The Early Church On the Holy Spirit
The following quotes were taken from the Early Church Fathers and represent all of the relevant orthodox writings on the subject of the Holy Spirit for the first 220 years of church history (to my knowledge).
"Seeing that the divine fruits of righteousness abound among you, I rejoice exceedingly and above measure in your happy and honored spirits. For you have received the engrafted spiritual gift with such effect." -Barnabas, AD 70-100
The Epistle of Barnabas is a late first century document that the early church believed was written by the Barnabas we read about it Acts. The epistle was thought to be scripture by some early Christians and included in the Codex Sinaiticus. It was widely circulated and read in the early church.
The author of the Epistle of Barnabas believed that the Holy Spirit had a direct affect on Christians lives, and that the Spirit had been "engrafted" on their own spirits.
"Let everyone be subject to his neighbor, according to the special gift bestowed upon him…. For ye will give us great joy and gladness, if ye render obedience unto the things written by us through the Holy Spirit, and root out the unrighteous anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty which we have made for peace and concord in this letter." -Clement of Rome, AD 95
Clement of Rome was among the Roman church's first century bishops. It's thought that he was the companion of Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:3. He wrote an epistle to the leadership of the Philippian church in AD 95.
Clement wrote in the last decade of the first century that Christians were still being given spiritual gifts. He also wrote that his epistle was inspired by the Holy Spirit. He does not seem to have meant that his epistle was scripture, but merely that the Spirit guided his writing. This suggests that the early church believed the Holy Spirit actively guiding Christian communication.
"If you are patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but dwelling in a broad region, he will rejoice and be glad... but if any outburst of anger takes place, immediately the Holy Spirit, who is sensitive, is constricted. For he does not have a pure place, and He seeks to depart. For he is choked by the vile spirit." -Hermas, AD 90-170
Hermas authored a famous work entitled 'The Shephard.' It was regarded as scripture by some early Christians and included in the Codex Sinaiticus. The author was either the man mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:14 or the brother of Pius I of Rome.
Hermas, and the huge portion of the early church that was familiar with his work, believed the Holy Spirit was actively dwelling within every Christian exerting influence on their behavior. When the Christian sinned, or opened the door to the influence of evil spirits in any way, the Holy Spirit's ability to influence that Christian was restricted.
"Do no crush the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. Otherwise, He may entreat God against you and withdraw from you." -Shephard of Hermas, AD 150
Hermas believed the Holy Spirit played an active role in God’s relationship with the average Christian, and that his withdrawal was possible if a Christian continued to restrict his influence.
"Daily some are becoming disciples in the name of Christ... who are also receiving gifts, each as he is worth. These are illumined through the name of Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of council, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another of fear of God." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Justin Martyr was a philosopher who converted to Christianity. He was born in AD 100 and was martyred in Rome in AD 165.
Even in the late second century, Justin witnessed many new converts to Christianity receiving spiritual gifts, presumably from the Holy Spirit, so that they could contribute to the church in some capacity. These gifts included many of those mentioned in the New Testament: wisdom, strength, healing, prophesy, teaching, and fear.
"It was prophesied that, after the ascent of Christ into heaven, He would deliver us from error and give us gifts.... Accordingly, we... have received gifts from Christ." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Justin regarded the gifts he saw showered on new second century Christians as the necessary fulfillment of prophesy.
"The prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you should understand that [the gifts] formally among your nation have been transferred to us." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Justin believed that the spiritual gifts had been lost among the Jews and transferred to the gentile nations who hadn't rejected Christ.
"It was necessary that such gifts should cease from you [Jews] and... would again, as had been predicted, become gifts which, from the grace of His Spirit's power, He would impart to those who believe on Him, according as He deems each man worthy of it... Now, it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Interestingly, Justin didn't seem to believe that gifts were necessarily transferred from an apostle to a new convert. This would be impossible in the late second century because the last apostle, John, died around AD 100.
"And so far are they [heretical teachers who claim to do miracles] from being able to raise the dead, that they do not even believe this can possibly be done. However, the Lord raised the dead, and the apostles did so by means of prayer, and this has been frequently done in the brotherhood on account of some necessity. When the entire church in that particular locality entreated God with much fasting and prayer, the spirit of the dead man has returned, and he has been bestowed in answer to the prayers of the saints." -Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus was the bishop of Lyons, France in the second century. He was influenced by Polycarp.
Irenaeus believed that God, and his Holy Spirit, were active in the late second century. He supported a continuity between the activities of Jesus, the apostles, and the rest of the church. Irenaeus also didn't link the power of God to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He believed God's power could be called upon by average Christians united in prayer and fasting.
"So now let us, receiving the Spirit, walk in newness of life, obeying God. Inasmuch, therefore, as without the Spirit of God we cannot be saved, the apostle exhorts us through faith and chaste conversation to preserve the Spirit of God." -Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus connected the Holy Spirit with conversion, and he claimed the Holy Spirit needed to be preserved within us. This doesn't connect well with the idea that the Holy Spirit only communicates with us via the Bible, because the Bible begins "its" work prior to conversion and salvation.
"Those who are truly his disciples, receiving grace from him... perform [works] in His name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come. They see visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands on them, and the sick are made whole... It is not possible to name the number of gifts which the church throughout the whole earth has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ... and which she exerts every day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them... Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations, incantations, or any other wicked curious art.... Calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has worked miracles for the benefit of mankind, and not to lead them into error." -Irenaeus, AD 180
The work of the Holy Spirit in this passage is clearly connected with active working gifts, and no mention of the Bible is made.
