The Holy Spirit
The early Church was
the community of the people who had been given the Holy Spirit, God's gift to
the new Israel. Jesus had promised this gift would be given to his followers
after he had left them in the body. The Jews, from their Scriptures, knew how
God had give gift of his holy power to his prophets, and this idea was not new.
The new emphasis which Paul brought into his teaching about the work the Holy
Spirit was that in the power of the Spirit, men not only spoke ecstatic praise
to God, prophesied and healed the sick, but were able to live in a new
practical relationship of love with one another and God, Galatians
4:6. I Corinthians 12, 13, 14, deals fully with the gifts of the
Spirit in day-to-day living, as does Galatians
5:22-26.
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