I have spent a good deal of time yesterday and today reading this entire thread and doing all the "homework" because I believe the topics being discussed are highly important. At the beginning, I noticed some Witness Lee bashing, which I expected; however, I also perceived some good theological discussion about 1 Corinthians 15:45, much of which was quite interesting and, for the most part, respectful of the views of the others in the thread. The latter part of the thread turned to discussing the theology behind the Trinity.
Since this site is dedicated to the "open discussion of the Local Church Movement and the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee," I think it is important to examine what they say about these two topics in their own words.
1) On 1 Corinthians 15:45:
http://online.recoveryversion.org/Fo...sp?FNtsID=4674
As I read this footnote (see link above), nowhere does it say that Christ became
the Holy Spirit. It actually says that "Christ became
a life-giving Spirit with
a spiritual body" (emphasis mine). [Please note the difference between "the" and "a."
THE (one and only) Holy Spirit vs.
A life-giving Spirit] This closely aligns with what OBW is saying about in post #1:
Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
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1 Cor does not speak about the Holy Spirit. That is the most important thing to know about the verse. Other than the fact that it references one (and only one) member of the Trinity (and that would be Christ, the Son), the Trinity is not a focus of the verse.
This verse is in the midst of a discussion about the kind of body that believers will receive when they are resurrected. So Paul turns to the only example that he can point to in a solid way Jesus. He is speaking of the physical body that Jesus had after resurrection. And there is no way to describe that body as simply physical since it was not always visible, and could move through solid walls and locked doors. So Paul referred to it as "spiritual." Sort of a no-brainer since the Son is part of the Godhead and God is spirit. So Jesus is spirit. That is different from declaring that Jesus is the Holy Spirit.
I know that Lee strongly declared that there can be only one spirit that gives life. But he was wrong. Jesus gives life and he became "A" spirit. Not the Holy Spirit. I think that it is also provable that the Father can give life. And he is also spirit. BTW. The Holy Spirit is also spirit.
That may seem obvious since that is his name. But it doesn't always work that way. "The Spirit" or the "Holy Spirit" are names for what we refer to as the third of the Trinity. It is obvious that the word "Spirit" in the name is actually linked to his essence as spirit. But both the Father and the Son are also spirit, yet they are not called "The Spirit." Isn't it interesting that Mr. Brown may actually be pasty white, or Mr. White be as black as coal. The name does not cause the one who bears the name to subsume all that the word that is their name implies. Neither does it deny others the ability to possess some of the attributes that the name implies.
Seems like a no-brainer. Unless you are Lee or are under his spell (and I used to be). He is equivocating between "sprit" and "Sprit." The word "spirit" has many meanings. Among them is the idea of a state of being that is not simply physical. And God is spirit. All of Him Father, Son, and Spirit. It just happens that one of those three has a name that is the same word Spirit.
Your question is phrased in the words of the Lee/LSM/LRC lexicon. "The Life-Giving Spirit" is a code word for this singular thing that is the Holy Spirit. But this verse does not say that. It says that the last Adam became "A" quickening (life-giving) spirit. Jesus surely gives life. That does not make him the Holy Spirit. It simply acknowledges the truth that Jesus has this different body a spiritual body and he does give life.
Besides, if you buy Lee's version of the verse, then you have to assume that Paul is busy talking about something that has absolutely nothing to do with the Trinity other than to consider the body that Jesus received in resurrection. Then suddenly, in the middle of that discussion, Paul had a serious bout of ADHD, shouted "squirrel" and rambled on about how Jesus became the Holy Spirit (without ever actually saying those words) then just as suddenly returned to the discussion he had been carrying on before.
In short, Lee demanded that "spirit" can only be the "Holy Spirit" and that is just plain wrong. So the answer to your question is "Christ did not become the Life-Giving Spirit" according to 1 Cor . At least not in the way that Lee meant it. He did receive a spiritual body in resurrection. And he does give life. But that did not cause Jesus to morph over and become the Holy Spirit. That is not supported by this or any other verse in scripture.
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Anything still unclear? Any different thoughts?
I know I did not quote a bunch of verses. But we all know the verse in question and it is easily seen as the one I am referring to. Do you think I have misrepresented it?
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It seems to me that OBW and the footnote are in agreement on this one. The footnote says "Christ became
a life-giving Spirit with
a spiritual body" (emphasis mine). OBW also emphasizes "
a" throughout the post and mentions "
a spiritual body" in the last quoted paragraph before the line.
The only untrue thing I see in OBW's post is what he/she claims that Lee says. OBW claims that in the "Lee/LSM/LRC lexicon," " 'The Life-Giving Spirit' is a code word for this singular thing that is the Holy Spirit." As can be clearly seen from reading the linked footnote, the "Lee/LSM/LRC lexicon" does not say anything of the sort.
In conclusion, I do not think OBW misrepresented the verse. I think he/she misrepresented what Lee said about the verse.
It is getting late for me; therefore, Ill let yall read and digest this first post before I finish writing and post part two on the Trinity.
This is my first time on this site, and I do not have a user name yet; however, I'll sign my posts with "~Faith" to avoid confusion with other "Unregistered"s. I trust that no one else will write posts and sign them with "~Faith" during this interim.
Thank you for taking the time to read and consider what I am presenting in this post.
~Faith