"'Wretched men, indeed!' [the Montanists] They wish to be pseudo-prophets, for they exclude the gift of prophesy from the church.... They hold themselves aloof from the communion of the brethren. We must conclude, moreover, that these men cannot admit the apostle Paul, either. For, in his letter to the Corinthians, he speaks expressly of prophetic gifts. And he recognizes men and women prophesying." -Irenaeus, AD 180
The Montanists were those involved in the "New Prophesy" movement of the second century. They claimed to be receiving fresh revelations from God. Irenaeus could have signaled against them by saying that the Holy Spirit only worked through the Bible in their time, but he chose to counter with assertions that prophesy also existed in the orthodox churches.
"The apostle declares... those persons 'perfect' who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of God do speak in all languages, as he himself also used to speak. In like manner, we also hear many brethren in the church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men." -Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus assumed a scriptural connection between the Spirit being received by the believer, gifts of the Spirit that manifest in the Christian life, and salvation. The Spirit did not retire after the revelation of the Bible, he remained active in the church.
"The breath of life, which also rendered man an animated being, is one thing, and the life-giving Spirit is another." Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus seems to have implied a connection between the indwelling "breath of life" that animates our bodies and the Holy Spirit which indwells us and gives us spiritual life.
"'The manifestation of the Spirit is given for our profit. To one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit. To another, the word of knowledge.'... Such being the case, the prophets are perfect in prophesy; the righteous, in righteousness; the martyrs, in confession; and others, in preaching.... Each has his own proper gift of God - one in one way, another in another. But the apostles were perfected in all." -Clement of Alexandria, AD 195
The gifts of the Spirit are not all miraculous, and they were assumed to be operating in AD 195 (we can assume that by then all the men the apostles laid hands on were dead). Clement mentioned knowledge, righteousness, martyrdom, confession, and preaching as spiritual gifts along side prophesy. Being a martyr doesn't require supernatural power, but it does seem to imply a specific gift from the Holy Spirit.
"What is nobler than to tread underfoot the gods of the nations, to exorcise evil spirits, to perform cures, to seek divine revelations, and to live to God? These are the pleasures - these are the spectacles - that befit Christian men." -Tertullian, AD 197
Tertullian's stirring call to become a Christian man and drive out evil spirits and false gods is inspiring. It also suggests that the world was still "enchanted" in AD 197. Spiritual forces were still at work. The world had not become a cold dead material thing devoid of God's power. God's work had not been reduced to the reading of a book.
"[If the church were in error] so many thousands were wrongly baptized, so many works of faith wrongly wrought; so many miraculous gifts and so many spiritual endowments were wrongly set in operation." -Tertullian, AD 197
Tertullian implied a spiritual distinction between "miraculous gifts" and "spiritual endowments." Even if miracles have ceased, the work of the Holy Spirit has not ceased, and he continues to endow people with gifts and assistance.
"When you ascend from that most sacred bath of your new birth and spread your hands for the first time in the house of your mother, together with your brethren, ask from the Father, ask from the Lord, that His own specialties of grace and distributions of gifts may be supplied to you." -Tertullian, AD 198
God grants the baptized Christian a measure of his gifts. Tertullian could have said: "Go read your Bible If you want the Holy Spirit," but he counseled a prayerful request.
"Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his God, some prophets - such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God - such as have both predicted things to come and have made manifest the secrets of the heart. Let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer - only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy (that is, in a rapture) whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him. Let him show to me also that any woman of boastful tongue in his community has ever prophesied from among those special 'holy sisters' of his. Now, all these signs are forthcoming from my side without difficulty." -Tertullian, AD 207
Tertullian had some involvement with the Montanist movement, and he thus requested signs from his opponents to counter his own claims of having contact with the Spiri.
"The apostle most assuredly foretold that there would be spiritual gifts in the church." -Tertullian, AD 207
Tertullian assumed that the gifts Paul talked about would continue into his era.
"By whom has Christ ever been explored without the Holy Spirit? By whom has the Holy Spirit ever been attained without the mysterious gift of faith?" -Tertullian, AD 210
For Tertullian, even faith was a gift from God. It wasn't possible to explore God without the Holy Spirit. A person could not simply use the Bible to attain faith and come to a knowledge of God. It was a cooperative effort.
"The apostles left the grounds of their statements to be examined into by those who would deserve the excellent gifts of the Spirit - and who, particularly by means of the Holy Spirit Himself - would obtain the gift of language, wisdom, and knowledge." -Origin, AD 225
Origin wrote that scripture should be interpreted primarily by those with the gift to understand it given by the Holy Spirit. If he was right, we definitely still need gifts today.
"The spiritual meaning that the law conveys is not known by all - but only to those on whom the grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in the word of wisdom and knowledge." -Origin, AD 225
The Holy Spirit must bestow a certain measure of grace on people before they can understand God's word.
"When a gift (the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, or any other gift that has been given) has been bestowed upon a man either by baptism or by the grace of the Spirit, but has not been rightly used... the gift of the Spirit will certainly be withdrawn from his soul." -Origin, AD 225
The Spirit gives gifts and indwells Christian souls. The loss of salvation or spiritual power results from the withdrawal of the Spirit from within us.
