Last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

[Thankful Jane]

Originally Posted by Shawn

Hi TJ,

I hope you caught the distinction between the use of life giving Spirit vs. the Holy Spirit you mentioned in refuting the other posters position.

Yes, the Holy Spirit has always existed, but the Holy Spirit could not enter into man as the giver of Gods life, until the death and ressurrection of our Lord Jesus; it was at this point that the Holy Spirit could become the life giving Spirit.This is the main point as I understood it from brother Lee's ministry. Not two Spirits but one Spirit that became the life giver to man after the Lords ressurrection.

Hi Shawn,

How do you then explain Romans 8:11 which says that the Spirit that dwells in us is the one that raised Christ from the dead?

The truth is that we could not receive the Holy Spirit until Christ completed the sacrifice for our sins. Nothing happened to the Holy Spirit to make it the life-giving Spirit. It clearly was already such a Spirit, able to give life.

Witness Lee said: "Before Christ’s resurrection, there was not such a life-giving Spirit in the universe."

Thankful Jane

[YP0534]

Originally Posted by Thankful Jane

Hi Shawn,

How do you then explain Romans 8:11 which says that the Spirit that dwells in us is the one that raised Christ from the dead?

The truth is that we could not received the Holy Spirit until Christ completed the sacrifice for our sins. Nothing happened to the Holy Spirit to make it the life-giving Spirit. It clearly was already such a Spirit, able to give life.

Thankful Jane

Alright, Thankful's on a considerable path here so I'll go ahead and make my observation.

Folks, "became" is not in the Greek text at all, you know?

All the Greek says is "the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit."

It's not an unreasonable interpretation by any means to supply "became," but, neither is it absolutely required by the context. Supplying the word "is" would potentially preserve the author's intent just as well.

Thusly:
The first man, Adam, became a living soul; but the last Adam is a life-giving Spirit.

I'm not sure it moves the ball much on distinctions between Persons in the Trinity and such but it would kick a lot of the wind out of an exaggerated notion about the second "becoming."

Does this reading somewhat mesh with what your considerations are here?

[UntoHim]

Let's take a look how Darby translated this..

Thus also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul;
the last Adam a quickening spirit.

I think the way Darby translates this verse gives the English reader a clear sense of what was originally conveyed in the Greek. I would note that he used a small "s" for spirit here as well.

[Thankful Jane]

Originally Posted by YP0534

Alright, Thankful's on a considerable path here so I'll go ahead and make my observation.

Folks, "became" is not in the Greek text at all, you know?

All the Greek says is "the last Adam, a life-giving Spirit."

It's not an unreasonable interpretation by any means to supply "became," but, neither is it absolutely required by the context. Supplying the word "is" would potentially preserve the author's intent just as well.

Thusly:
The first man, Adam, became a living soul; but the last Adam is a life-giving Spirit.

I'm not sure it moves the ball much on distinctions between Persons in the Trinity and such but it would kick a lot of the wind out of an exaggerated notion about the second "becoming."

Does this reading somewhat mesh with what your considerations are here?

Yes, it does. I like the Bible. It's what people do with it that gets us all into trouble. I have a little more to say about why I think addressing this teaching is not just an academic matter, but I don't have time now. Maybe later.

Thankful Jane