[Biblemat] What did the Holy Spirit do during the "Old Testament" period? (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Hello George,

Thank you so much for your question and for making
use of Bible Questions.  Please do so again.
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You asked:

What role did the Holy Spirit play in the Old Testement?

Reply:

The Holy Spirit was active in various ways; however, His chief function
was providing the impetus to the prophets so that they could without error
speak the will of God, usually revolving around what we call prophesy.  I
shall do two things.  First, I shall insert immediately below a passage
pertaining to what I just mentioned and then some additional comments on
the Spirit.

"19: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well
that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the
day
dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation.
21: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men
of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Pet. 1).

There is an article in www.bibletruths.net that might interest you titled,
"The Holy Spirit" (see excerpt below).  To read the material in full, when
on the home page, enter through the door and click on "Archives and Index"
in the directory.  When on the Achieves page, click on the letter "S."
There you will also see additional articles on the Spirit.

     "...The Holy Spirit is a being. The Spirit reveals, speaks, and bears
witness (Jn. 16: 13-15; I Tim. 4: 1; Jn. 15: 26). Moreover, the Holy Spirit
is presented in scripture as giving commandments and being capable of
being resisting (Acts 13: 2; 7: 51).

     The Holy Spirit, properly speaking, is not an it or a thing (inanimate
object). The scriptures do refer to the Spirit as "it," though (neuter
gender). The expression in Romans 8: 26, "The Spirit itself" is correct,
grammatically speaking. Spirit (pneuma) is neuter gender in the original
Greek. Therefore, all pronouns referring to "Spirit" are normally neuter
gender as well. However, it is of great importance that Jesus referred to
the Spirit as "he." Jesus said, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth." (Jn.
16: 13). The pronoun "he" (ekeinos) is a strong masculine pronoun. It is
apparent that Jesus is stressing the fact that the Holy Spirit is not an it
(inanimate thing such as mindless energy or an electrical charge), but an
intelligent being.

     The Holy Spirit has specific work assigned to him. In the physical
creation, the Father did the providing, Jesus (the Word), did the actual
creating, and the Holy Spirit implemented or provided order (Gen. 1, 2; Col.
1: 16). We find the same basic truth in the spiritual creation. The Father
provided his Son, Jesus brought it into existence, and the Spirit
implemented or provided the order (Jn. 3: 16; Matt. 16: 18, 19; Jn. 14: 26,
16: 13, Lk. 24: 49, Acts 1: 5-8)....."

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference
(web addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in
both Bible Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision
at the bottom of the home page in Bible Truths).

Cordially,
Don Martin