"Being purified by lengthened abstinence and filled with holy and religious training, through these means they assume a portion of divinity and earn grace of prophesy and other divine gifts." -Origin, AD 225
Spiritual aestheticism is a path to greater communion with the Spirit.
"We must understand, therefore, that as the Son (who alone knows the Father) reveals Him to whom He wills, so the Holy Spirit (who alone searches the deep things of God) reveals God to whom He wills. 'For the Spirit blows where He wills.'" -Origin, AD 225
Coming to God isn't just the process of picking up a Bible, using human reason, and becoming a Christian via a five step program. There's a mystical interplay between the Spirit and the individual it draws to God.
"Until the coming of the Holy Spirit it says the apostles could not yet receive those things that the Savior wished to teach them. For, pouring Himself into their souls, He might enlighten them regarding the nature and faith of the Trinity." -Origin, AD 225
If even the apostles needed enlightenment from the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit, then how much more do we need it?
"Indeed, some of our predecessors have observed that in the New Testament, whenever the Spirit is named without that adjunct that denotes quality, the Holy Spirit is to be understood. For example, this is so in the expression, 'Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace.'" - Origin, AD 225
The Spirit cooperates with us to produce virtues.
"At the time of the Flood, when all persons had corrupted their way before God, it is recorded that God spoke in this manner, concerning undeserving men and sinners: 'My Spirit will not abide with those men forever, because they are flesh.' By this it is clearly shown that the Spirit of God is taken away from all who are unworthy." -Origin, AD 225
The Holy Spirit works in the world. Spiritual powers are influencing the social, cultural, and spiritual world we experience around us. The world isn't just a material object created by a deistic God who dropped the Bible and left. We're as bad as the pre-flood population if that has happened (perhaps it has and we're headed for disaster).
"I am of the opinion that every rational creature - without any distinction - receives a share of [the Holy Spirit] in the same way as of the Wisdom and of the Word of God. I observe, however, that the chief coming of the Holy Spirit is declared to men after the ascension of Christ to heaven - rather than before His coming into the world. Before that, the gift of the Holy Spirit was conferred upon the prophets alone and upon a few individuals." -Origin, AD 225
Some portion of Holy Spirit gifts are given to all men, but they're was a specific miraculous share that was present in the early church. The Holy Spirit is at work everywhere in our world.
"We must know that the Paraclete [John 14:16] is the Holy Spirit, who teaches truths that cannot be uttered in words." -Origin, AD 225
The Holy Spirit helps us come to a knowledge of the truth.
"The Holy Spirit, who is called the Paraclete, is called this because of his work of consolation. For paraclesis is called in Latin consolatio. For if anyone has deserved to participate in the Holy Spirit by the knowledge of his inexpressible mysteries, he undoubtedly obtains comfort and joy of heart." - Origin, AD 225
"In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the apostles' hands in baptism. From which we learn that the person of the Holy Spirit was of such authority and dignity that saving baptism was not complete except by the authority of the most excellent Trinity of them all." -Origin, AD 225
Baptism is a dead act without the presence of the Holy Spirit to sanctify and give it meaning. Our salvation is more than a rational human action.
"I consider that the Holy Spirit supplies the material of the gifts (which come from God) to those who... are called saints. As a result, the said substance of the gifts is made powerful by God, is ministered by Christ, and owes its actual existence in men to the Holy Spirit. I am led to this view of the charismata by the words of Paul, which he writes somewhere, 'There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.'" -Origin, AD 228
The "charismata" are the gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit on saints (they belong to every saint, but they can also be miraculous): "The Greek term charisma denotes any good gift that flows from God's benevolent love (charis) unto man; any Divine grace or favour, ranging from redemption and life eternal to comfort in communing with brethren in the Faith (Romans 5:15, 16; 6:23; 11:29). The term has, however, a narrower meaning: the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his task in the Church: "Every one hath his proper gift [charisma] from God; one after this manner, and another after that" (1 Corinthians 7:7 etc.). Lastly, in its narrowest sense, charisma is the theological term for denoting extraordinary graces given to individual Christians for the good of others. These, or most of these, are enumerated by St. Paul (1 Corinthians 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31), and form the subject-matter of the present article. They are: "The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the grace of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, interpretation of speeches" (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). To these are added the charismata of apostles, prophets, doctors, helps, governments (ibid., 28)."
"There are some passages in which the Spirit is placed above Christ... In the Gospel, Christ declares that there is forgiveness for the sin committed against Himself, but that for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit there is no forgiveness - either in this age or in the age to come. What is the reason for this?... Is it not that... only those persons who have been found worthy of it have part in the Holy Spirit. As a result, there appropriately cannot be any forgiveness for those who fall away into evil - despite such a great and powerful co-operation. For they defeat the counsels of the Spirit who is in them." -Origen, AD 228
The Spirit is inside every Christian, and the Spirit is working in cooperation with Christians. The Spirit isn't just a book to be consumed and memorized, but a being seeking a relationship.
