God's Indwelling Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Old and New Testaments

by James M. Hamilton Jr.

Book Overview

Does the Holy Spirit do the same things now and in the New Testament times that He did in Old Testament times? Volume one in the NEW AMERICAN COMMENTARY STUDIES IN BIBLE AND THEOLOGY series for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805443835
• ISBN13: 9780805443837
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
• Length: 233 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.1" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Sound Pneumatology

This helpful study does not cover the ecclesiology, starting from Pentecost, as most authors of the Holy Spirit usually do. It starts with a study of God's own Spirit in the OT, which strongly suggests that 'revivalism' is of no concern to Hamilton. He describes how, in the time of the theocracy, God ruled through His chosen judges, kings and prophets by anointing some literally. Yet with the advent of Christ, the Messiah, God's 'Anointed One', the literal anointing no longer exists (and neither does the theocracy!) and the Spirit-aspect in the new life of believers is brought into proper perspective. This process, and its unique godly origin, known as the 'indwelling', is made clear to the reader. Implications regarding the 'anointing' now dwelling in us as opposed to being sought for as a special second blessing subsequently, are discussed in view of the fallacious teaching on the Holy Spirit prevalent in charismatic and pentecostal churches. 'Many assume that enabling an individual to believe is equivalent to an individual's reception of the indwelling Spirit. But John 7:39 speaks of people who had been enabled to believe in Jesus but had not yet received the Spirit.' p 75 Hamilton sees indwelling as separate to conversion in Acts, p 193. Believers would be well reminded that as there exists distinctions between our salvation experience and those of the apostles and their contemporaries, so there exists a clear distinction in 'the age of immediate revelation' with regard to the Holy Spirit's work in the apostolic age, especially as the Holy Spirit was active to that end primarily. Hamilton sees eschatological fulfillment taking precedence in Acts over personal conversion or regeneration, in four clear-cut instances. Specifically Acts 2, where some of those already believed in Christ prior to the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Subsequent to this, Hamilton holds three other unique, though corollary salvation-historical outpourings wherein personal conversion is subordinated to eschatological advancement amongst the gentiles etc.: Acts 8, 10 and 19. 'In each instance of Spirit-baptism, those baptized were already believers when the Spirit fell on them.' p 192 Again, this must not be seen as normative for the post-apostolic church as these were once-off occurrences germane to the apostolic era. 'Under the new covenant, God would not have a tribe of priests ministering to the rest of His people, but His people as a whole would be a kingdom of priests (see Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Rev 1:6). In these respects it may be said that there is discontinuity between the old and new covenants. There is continuity, however, in that the Spirit has been active in the lives of believers under both covenants.' p 76 Whereas in the OT the Spirit only came upon i.e., Gideon and Sampson, in the NT the Holy Spirit no longer is given only to specific individuals, but to all who have experienced salvation, and gifts of diverse kinds are given to the church on th