Bible translation?
Given that both the humans who actually penned the Bible and the later humans who translated it all had free will, the issue of Biblical inerrancy is a tricky one.
See also: By what mechanism could ...
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How do various denominations interpret Jesus’ declaration of “Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit” as an unforgivable sin [closed]
A few times questions about “Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit” have been asked on this site and then closed as either “off topic” since they are interpretative per denomination, or closed as “...
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In the Binitarian view is the Holy Spirit a person?
In descriptions of who or what the Holy Spirit is in Binitarianism, it is described variously as the power of God, or the Spirit of the Father or Spirit of the Son.
Reference: In the Binitarian view, ...
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The Holy Spirit and Revelation 14:1
Revelation 14:1 states (ESV translation):
Then I looked, and behold, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
Now, the ...
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How did theologians conclude that blasphemy of the Holy Spirit meant a refusal for repentance?
Matthew 12:22-32 and Mark 3:22-30 both tell the account of the Christ casting out devils while Pharisees accused Him of being possessed by Beelzebub. The Christ rebukes them and declares the following ...
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Has the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary ever been viewed as a dual maternity?
The Old Roman Symbol was a forerunner of the Apostles Creed. The structure seems to imply a dual maternity.
I believe in God the Father almighty;
and in Christ Jesus His only Son, our Lord,
Who was ...
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According to Trinitarians, is the Holy Spirit quenched and grieved by those who deny His personhood and Christ's deity?
According to Trinitarians, is the Holy Spirit quenched and grieved by those who deny His personhood and Christ's deity? If so, would that mean that people who do not believe in the deity of Christ and ...
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According to Catholicism, what are concrete and practical ways by which Christians can be filled (and stay filled) with the Holy Spirit?
The concept of "being filled" with the Holy Spirit is mentioned multiple times in the New Testament, and according to the book of Acts it appears to have been a crucial aspect of the early ...
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What are the origins and history of shaking, trembling, jerking, contorting, collapsing, fainting and similar manifestations in Christianity?
I'm interested in learning about the origins and evolution throughout Church history of manifestations such as shaking, trembling, jerking, contorting, collapsing or fainting attributed to the Holy ...
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What is the difference between Soul and Spirit? [duplicate]
My Question was if there is a difference between Soul and Spirit. I ask this question because it seems like your Soul and Spirit are the same thing.
I realized that your spirit and physical body are ...
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Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit for Non-trinitarians
This question does NOT ask the definition of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit
By "Non-trinitarians" I mean those who do not believe in the personhood of the Holy Spirit such as Binitarians ...
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What are the theological implications of "filioque"?
Depending on your tradition, the Nicene Creed may or may not say that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Son as well as from the Father:
(Greek) τὸ ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον - who from the Father ...
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Are there published testimonies from Jehovah's Witnesses about their experiences with the presence of the Holy Spirit?
Have any Jehovah's Witnesses experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit, possibly in a dramatic, life-changing way, and published a testimony in which they recount their experiences?
Similar ...
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Why did the disciples cast lots when the Holy Spirit was promised [closed]
In the book of Acts Chapter 1:v 4-5 regarding an earlier speech of Jesus, it is written
On one occasion,while he was eating with them he gave them this command:Do not leave Jerusalem,but wait for ...
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Do Trinitarian denominations believe that the Holy Spirit is omniscient, and do any believe denying it is worthy of expulsion of members?
What is a survey of beliefs in contemporary Trinitarian denominations regarding whether the Holy Spirit - a co-equal person of the Godhead - is omniscient? Do any hold members should be expelled if ...
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Does the Holy Spirit's procession from the Father and Son infringe on the co-equality of the Trinity?
The following is intended to correlate to classical scholastic terminology, to whit:
Nature = essence, as in "the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all have the Trinitarian 'nature' of God."
Person = ...
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When God (who is spirit) says "my spirit" do Binitarians think He is just referring to Himself?
The following is from a Binitarian answer to a question on the nature of the Holy Spirit:
Instead, the term "holy spirit" could refer directly to the Father and Son, as they are each holy ...
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Christianity and extreme, seizure-like bodily shaking
I've noticed here and there the odd practice of inducing an extreme, seizure-like bodily shaking in oneself, which seems quite strange to me; it's not at all clear what the purpose is. Some people ...
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How do Trinitarians respond to Mark 13:32 which indicates that the Holy Spirit does not know something?
Mark 13:32 says:
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."
Jesus here is apparently saying the Holy Spirit doesn't know ...