"The Holy Spirit Himself receives instruction. This is clear from what is said about the Paraclete and the Holy Spirit: 'He will take of mine and will declare it to you.'" -Origin, AD 228
"In the Spirit, there are different kinds of ministrations. For, at times, there is a different order of occasions. Yet, on this account, He who discharges these offices is not different.... He is therefore one and the same Spirit who was in the prophets and in the apostles. The only difference is that as to the former, He was in them occasionally; in the latter, he was in them always." -Novatian, AD 235
The Spirit was always present with the apostles, but he was only often within the prophets (so claims Novation).
“This is He who places prophets in the church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healing, does wonderful works, offers discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of the charismata.” -Novation, AD 235
Novation claimed the Holy Spirit was responsible for many non-miraculous activities in the church, including: discrimination of spirit, government, and instructing teachers. We should expect that these works have continued into modern times. Why would they have ceased? Where is the biblical evidence that non-miraculous assistance has ceased?
"There are still preserved among Christians traces of that Holy Spirit that appeared in the form of a dove. They expel evil spirits, perform many cures, and foresee certain events." -Origin, AD 248
Origin wrote that there were some miraculous gifts still floating around a century and a half after the last apostle died.
"God is perpetually bestowing His own Spirit on those who are capable of receiving Him. However, it is not by way of division and separation that He dwells in the deserving. Nor, in our opinion, is the Spirit a 'body,' any more than fire is a 'body?'" -Origin, AD 248
Why would God have ceased bestowing his Spirit on us simply because the Bible was completed? Origin believed God still gave Christians his Spirit even after the Bible had been finished for a century and a half.
“The name of Jesus can still remove distractions from the minds of men, expel demons, and also take away diseases. Furthermore, it produces a marvelous meekness of spirit and a complete change of character.” -Origin, AD 248
The post-Bible work of God is not entirely rationalistic. There are mystical powers at work in the world, Satan is moving men's minds, and we should beware of reducing the world to a cold dead object for our manipulation.
"The Jews no longer have prophets or miracles. Yet, traces of those things are still found among Christians to a considerable extent. Some of these miracles are more remarkable than any that existed among the Jews. I have witnessed these myself." -Origin, AD 248
The Jews lost the Spirit of God, and they lost the signs that went with it. The Jews are no longer a chosen people, a blessed people, or even a righteous people. The Spirit has left them.
"Down to the present time, those whom God wills are healed in His name. This fact demonstrates the nobility of the work of Jesus." -Origin, AD 248
"Jesus says that even some who lead wicked lives will perform miracles in the name of Jesus and expel demons out of men…. We see, then that it is possible for someone who makes use of His name, and who is moved upon by some power in an unknown way, to make the pretense that he is the Christ and to seem to perform miracles like those of Jesus. Others, through his name, would perform works resembling those of His genuine disciples." -Origin, AD 248
How does this operate? We cannot know, but our lack of understanding doesn't mean it can't happen.
"We can clearly show a countless multitude of Greeks and barbarians who acknowledge the existence of Jesus. And some give evidence of their having received through their faith a marvelous power by the cures they perform… I, too, have seen persons freed from grievous calamities, from distractions of mind, from madness, and countless other ills that could not be cured by either men nor devils." -Origin, AD 248
"Not a few cures are brought about in the name of Jesus, and certain other manifestations of no small significance have taken place." -Origin, AD 248
“Paul, too, in the list of charismata bestowed by God, placed first ‘the word of wisdom.’ Secondly, as being inferior to it, there is ‘the word of knowledge.’ Thirdly, and lower down, there is ‘faith.’ And because he regarded ‘the word’ as higher than miraculous powers, he for that reason placed workings of miracles and gifts of healing in a lower place than the gifts of the word.” -Origin, AD 248
"Divine wisdom… is the first of the so-called charismata of God. The second after it – in the estimation of those who know how to distinguish such things accurately – is what is called knowledge. And the third is faith – seeing that even the more simple class of men adhere to the service of God. Therefore, Paul says, 'To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit.' Therefore, it is no ordinary individuals who you will find to have participated in the divine wisdom. Rather, it is the most excellent and distinguished among those who have given their adherence to Christianity." -Origin, AD 248
The border between miraculous and providential becomes confused at the point of wisdom. Is this a miraculous measure of wisdom or simply providentially developed wisdom? Maybe the categories themselves represent a false dichotomy.
"It is not the part of a divine spirit to drive the prophetess into such a state of ecstasy and madness that she loses control of herself. For he who is under the influence of the Divine Spirit would be the first to receive the beneficial effects…. Moreover, when a person is in close contact with the Deity, it should be the time of clearest perception." -Origin, AD 248
Origin's description of a prophetess appears to be similar to what was experienced by the possessed girls of the Oracle of Delphi (the movie 300 portrays this). It is from records like this, no doubt, that the modern charismatic movement derives its practices.
"The Holy Spirit gave signs of His presence at the beginning of Christ’s ministry. And after His ascension, He gave still more. But since that time, these signs have diminished, although there are still traces of His presence in a few who have had their souls purified by the Gospel, and their actions regulated by its influence." -Origin, AD 248
By Origin's time, the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit had begun to diminish, but they'd always served as a sign that the Holy Spirit was at work in his church, and we should remember them as representing what he's doing in us... even now.
"Seeing that the divine fruits of righteousness abound among you, I rejoice exceedingly and above measure in your happy and honored spirits. For you have received the engrafted spiritual gift with such effect." -Barnabas, AD 70-100
The Epistle of Barnabas is a late first century document that the early church believed was written by the Barnabas we read about it Acts. The epistle was thought to be scripture by some early Christians and included in the Codex Sinaiticus. It was widely circulated and read in the early church.
