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NASB | 1 Corinthians 7:40 But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 7:40 But in my opinion a widow is happier if she stays as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God [in this matter]. |
Subject: Can one have the Spirit of God? |
Bible Note: It is relatively easy for us to have a relationship with Jesus and our Heavenly Father because Jesus is a human being and our Father fits our image of Fatherhood. But when it comes to relating to a Spirit, or to a Dove, or a Tongue of Fire we are in a difficult situation. How do we love a dove as a person? A dove for us is an animal, not a person. How do we love a spirit as a person? We refer to the Holy Spirit more as a power than as a person, more like an invisible force than a visible person, something that was felt or experienced rather than seen. But the Holy Spirit is a Person. When we look through the Old and New Testaments we constantly see references to the Spirit of Wisdom, whom we have come to know as the Holy Spirit. There is even a Book of Wisdom dedicated to the Holy Spirit. But Wisdom is feminine in Scripture. And would that not indicate that the Holy Spirit is feminine? We also notice that the Spirit has characteristics like 'giving birth,' 'nurturing,' 'creating,' and 'mothering of all God's creation.' These are feminine characteristics. We have always known that within the Godhead, the Trinity, there was a family, the Family of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But a family is not possible without a father and mother. So, even though the Holy Spirit is not named Mother, She seems to have all the characteristics of Divine Motherhood as the Father has of Divine Fatherhood. It seems that despite our outward tradition, there are underlying reasons for accepting the Holy Spirit as feminine. And the name Sophia? Well, Sophia is Greek for wisdom, and it is also a name for us. So, to call Her by Her name given in Scripture would make it possible for us to relate to Her as a Person, and not just as a power. She needs to be known and experienced today as a Person. Remember, there are three Persons in God, in the Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And they all three want to be known primarily as Persons, rather than as a cosmic power or force in the world. The Father has been known as a Person since the beginning of creation. The Son became known as a Person when He was born into this world as Jesus. Now is the time for the Holy Spirit to be known as a Person. The Old testament word for spirit is 'ruwach', meaning wind, breath, inspiration, and the OT Hebrew noun is always feminine. The Septuagint is the ancient Greek edition of the Old Testament. The Septuagint is the source of the Old Testament quotations found in the New Testament. The 'Wisdom of Solomon' was included in the Septuagint. In 'The Wisdom of Solomon' the Holy Spirit is female. The book of Proverbs declares 'God's Wisdom' is female. The Greek 'feminine' term for wisdom', sophia; translates a Hebrew 'feminine' term, hokhmah. In the book of 'Proverbs' contained in the Bible as well as 'The Wisdom of Solomon' contained in the Apocrypha; It is clearly shown that the early Hebrews saw God's Wisdom and Spirit as female. The "Odes of Solomon" is the earliest known Christian book of hymns or odes. It dates from before 100 A.D. In the 'Odes of Solomon'; the Holy Spirit is female. Hermetic writings from the first century AD reveal that the first century Christians used the symbols of both male and female to express the 'light and the life' within God. In the Aramaic roots of The Lord's Prayer. Jesus's original language, The words Jesus used to address God are "Abvwoon Debashmaya." It means, the birther, the bearer, the breather/bringer of life and light. It means both Mother and Father. Also, Jesus spoke of Wisdom as female; ( Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35) The Hagia Sophia is the largest church in Constantinople (and in the ancient christian world). The historian Socrates indicated that the church was named Sophia during the reign of Emperor Constantius. The name given to the church symbolized the second divine attribute of the Holy Trinity. Originally, Sophia, which means "Holy Wisdom". The original tongue of the Hebrew or Aramaic would translate 'Holy Spirit' as female. Also, Greek would translate 'Holy Spirit' as either female or 'neuter in reference to the subject' and She only became 'He' in Latin and English bibles. Yet, even Milton, in his writing of Paradise Lost, refers to the Holy Spirit and Divine Reason as his Celestial Patroness! Clearly, the ancient church traditions refer to the Holy Spirit in feminine rather than masculine terms. It is important to speak of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Reconciler, with a feminine pronoun. The mother aspect of God is real and Holy. "Isaiah 66:13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you . . ." |