Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
I cannot assert this with any force of superior knowledge, but this has been described by many with a more studied a view than mine (or Lee's for that matter) that consider the events of the visible tongues of fire, and the broad spread speaking in other languages as a sign. And that sign was more to the participants than to the onlookers, even though it was a significant thing for those onlookers. To the participants, they were suddenly filled with the realization that they really had not been abandoned. That the lack of the physical presence of Jesus actually left them no worse off than they were immediately before his departure, and quite arguably in a better position because they could all go in different directions and still have what they needed...
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It still doesn't negate my point that the "One" Holy Spirit is apparently doled out like so many portions of oil. The multiplicity is inferred, and multiple manifestations of spiritual dispensation is a given, both here at Pentecost and elsewhere. (and it certainly gives the rub to Lee's 'only one move of God on the earth is an option at any given time' idea)
Yet, we are still talking about the trinity, and we are therefore still talking about the "one" Holy Spirit. Paul said that there is one God and Father of all, one Lord, one Spirit, etc. So we craft our theology and ignore the apparent multiplicity. Look at the Roman Centurion. "I also have servants (plural) under me, whom I tell, 'Come' and they come, and 'go', and they go, and 'do this' and they do it." Etc.
You have "the (mingled?) spirits of just men made perfect", you have wheels full of eyes in Ezekiel, you have multiple spirits going to and fro throughout the earth, you have angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man, etc. But those are (I guess) in different conceptual boxes than "the trinity" so we can ignore the disconnect. I guess.
Of course I may be the one disconnected, at least to some extent. So when I am in meetings, I say, "Jesus is Lord! Amen!" But at least (fairly quietly) I can mention that boiler-plate theology doesn't actually seem to carry too far in the narratives of scripture.
Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
And the reading of "all can prophesy" as in invitation to open the mic for everyone is a "squirrel" moment.
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I agree. It is totally out of context of what Paul was writing about. He was giving nearly the opposite message to the Corinthians, ironically. He was saying, "You can all sit down and be quiet, except one." The contextual emphasis was on "one by one", not "you all can speak". But again, that wasn't convenient to the ministry, was it?