The author of the Epistle of Barnabas believed that the Holy Spirit had a direct affect on Christians lives, and that the Spirit had been "engrafted" on their own spirits.
"Let everyone be subject to his neighbor, according to the special gift bestowed upon him…. For ye will give us great joy and gladness, if ye render obedience unto the things written by us through the Holy Spirit, and root out the unrighteous anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty which we have made for peace and concord in this letter." -Clement of Rome, AD 95
Clement of Rome was among the Roman church's first century bishops. It's thought that he was the companion of Paul mentioned in Philippians 4:3. He wrote an epistle to the leadership of the Philippian church in AD 95.
Clement wrote in the last decade of the first century that Christians were still being given spiritual gifts. He also wrote that his epistle was inspired by the Holy Spirit. He does not seem to have meant that his epistle was scripture, but merely that the Spirit guided his writing. This suggests that the early church believed the Holy Spirit actively guiding Christian communication.
"If you are patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not be darkened by any evil spirit, but dwelling in a broad region, he will rejoice and be glad... but if any outburst of anger takes place, immediately the Holy Spirit, who is sensitive, is constricted. For he does not have a pure place, and He seeks to depart. For he is choked by the vile spirit." -Hermas, AD 90-170
Hermas authored a famous work entitled 'The Shephard.' It was regarded as scripture by some early Christians and included in the Codex Sinaiticus. The author was either the man mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:14 or the brother of Pius I of Rome.
Hermas, and the huge portion of the early church that was familiar with his work, believed the Holy Spirit was actively dwelling within every Christian exerting influence on their behavior. When the Christian sinned, or opened the door to the influence of evil spirits in any way, the Holy Spirit's ability to influence that Christian was restricted.
"Do no crush the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. Otherwise, He may entreat God against you and withdraw from you." -Shephard of Hermas, AD 150
Hermas believed the Holy Spirit played an active role in God’s relationship with the average Christian, and that his withdrawal was possible if a Christian continued to restrict his influence.
"Daily some are becoming disciples in the name of Christ... who are also receiving gifts, each as he is worth. These are illumined through the name of Christ. For one receives the spirit of understanding, another of council, another of strength, another of healing, another of foreknowledge, another of teaching, and another of fear of God." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Justin Martyr was a philosopher who converted to Christianity. He was born in AD 100 and was martyred in Rome in AD 165.
Even in the late second century, Justin witnessed many new converts to Christianity receiving spiritual gifts, presumably from the Holy Spirit, so that they could contribute to the church in some capacity. These gifts included many of those mentioned in the New Testament: wisdom, strength, healing, prophesy, teaching, and fear.
"It was prophesied that, after the ascent of Christ into heaven, He would deliver us from error and give us gifts.... Accordingly, we... have received gifts from Christ." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Justin regarded the gifts he saw showered on new second century Christians as the necessary fulfillment of prophesy.
"The prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you should understand that [the gifts] formally among your nation have been transferred to us." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Justin believed that the spiritual gifts had been lost among the Jews and transferred to the gentile nations who hadn't rejected Christ.
"It was necessary that such gifts should cease from you [Jews] and... would again, as had been predicted, become gifts which, from the grace of His Spirit's power, He would impart to those who believe on Him, according as He deems each man worthy of it... Now, it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God." -Justin Martyr, AD 160
Interestingly, Justin didn't seem to believe that gifts were necessarily transferred from an apostle to a new convert. This would be impossible in the late second century because the last apostle, John, died around AD 100.
"And so far are they [heretical teachers who claim to do miracles] from being able to raise the dead, that they do not even believe this can possibly be done. However, the Lord raised the dead, and the apostles did so by means of prayer, and this has been frequently done in the brotherhood on account of some necessity. When the entire church in that particular locality entreated God with much fasting and prayer, the spirit of the dead man has returned, and he has been bestowed in answer to the prayers of the saints." -Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus was the bishop of Lyons, France in the second century. He was influenced by Polycarp.
Irenaeus believed that God, and his Holy Spirit, were active in the late second century. He supported a continuity between the activities of Jesus, the apostles, and the rest of the church. Irenaeus also didn't link the power of God to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He believed God's power could be called upon by average Christians united in prayer and fasting.
"So now let us, receiving the Spirit, walk in newness of life, obeying God. Inasmuch, therefore, as without the Spirit of God we cannot be saved, the apostle exhorts us through faith and chaste conversation to preserve the Spirit of God." -Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus connected the Holy Spirit with conversion, and he claimed the Holy Spirit needed to be preserved within us. This doesn't connect well with the idea that the Holy Spirit only communicates with us via the Bible, because the Bible begins "its" work prior to conversion and salvation.
"Those who are truly his disciples, receiving grace from him... perform [works] in His name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come. They see visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands on them, and the sick are made whole... It is not possible to name the number of gifts which the church throughout the whole earth has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ... and which she exerts every day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them... Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations, incantations, or any other wicked curious art.... Calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has worked miracles for the benefit of mankind, and not to lead them into error." -Irenaeus, AD 180
The work of the Holy Spirit in this passage is clearly connected with active working gifts, and no mention of the Bible is made.
