Quote:
Originally Posted by Sam
Here's how it reads in the KJV
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
Notice that in our printed copies the word "given" is in italics which means it is not in the original but has been supplied by the English translators.
The verse could read:
(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
The Holy Ghost was not yet?
What does that mean?
The Holy Ghost did not yet exist?
Can't be, He's called the eternal Spirit and He hovered over the waters in Genesis 1. He's always been.
It must mean something else.
In my opinion it means that the time of the universal availability and outpouring of the Holy Spirit had not yet arrived. His activity had been limited before but after the death of Jesus He would be universally available. |
700 years BC the Prophet Joel prophesied of a time when God would pour His Spirit out upon all flesh. That time had not yet arrived when Jesus spoke those words in John chapter 7, but the time was certainly drawing near.