The Spirit & The Bride

Spirit in the Post-Exilic Prophets, Apocalyptic Literature, and the Torah

Dr. Schreck talks about how Haggai, Zechariah, and Nehemiah encouraged the people to rely on the power of the Spirit to rebuild the temple after their return from exile in Babylon.
He also explores how apocalyptic writings speak of God’s plan and the Spirit’s work in the “last days.” With the decline of prophecy, rabbis in the late Old Testament and in the time of Christ viewed the Spirit as speaking definitively through the Torah and, for some, in the writings of past prophets.
 
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The Spirit in the Old Testament's Wisdom Writings

Among the later writings of the Old Testament are the Wisdom books, including Proverbs, Job, Sirach (Ecclesiasticus), and the book of Wisdom. In this episode, Dr. Schreck discusses how the Spirit is presented in these writings.
 
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The Spirit in the Prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel

Dr. Schreck continues looking at the spirit in the Old Testament with the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel.  Although Jeremiah has a negative view of prophecy because of false prophets’ claims, he himself prophesies God establishing a “new covenant.”  Ezekiel speaks frequently and positively about the spirit of God and also prophesies a “new covenant,” which includes a “new spirit” that will awaken the hopes and lives of God’s people in exile, who are pictured as “dry bones.”  Ezekiel is given a vision of a river of life-giving water, which in the New Testament is revealed as the Holy Spirit.
 
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Spirit in Isaiah and the Psalms

Dr. Schreck explores how the spirit is an attribute of the servant of God in the messianic texts of the prophet Isaiah, where people can even “grieve” the spirit by rejecting his work.  The Psalms also speak of the work of God’s spirit and appeal to God not to hide his face nor remove his spirit but to send forth the spirit to “renew the face of the earth” (Ps. 104) and to restore “the joy of…salvation” (Ps. 51).
 
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Spirit in the Old Testament: Purifying and Life-Giving

Dr. Schreck introduces the ethical and moral work of the Spirit of God in the Old Testament, purifying or cleansing God’s people of sin in the images of fire and water. After this purification, the restorative, life-giving action of the Spirit follows.
 
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The Spirit and Leadership in the Old Testament

God raised up leaders for the Hebrew people who were equipped and empowered for this task through an outpouring or anointing of God’s spirit. Dr. Schreck talks about the prophet Isaiah and how he foresaw the Messiah, the greatest ruler who would possess the full charisms of leadership: the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord.
 
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The Spirit and Prophecy in the Old Testament

To restore the broken relationship between God and humanity, God selected individuals from among the Chosen People to speak and act through his spirit. Dr. Schreck introduces these Old Testament prophets and highlights the importance of what they did and said through the spirit of God.
 
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Spirit as the Breath of Life

Dr. Schreck discusses Genesis chapter 2 and the second creation account where God breathes life into the first human.  The Old Testament reveals how God gives humanity both natural life and spiritual life.
 
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Spirit in the Old Testament

Dr. Schreck starts a new season focused on the Holy Spirit. Although the reality of God as the Blessed Trinity is not yet fully revealed in the Old Testament, Dr. Schreck looks at references to God’s “spirit” in the very beginning of the Bible, the Book of Genesis.
 
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New Season Intro: The Holy Spirit

Dr. Alan Schreck welcomes listeners to a new weekly podcast series on the Holy Spirit. Why learn about the Holy Spirit?
 
Because he is God, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, and we hope to spend eternity with him. Jesus also reveals the Holy Spirit as the “gift of God” and “the promise of the Father.”
 
Listen to more The Spirit and The Bride episodes and discover other Catholic podcasts, videos, and resources at Faith and Reason.