"'Wretched men, indeed!' [the Montanists] They wish to be pseudo-prophets, for they exclude the gift of prophesy from the church.... They hold themselves aloof from the communion of the brethren. We must conclude, moreover, that these men cannot admit the apostle Paul, either. For, in his letter to the Corinthians, he speaks expressly of prophetic gifts. And he recognizes men and women prophesying." -Irenaeus, AD 180
The Montanists were those involved in the "New Prophesy" movement of the second century. They claimed to be receiving fresh revelations from God. Irenaeus could have signaled against them by saying that the Holy Spirit only worked through the Bible in their time, but he chose to counter with assertions that prophesy also existed in the orthodox churches.
"The apostle declares... those persons 'perfect' who have received the Spirit of God, and who through the Spirit of God do speak in all languages, as he himself also used to speak. In like manner, we also hear many brethren in the church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men." -Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus assumed a scriptural connection between the Spirit being received by the believer, gifts of the Spirit that manifest in the Christian life, and salvation. The Spirit did not retire after the revelation of the Bible, he remained active in the church.
"The breath of life, which also rendered man an animated being, is one thing, and the life-giving Spirit is another." Irenaeus, AD 180
Irenaeus seems to have implied a connection between the indwelling "breath of life" that animates our bodies and the Holy Spirit which indwells us and gives us spiritual life.
"'The manifestation of the Spirit is given for our profit. To one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit. To another, the word of knowledge.'... Such being the case, the prophets are perfect in prophesy; the righteous, in righteousness; the martyrs, in confession; and others, in preaching.... Each has his own proper gift of God - one in one way, another in another. But the apostles were perfected in all." -Clement of Alexandria, AD 195
The gifts of the Spirit are not all miraculous, and they were assumed to be operating in AD 195 (we can assume that by then all the men the apostles laid hands on were dead). Clement mentioned knowledge, righteousness, martyrdom, confession, and preaching as spiritual gifts along side prophesy. Being a martyr doesn't require supernatural power, but it does seem to imply a specific gift from the Holy Spirit.
"What is nobler than to tread underfoot the gods of the nations, to exorcise evil spirits, to perform cures, to seek divine revelations, and to live to God? These are the pleasures - these are the spectacles - that befit Christian men." -Tertullian, AD 197
Tertullian's stirring call to become a Christian man and drive out evil spirits and false gods is inspiring. It also suggests that the world was still "enchanted" in AD 197. Spiritual forces were still at work. The world had not become a cold dead material thing devoid of God's power. God's work had not been reduced to the reading of a book.
"[If the church were in error] so many thousands were wrongly baptized, so many works of faith wrongly wrought; so many miraculous gifts and so many spiritual endowments were wrongly set in operation." -Tertullian, AD 197
Tertullian implied a spiritual distinction between "miraculous gifts" and "spiritual endowments." Even if miracles have ceased, the work of the Holy Spirit has not ceased, and he continues to endow people with gifts and assistance.
"When you ascend from that most sacred bath of your new birth and spread your hands for the first time in the house of your mother, together with your brethren, ask from the Father, ask from the Lord, that His own specialties of grace and distributions of gifts may be supplied to you." -Tertullian, AD 198
God grants the baptized Christian a measure of his gifts. Tertullian could have said: "Go read your Bible If you want the Holy Spirit," but he counseled a prayerful request.
"Let Marcion then exhibit, as gifts of his God, some prophets - such as have not spoken by human sense, but with the Spirit of God - such as have both predicted things to come and have made manifest the secrets of the heart. Let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer - only let it be by the Spirit, in an ecstasy (that is, in a rapture) whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him. Let him show to me also that any woman of boastful tongue in his community has ever prophesied from among those special 'holy sisters' of his. Now, all these signs are forthcoming from my side without difficulty." -Tertullian, AD 207
Tertullian had some involvement with the Montanist movement, and he thus requested signs from his opponents to counter his own claims of having contact with the Spiri.
"The apostle most assuredly foretold that there would be spiritual gifts in the church." -Tertullian, AD 207
Tertullian assumed that the gifts Paul talked about would continue into his era.
"By whom has Christ ever been explored without the Holy Spirit? By whom has the Holy Spirit ever been attained without the mysterious gift of faith?" -Tertullian, AD 210
For Tertullian, even faith was a gift from God. It wasn't possible to explore God without the Holy Spirit. A person could not simply use the Bible to attain faith and come to a knowledge of God. It was a cooperative effort.
"The apostles left the grounds of their statements to be examined into by those who would deserve the excellent gifts of the Spirit - and who, particularly by means of the Holy Spirit Himself - would obtain the gift of language, wisdom, and knowledge." -Origin, AD 225
Origin wrote that scripture should be interpreted primarily by those with the gift to understand it given by the Holy Spirit. If he was right, we definitely still need gifts today.
"The spiritual meaning that the law conveys is not known by all - but only to those on whom the grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in the word of wisdom and knowledge." -Origin, AD 225
The Holy Spirit must bestow a certain measure of grace on people before they can understand God's word.
"When a gift (the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, or any other gift that has been given) has been bestowed upon a man either by baptism or by the grace of the Spirit, but has not been rightly used... the gift of the Spirit will certainly be withdrawn from his soul." -Origin, AD 225
The Spirit gives gifts and indwells Christian souls. The loss of salvation or spiritual power results from the withdrawal of the Spirit from within us.
