Subject: Law v Faith. Are Jews Condemened? |
Bible Note: Hi EdB, In studying the Bible, the capitalization of "spirit" is in our determination as much as anyone else. We look at the context just as do the translator/interpretters of our versions. And the capitalization indicates if you are focusing on the essence or on the Person. As one who counts those words of "Spirit", of Deity, the capitalization is important to me. For instance, in looking at Galatians 3:5 there are two ways to consider the verse and have the two occurances of Deity that I see there. Galatians 3:5, NKJ, "Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?--" Here we can consider a lower case "spirit" that is supplied to us by hearing with faith the words given us. If one goes with the lower case spirit then there are two words of Deity in the verse. Or we can go with the NASB, "Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?" Probably the Pentecostal would say that the Spirit is provided, while I would say that the spirit was provided by which we can work miracles. I would say that we are to be filled with the holy spirit and the Pentecostal would say the Holy Spirit. 1) Another passage that I see that we can consider a lower case spirit while looking at the number of Deity nouns and pronouns, is 1 Cor 2:10. 1 Cor 2:10, NASB, "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God." 1 Cor 2:10, NKJ, "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God." I would see four words of Deity for the verse, and thus would consider a lower case for "His spirit" in the NKJ. In other words, the things not heard, that have not entered into the heart of man are the words revealed by His spirit. The choice here to my mind is either "His spirit" or "the Spirit". I have been offering my viewpoint, and would welcome any comments. From the heart, Ray |