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Jesus says, that God the Father is a Spirit AND Paul says there is one (1) Spirit. How do trinitarians understand who or what the Holy Spirit is?
Premise
Jesus tells the woman at the well to worship the Father in Spirit and Truth.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for ...
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Is the Holy Spirit the combining of God the Father and God the Son's Spirit's [closed]
Is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father? It's a pretty simple question, so I don't really know if there is much I can add to the body.
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What denominations believe that a Book of Acts style of interaction with the Holy Spirit is still possible today?
Book of Acts (ESV):
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” Acts 8:29
And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him ...
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What is the “something greater than Solomon” in Matthew 12?
To whom or what is Jesus referring in this passage when he speaks of “something greater than Solomon”?
The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this
generation and condemn it, for she ...
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According to Jehovah's Witnesses, are there Spirit-filled Christians in non-JW denominations?
Can Spirit-filled Christians be found in non-JW denominations, according to Jehovah's Witnesses?
Related:
According to Unitarians, are there Spirit-filled Christians in non-Unitarian denominations?
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How are the definitions of Ecumenical Council divinely inspired?
Catholics, Orthodox, and other denominations hold that the definitions produced by accepted ecumenical councils are protected from error by the Holy Spirit.
What is the manner of this inspiration? ...
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In the Binitarian view, who or what is the Holy Spirit?
In the Binitarian view, who or what is the Holy Spirit?
Is it the spirit of the Father, or the Son, or both, or is it a separate entity?
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In the Trinitarian view does Matthew 11:27 indicate the Holy Spirit does not know the Son?
Matthew 11:27
Young's Literal Translation
27 `All things were delivered to me by my Father, and none doth know the Son, except the Father, nor doth any know the Father, except the Son, and he to whom ...
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What does it mean to say "the [Holy] Spirit shall depart"?
A hymn I often hear is "Prepare to Meet Thy God," which has the following verse:
If you spurn the invitation
Till the Spirit shall depart,
Then you’ll see your sad condition,
Unprepared to ...
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Are there other Christian authors besides WLC who believe that all Christians have access to a direct, self-authenticating experience of God?
My question is motivated by the following excerpt from William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith article The Witness of the Holy Spirit:
Plantinga's model involves crucially what is usually called the ...
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How do Christians who believe in a witness of the Holy Spirit via thoughts & feelings respond to the claim that thoughts & feelings are unreliable?
Many Christians believe that the witness of the Holy Spirit can come through thoughts & feelings (example). A common objection is that thoughts & feelings are unreliable:
Some Christians ...
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Do Baptists who believe in a witness of the Holy Spirit distinguish their experience from that of Latter-day Saints?
Many non-LDS Christians ground their belief in Christianity in what they refer to as the witness of the Holy Spirit. For example, Christian apologist William Lane Craig, of Baptist confession, ...
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How do Latter-day Saints explain testimonies of profound experiences with the Holy Spirit in other denominations?
Note: I'm afraid that this question might make some cessationist readers uncomfortable, but given that Latter-day Saints are continuationists, I'll just go ahead with it.
It's my understanding that ...
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Did the Early Church believe that Mary was the spouse of the Holy Spirit?
In Luke 1:34 the blessed virgin Mary is depicted as the spouse of the Holy Spirit, Luke 1:34-35 says:
Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not
a man?
And the angel answered ...
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Trinity as God in Three Persons or Manifestations? [duplicate]
Where does scripture support the Holy Spirit is a Person? Where in scripture is it essential-for-salvation to claim God is in Three Persons?
How does the claim of 'God in Three Persons' reconcile the ...
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According to Latter-day Saint epistemology, do Latter-day Saints perceive the witness of the Holy Ghost as an intrinsic defeater-defeater?
From https://iep.utm.edu/defeaters-in-epistemology/:
According to Plantinga (1986), some beliefs can, by virtue of their own degree of warrant, defeat defeaters that come their way. When a belief has ...
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Do other Christian denominations/groups have an equivalent to the "burning in the bosom" of Mormonism?
In the question How is one supposed to "know" whether or not the Book of Mormon is true?, the accepted answer affirms:
But the witness of the Holy Ghost is testimony from God's spirit ...
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What is an overview of how different Christian denominations define well-known phrases related to the ministry of the Holy Spirit?
There are many popular concepts and phrases that people have coined in relation to the role and ministry of Holy Spirit. Some examples I'm aware of include:
The baptism of the Holy Spirit
The ...
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