"Being purified by lengthened abstinence and filled with holy and religious training, through these means they assume a portion of divinity and earn grace of prophesy and other divine gifts." -Origin, AD 225
Spiritual aestheticism is a path to greater communion with the Spirit.
"We must understand, therefore, that as the Son (who alone knows the Father) reveals Him to whom He wills, so the Holy Spirit (who alone searches the deep things of God) reveals God to whom He wills. 'For the Spirit blows where He wills.'" -Origin, AD 225
Coming to God isn't just the process of picking up a Bible, using human reason, and becoming a Christian via a five step program. There's a mystical interplay between the Spirit and the individual it draws to God.
"Until the coming of the Holy Spirit it says the apostles could not yet receive those things that the Savior wished to teach them. For, pouring Himself into their souls, He might enlighten them regarding the nature and faith of the Trinity." -Origin, AD 225
If even the apostles needed enlightenment from the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit, then how much more do we need it?
"Indeed, some of our predecessors have observed that in the New Testament, whenever the Spirit is named without that adjunct that denotes quality, the Holy Spirit is to be understood. For example, this is so in the expression, 'Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace.'" - Origin, AD 225
The Spirit cooperates with us to produce virtues.
"At the time of the Flood, when all persons had corrupted their way before God, it is recorded that God spoke in this manner, concerning undeserving men and sinners: 'My Spirit will not abide with those men forever, because they are flesh.' By this it is clearly shown that the Spirit of God is taken away from all who are unworthy." -Origin, AD 225
The Holy Spirit works in the world. Spiritual powers are influencing the social, cultural, and spiritual world we experience around us. The world isn't just a material object created by a deistic God who dropped the Bible and left. We're as bad as the pre-flood population if that has happened (perhaps it has and we're headed for disaster).
"I am of the opinion that every rational creature - without any distinction - receives a share of [the Holy Spirit] in the same way as of the Wisdom and of the Word of God. I observe, however, that the chief coming of the Holy Spirit is declared to men after the ascension of Christ to heaven - rather than before His coming into the world. Before that, the gift of the Holy Spirit was conferred upon the prophets alone and upon a few individuals." -Origin, AD 225
Some portion of Holy Spirit gifts are given to all men, but they're was a specific miraculous share that was present in the early church. The Holy Spirit is at work everywhere in our world.
"We must know that the Paraclete [John 14:16] is the Holy Spirit, who teaches truths that cannot be uttered in words." -Origin, AD 225
The Holy Spirit helps us come to a knowledge of the truth.
"The Holy Spirit, who is called the Paraclete, is called this because of his work of consolation. For paraclesis is called in Latin consolatio. For if anyone has deserved to participate in the Holy Spirit by the knowledge of his inexpressible mysteries, he undoubtedly obtains comfort and joy of heart." - Origin, AD 225
"In the Acts of the Apostles, the Holy Spirit was given by the imposition of the apostles' hands in baptism. From which we learn that the person of the Holy Spirit was of such authority and dignity that saving baptism was not complete except by the authority of the most excellent Trinity of them all." -Origin, AD 225
Baptism is a dead act without the presence of the Holy Spirit to sanctify and give it meaning. Our salvation is more than a rational human action.
"I consider that the Holy Spirit supplies the material of the gifts (which come from God) to those who... are called saints. As a result, the said substance of the gifts is made powerful by God, is ministered by Christ, and owes its actual existence in men to the Holy Spirit. I am led to this view of the charismata by the words of Paul, which he writes somewhere, 'There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.'" -Origin, AD 228
The "charismata" are the gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit on saints (they belong to every saint, but they can also be miraculous): "The Greek term charisma denotes any good gift that flows from God's benevolent love (charis) unto man; any Divine grace or favour, ranging from redemption and life eternal to comfort in communing with brethren in the Faith (Romans 5:15, 16; 6:23; 11:29). The term has, however, a narrower meaning: the spiritual graces and qualifications granted to every Christian to perform his task in the Church: "Every one hath his proper gift [charisma] from God; one after this manner, and another after that" (1 Corinthians 7:7 etc.). Lastly, in its narrowest sense, charisma is the theological term for denoting extraordinary graces given to individual Christians for the good of others. These, or most of these, are enumerated by St. Paul (1 Corinthians 12:4, 9, 28, 30, 31), and form the subject-matter of the present article. They are: "The word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, the grace of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, diverse kinds of tongues, interpretation of speeches" (1 Corinthians 12:8-10). To these are added the charismata of apostles, prophets, doctors, helps, governments (ibid., 28)."
"There are some passages in which the Spirit is placed above Christ... In the Gospel, Christ declares that there is forgiveness for the sin committed against Himself, but that for blasphemy against the Holy Spirit there is no forgiveness - either in this age or in the age to come. What is the reason for this?... Is it not that... only those persons who have been found worthy of it have part in the Holy Spirit. As a result, there appropriately cannot be any forgiveness for those who fall away into evil - despite such a great and powerful co-operation. For they defeat the counsels of the Spirit who is in them." -Origen, AD 228
The Spirit is inside every Christian, and the Spirit is working in cooperation with Christians. The Spirit isn't just a book to be consumed and memorized, but a being seeking a relationship.
