There are two Holy Spirits mentioned in New Testament: In Pauline letters, the Holy Spirit is received at the moment of faith in Christ, signifying adoption as God’s children, bestowing spiritual gifts, sealing salvation, and producing the fruit of the Spirit as believers are sanctified to reflect Christ. In contrast, the non-Pauline letters describe the Holy Spirit as granted only to those who obey Christ, requiring to be born of God and God’s seed in them, which renders them incapable of sinning and overcoming the world. Here, the Spirit serves as the sole Teacher, with no mention of gifts or fruits, and holiness, obedience, and self-purification to become Christ-likeness for Salvation. In this post, we will explorer deeper into the two different Spirits found in the Pauline and non-Pauline letters. As always, let’s test every spirit.
The Holy Spirit according to Pauline letters
Let’s first explore the Holy Spirit mentioned in Pauline letters.
Holy Spirit is given when someone first believed
Below is a tabulation of Pauline letters for when the Holy Spirit is given
| Book | Verse |
|---|---|
| Galatians | Spirit is given when hearing of faith This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2) |
| Ephesians | The Spirit is given at conversion In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) |
The above Pauline letters show that Holy Spirit is given during the conversion. The rest of the Pauline letters implies the same meaning without direct verses. However, no Pauline letters say obedience is required for receiving Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit adopts us: Responsibility of the Holy Spirit
Pauline letters say we are adopted by the Holy Spirit as children of God. This means, these children of God don’t have the seed of God since they aren’t born of God.
| Book | Verse |
|---|---|
| Romans | Holy Spirit Adopts us as children of God For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (Romans 8:15-16) |
| Galatians | Adopted as sons because of Holy Spirit to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” (Galatians 4:5-6) |
We see a consistent theme in Pauline letters. We are adopted as children of God because of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is for Gifts, Guarantee and Fruits
The Holy Spirit is given to believers when they first believed and the role of the Holy Spirit is for gifts, guarantee and to bear fruit of the Spirit.
| Book | Verse |
|---|---|
| I Corinthians | Gifts of the Holy Spirit There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (I Corinthians 12:4-11) |
| Romans | Gifts of the Holy Spirit Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6-8) |
| II Corinthians | Holy Spirit is a Guarantee who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (II Corinthians 1:22) |
| Ephesians | Fruits of the Spirit and for Guarantee In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14) for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth, (Ephesians 5:9) |
| Galatians | Fruits of the Spirit But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23) |
Pauline letters never mention Holy Spirit as the only Teacher. It mentions gifts of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit as a Guarantee, and fruits of the Holy Spirit. Any overlaps are also not mentioned.
The Holy Spirit in Pauline letters also creates a paradox since faith itself is a gift (I Corinthians 12:4-11). Did Holy Spirit was given when someone had faith (or) the gift of faith was given by the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit according to non-Pauline letters
Let’s explore the Holy Spirit mentioned in non-Pauline letters.
Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey God
Below is a tabulation of all non-Pauline letters for when the Holy Spirit is given
| Book | Verse |
|---|---|
| Acts | Holy Spirit given to those who obey God And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32) |
| 1 John | Keeping commandments is required for God to abide in us Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. (I John 3:24) |
| John | Obedience to commandments leads to receiving the Spirit of truth “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:15-17) |
| Hebrews | Obedience is required for salvation (implied connection to the Spirit) And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9) |
| James | Spirit dwells in those not in enmity with God (implied obedience) Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? (James 4:4-5) |
All of non-Pauline letters show that Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey Christ .
We must be born of the Spirit
The non-Pauline letters say that those who are born of God come from His seed.
| Book | Verse |
|---|---|
| John | Requirement to see Kingdom of Heaven Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3) |
| I John | Does not Sin and Cannot Sin, because of God’s seed in us Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. (I John 3:9) |
| I John | Overcomes the word For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. (I John 5:4) |
| I John | Keeps himself from Sin We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. (I John 5:18) |
| I Peter | Born again through God’s seed having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, (I Peter 1:23) |
We see a consistent theme in all non-Pauline letters. Because of God’s seed in them, they cannot sin and are able to overcome the world. Only these people will see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Holy Spirit is our only Teacher, for Prophecy
The Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey Christ and His teachings, and often associated with teaching and bringing into remembrance Christ’s words, for Prophecy, testifying about Christ and convicting the world.
| Book | Verse |
|---|---|
| I John | Holy Spirit is our only Teacher But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. … But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (I John 2:20; 27) |
| John | Holy Spirit is our Teacher But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26) |
| John | Holy Spirit Convicts the Word And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John 16:8-11) |
| John | Holy Spirit will tell us things to come However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13) |
| II Peter | Prophecy is when moved by Holy Spirit knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (II Peter 1:20-21) |
Non-Pauline letters never mention gifts of the Holy Spirit (except prophecy), being a seal or guarantee or fruits of the Holy Spirit. Any overlaps are also not mentioned.
Our Role vs the role of Holy Spirit in Sanctification
| Pauline Letters (Responsibility of Holy Spirit) | Non Pauline Letters (Our Responsibility) |
|---|---|
| Sanctification as a process of being set apart and made holy through the Holy Spirit. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; … Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit. (I Thessalonians 4:3; 8) | Sanctification is call to be holy and obedient. as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:14-16) |
| Sanctification is by Holy Spirit for Salvation But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, (II Thessalonians 2:13) | Sanctification is by Obedience for Salvation Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:21-22) |
| Sanctification is the transformation by the the Holy Spirit to become Christ-like But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. (II Corinthians 3:18) | Sanctification is to purify ourselves so that we can be Christ-like Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. (I John 3:2-3) |
The Holy Spirit mentioned in Pauline letters has a significant responsibility in the process of sanctification to make a believer Christ-like for the purpose of Salvation. However, in non-Pauline letters, it is we who must be holy and obedient, to purify ourselves and become Christ-like for us to be saved.
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Conclusion
There are two Spirits mentioned in the New Testament.
Holy Spirit mentioned in Pauline letters was received when someone first believes in Christ. They are adopted as children of God by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit then gives gifts, sealed as a guarantee for salvation and makes the believer bear fruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit sanctifies believers to become Christ-like for Salvation.
In non-Pauline letters, Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey Christ. They must be born of the Spirit and they have God’s seed in them. Because of this, they cannot sin and overcome the world. For them, Holy Spirit is the only Teacher. There are no gifts of the Holy Spirit or fruits of the Spirit for them. We must be holy, obedient, and purify ourselves to become Christ-like for us to be saved.
Which Spirit is the true Holy Spirit? Which Spirit do you have? Do not be deceived. Test every spirit.
