The Spirit & The Bride

The Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John, Ch. 1-7

The Gospel of John, the last Gospel written, presents the Holy Spirit as the source of new birth—the “life-giving Spirit”—and the one who enables true worship “in Spirit and truth” (Jn. 4:23–24).
In this episode, Dr. Alan Schreck explores John Chapters 1-7 to discuss what they can teach us about the nature of the Holy Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit in the Church's Mission: Acts 8-28

Beginning with St. Paul's conversion in the Acts of the Apostles, Dr. Schreck explores how the apostles' mission in proclaiming the Gospel and carrying on Jesus' ministry is guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
He highlights how St. Peter is guided by the Spirit to bring Gentiles into the Church, how the Spirit guides the Church's leaders at the Council of Jerusalem, and how St. Paul prays over disciples of John the Baptist to receive the Spirit.
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The Holy Spirit in Acts of the Apostles: From Pentecost to the Conversion of St. Paul

Dr. Schreck explores how the mission of the Church, in the power of the Holy Spirit, is described in Acts of the Apostles after Pentecost.
Acts 4 describes a powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit in response to the Church's prayer that they would proclaim the word of God with boldness, even amid persecution. The Holy Spirit comes upon the first deacons in Acts 6, including St. Stephen, who is martyred for his bold proclamation. The Spirit also guides and empowers the apostles Peter, John, and Philip to carry out the Church's mission.
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The Holy Spirit in Luke, the Promise of the Father, and Pentecost

Each of the Synoptic Gospels describes Jesus' commission, immediately before his Ascension, to preach the Gospel to the nations. St. Luke stresses this cannot be accomplished until Jesus' disciples receive the "promise of the Father," the Holy Spirit.
Dr. Schreck shows how, in Acts 1 and 2, this promise is repeated and fulfilled with the sending of the Spirit on Pentecost. The Church is born and begins to carry out her mission when the Holy Spirit comes into power. 
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St. Luke: The Gospel of Mission and the Holy Spirit's Role

Dr. Schreck discusses some of the distinctive themes in the Gospel of St. Luke, especially as a "Gospel of mission" addressed to a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience.
St. Luke highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in this mission, providing both guidance and power. This explains the desire of "the heavenly Father [to] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Lk 11:13).
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Holy Spirit in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, and Jesus' Anointing as Priest, Prophet, and King

The Synoptic Gospels' testimony to the Holy Spirit is very similar from Jesus' baptism through his temptations in the desert.
Dr. Schreck examines the distinctive emphasis on the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life and teaching in the Gospels of Mark and Matthew. He also shows how Jesus is anointed by the Spirit as priest, prophet, and king, and how his followers today share in this anointing for mission through baptism and confirmation.
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Jesus Anointed by the Spirit for His Messianic Mission

What happened at Jesus' baptism by John in the Jordan? 
Dr. Schreck talks about how Jesus' baptism was not only a revelation of his communion with the Father and Holy Spirit—a Trinitarian theophany—but also an anointing. It was an empowerment of Jesus in his humanity, equipping him to carry out his mission as "the Christ" (or Anointed One) in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dr. Schreck also explains Jesus' teaching on "blasphemy against the Spirit" (Mt. 12:31; Mk. 3:29).
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Baptizing With the Holy Spirit and the Spirit at Jesus' Baptism

In all four Gospels, John the Baptist prophesies that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and, in Matthew and Luke, with fire.
Dr. Schreck discusses the meaning of this prophecy and how and when it was fulfilled. When Jesus submits to be baptized by John, the Holy Spirit descends on him in the form of a dove and the voice of the Father is heard, providing a revelation/theophany of the Blessed Trinity.
 
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The Holy Spirit in the Infancy Narratives of Matthew and Luke

Dr. Schreck examines the revelation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament at the chronological beginning of this revelation: when angels announce the conception of John the Baptist and Jesus.
In the announcements to Mary and Joseph, it’s clear the Holy Spirit is distinct from the “Son of God” (Lk. 1:35) or “the Son of the Most High” (Lk. 1:32), who is conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit.
Here is an important step in the fuller revelation of the Spirit’s work and identity.  St. Luke also begins his association of the Holy Spirit with “power” (Lk. 1:32).
 
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Spirit in the New Testament: A Fuller Revelation

As Dr. Schreck begins to explore the fuller revelation of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, he starts with a fundamental question: Can we, or do we, believe that how the Holy Spirit is revealed in the New Testament is what God desires to do in the Church today? 
Dr. Schreck responds to the view that the Holy Spirit’s action recorded in the New Testament was a unique grace for the first Christians but not for the Church today. And does the Church rely on the Holy Spirit to carry out her mission, especially to “make disciples of all nations” (Mt. 28:19)?
 
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