"The Holy Spirit Himself receives instruction. This is clear from what is said about the Paraclete and the Holy Spirit: 'He will take of mine and will declare it to you.'" -Origin, AD 228
"In the Spirit, there are different kinds of ministrations. For, at times, there is a different order of occasions. Yet, on this account, He who discharges these offices is not different.... He is therefore one and the same Spirit who was in the prophets and in the apostles. The only difference is that as to the former, He was in them occasionally; in the latter, he was in them always." -Novatian, AD 235
The Spirit was always present with the apostles, but he was only often within the prophets (so claims Novation).
“This is He who places prophets in the church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives powers and healing, does wonderful works, offers discrimination of spirits, affords powers of government, suggests counsels, and orders and arranges whatever other gifts there are of the charismata.” -Novation, AD 235
Novation claimed the Holy Spirit was responsible for many non-miraculous activities in the church, including: discrimination of spirit, government, and instructing teachers. We should expect that these works have continued into modern times. Why would they have ceased? Where is the biblical evidence that non-miraculous assistance has ceased?
"There are still preserved among Christians traces of that Holy Spirit that appeared in the form of a dove. They expel evil spirits, perform many cures, and foresee certain events." -Origin, AD 248
Origin wrote that there were some miraculous gifts still floating around a century and a half after the last apostle died.
"God is perpetually bestowing His own Spirit on those who are capable of receiving Him. However, it is not by way of division and separation that He dwells in the deserving. Nor, in our opinion, is the Spirit a 'body,' any more than fire is a 'body?'" -Origin, AD 248
Why would God have ceased bestowing his Spirit on us simply because the Bible was completed? Origin believed God still gave Christians his Spirit even after the Bible had been finished for a century and a half.
“The name of Jesus can still remove distractions from the minds of men, expel demons, and also take away diseases. Furthermore, it produces a marvelous meekness of spirit and a complete change of character.” -Origin, AD 248
The post-Bible work of God is not entirely rationalistic. There are mystical powers at work in the world, Satan is moving men's minds, and we should beware of reducing the world to a cold dead object for our manipulation.
"The Jews no longer have prophets or miracles. Yet, traces of those things are still found among Christians to a considerable extent. Some of these miracles are more remarkable than any that existed among the Jews. I have witnessed these myself." -Origin, AD 248
The Jews lost the Spirit of God, and they lost the signs that went with it. The Jews are no longer a chosen people, a blessed people, or even a righteous people. The Spirit has left them.
"Down to the present time, those whom God wills are healed in His name. This fact demonstrates the nobility of the work of Jesus." -Origin, AD 248
"Jesus says that even some who lead wicked lives will perform miracles in the name of Jesus and expel demons out of men…. We see, then that it is possible for someone who makes use of His name, and who is moved upon by some power in an unknown way, to make the pretense that he is the Christ and to seem to perform miracles like those of Jesus. Others, through his name, would perform works resembling those of His genuine disciples." -Origin, AD 248
How does this operate? We cannot know, but our lack of understanding doesn't mean it can't happen.
"We can clearly show a countless multitude of Greeks and barbarians who acknowledge the existence of Jesus. And some give evidence of their having received through their faith a marvelous power by the cures they perform… I, too, have seen persons freed from grievous calamities, from distractions of mind, from madness, and countless other ills that could not be cured by either men nor devils." -Origin, AD 248
"Not a few cures are brought about in the name of Jesus, and certain other manifestations of no small significance have taken place." -Origin, AD 248
“Paul, too, in the list of charismata bestowed by God, placed first ‘the word of wisdom.’ Secondly, as being inferior to it, there is ‘the word of knowledge.’ Thirdly, and lower down, there is ‘faith.’ And because he regarded ‘the word’ as higher than miraculous powers, he for that reason placed workings of miracles and gifts of healing in a lower place than the gifts of the word.” -Origin, AD 248
"Divine wisdom… is the first of the so-called charismata of God. The second after it – in the estimation of those who know how to distinguish such things accurately – is what is called knowledge. And the third is faith – seeing that even the more simple class of men adhere to the service of God. Therefore, Paul says, 'To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another, the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit.' Therefore, it is no ordinary individuals who you will find to have participated in the divine wisdom. Rather, it is the most excellent and distinguished among those who have given their adherence to Christianity." -Origin, AD 248
The border between miraculous and providential becomes confused at the point of wisdom. Is this a miraculous measure of wisdom or simply providentially developed wisdom? Maybe the categories themselves represent a false dichotomy.
"It is not the part of a divine spirit to drive the prophetess into such a state of ecstasy and madness that she loses control of herself. For he who is under the influence of the Divine Spirit would be the first to receive the beneficial effects…. Moreover, when a person is in close contact with the Deity, it should be the time of clearest perception." -Origin, AD 248
Origin's description of a prophetess appears to be similar to what was experienced by the possessed girls of the Oracle of Delphi (the movie 300 portrays this). It is from records like this, no doubt, that the modern charismatic movement derives its practices.
"The Holy Spirit gave signs of His presence at the beginning of Christ’s ministry. And after His ascension, He gave still more. But since that time, these signs have diminished, although there are still traces of His presence in a few who have had their souls purified by the Gospel, and their actions regulated by its influence." -Origin, AD 248
By Origin's time, the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit had begun to diminish, but they'd always served as a sign that the Holy Spirit was at work in his church, and we should remember them as representing what he's doing in us... even now.