Nov 12, 2021
Joseph John Gurney on the two different usages of spirit, which affects the capitalization, when Porson mistakenly claimed Holy Spirit in both verses. This error is also in CARM by TNC.
Remarks on the general tenour of the New Testament, regarding the nature and dignity of Jesus Christ, addressed to mrs. Joanna Baillie [in reply to A view of the general tenour of the New Testament regarding the nature and dignity of Jesus Christ.]. Appendix on sir Isaac Newton's suppression of his dissertation on 1 John v. 7. and 1 Tim. iii. 16
https://books.google.com/books?id=m6sGAAAAQAAJ&pg=PR9
Joseph John Gurney, Esq. Author of
Biblical Notes and Dissertations
A difficulty has also been objected as to the right acceptation of the word
spirit, in the eighth and the seventh verses. Mr. Porson
asks,
“If the spirit, in the eighth verse, refers to the Holy Spirit, what is the sense of the same Spirit witnessing both in heaven andon earth ?”
I see no difficulty in an omnipresent Spirit's witnessing both in heaven and on earth, if the same Spirit were meant in both verses ; but if Augustine, Eucherius, Cassiodorus, and others of the ancient commentators have rightly interpreted (as I conceive they have) the
literal sense of the eighth verse, the Holy Spirit is not there meant, but the
human Spirit (SA: this should be spirit) of Christ,
expiring on the cross.
Again, Mr. Porson asks, “ Why is the epithet [holy,] ” after being twice omitted, added [to Spirit] in the seventh verse ? Beza
says,
“ In order to distinguish one Spirit from the other,
ut ab eo distinguatur cujus fit mentio in sequenti versu."
Perhaps, too, because when the Three Divine Persons are connumerated in the same passage, as in Matth. xxviii. 19, 2 Cor. xiii. 14, the epithet was usually added. It may also be asked, why, in the original, the expression of
unity in the two verses differs, one from the other, both
doctrinally and
grammatically? The reason appears to be, because in one the unity is
essential and
real; in the other,
adventitious and
apparent only; and because the eighth verse is dependent on the seventh, as a relative is on its antecedent.*
* On the grammatical ground of the dependence of the eighth verse on the seventh, see Wolfii Curae Philol. ad locum; the
Archbishop of Cherson’s Letter to Matthaei; and Bishop Middleton’s Doctrine of the Greek Article.
====================
Porson's nonsense can be seen here in the
1790 edition
http://books.google.com/books?id=_X5AAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA397
1828 edition
https://books.google.com/books?id=wX0_AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA76
Search for Beza
ut ab eo distinguatur cujus sit mentio in sequenti versu
https://books.google.com/books?id=QwcrAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA9
The above comment is very interesting, writers try, among the doubts, to understand the deep mysteries of Three Divine Persons, and even they progress to a certain point in their vision, without however reaching the main goal:
Identify who is the character to which it was added the epithet [holy,] In fact, this is very profound and is not easy to penetrate in this wonderful heavenly environment although our privilege to be "living or dwelling" spiritually even in heaven through / by the Word of GOD -the Word is GOD - or in heavenly place in Christ as is revealed in
Ephesians 1:v.3-7(among others):
3 Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself (Hallelujaaah), according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein
He hath made us accepted in the beloved.-JESUS-. Songs of Solomon chap. 2;5;6;8.
THREE DIVINE PERSONS
THE PERSON OF GOD, THE FATHER - THE WORD
Although GOD -the Word- be invisible, the true believers know many things about HIM because JESUS revealed Him
(Matt.11:v.27 among others). By the way, in His pray Lord JESUS said: John 17:v.4-10 :
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
THE PERSON OF GOD, THE SON -JESUS- THE WORD MADE FLESH
No need to comment. The Person of JESUS is known from two thousand years ago-
Hebrews 1:v.1-3. In fact, the person of JESUS was known many time before His birth by the prophets, the Spirit of Christ was in them-
1 Peter 1:v.10-12.
In fact, the Person of JESUS (Behold the man!)
is known of men, and is also known of the angels, and He is known of the demons too.
THE HOLY SPIRIT - AN UNKNOWN PERSON
The person of the Holy Spirit is not a ghost as is written in English language, but a Person,
and as a Person, as was JESUS in flesh and bones, he is unknown completely. As a Person he has several missions;
JESUS said: John 16:v.12-15 and v.8-11:
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself;
but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that
he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of Judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of Judgment, because the prince of this world is Judged.
- The Person of he Holy Spirit has not genealogy as JESUS has; why? Because he is not a Jew.
- As I said above, JESUS, or
the NAME of JESUS, is known of men, and is also known of the angels, and He is known of the demons too.
But the person of the Holy Spirit has a NAME written (in the Holy Scriptures, course) that no MAN knows, but he himself. I repit: He has not genealogy as JESUS has, he is not a Jew.
- JESUS came from heaven and He was born in Israel. John 6:38 - I came down from heaven
(Behold the man!John 19:5)not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.
In the other hand, the prophetic birth of the person of Holy Spirit is not in Israel, but in a Gentile nation. His birth is within the body of Christ-the Church-and as JESUS said, he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, for he shall receive of mine, he shall take of mine. This exposed picture or figure is like the Sun and Moon. The Moon receives light from the Sun and reflets the light over the Earth; Regardings the light of JESUS reflected by the Holy Spirit over the Earth, I can see by analogy in Genesis 1:v.16:-And GOD made two great lights; the Greater Light to rule the day, and the Lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. Revelation 12:1-2 & 5.
12 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman
(the Church of the Lord JESUS) clothed with the Sun (JESUS and His Light, the Greater Light), and the moon
(the Lesser light - the person of the Holy Spirit) under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
(The twelve Apostles of the Lord JESUS)
2 And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. 5-And she brought forth a man child -
the person of the Holy Spirit- , who was to rule all nations
(EXCEPT ISRAEL) with a rod of iron: and
her child was CAUGHT UP unto GOD,
and to His throne. By the way,
about GOD's Throne-Psalm 97:v.1-2CJB say: Adonai is king, let the earth rejoice, let the many coasts and islands be glad.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him; Righteousness and Justice are the foundation of His throne.
That said, what was asked by Mr. Porson and answered by Beza has sense, as was exposed above and I transcribe below:
>>>>> Again, Mr. Porson asks, “ Why is the epithet [holy,] ” after being twice omitted, added [to Spirit] in the seventh verse ? Beza
says,
“ In order to distinguish one Spirit from the other, ut ab eo distinguatur cujus fit mentio in sequenti versu."
<<<<<
I highlight also the explanation below mainly where the commenter tries to understand and asks
"why, in the original, the expression of unity in the two verses differs, one from the other, both doctrinally and grammatically?"
But his conclusion is much much more interesting and impressive when he says: The reason appears to be, because in one the unity is essential and real; in the other, adventitious and APPARENT ONLY(highlight mine); and because the eighth verse is dependent on the seventh, as a RELATIVE is on its antecedent.*
(quoted from above)
Perhaps, too, because when the Three Divine Persons are connumerated in the same passage, as in Matth. xxviii. 19, 2 Cor. xiii. 14, the epithet was usually added. It may also be asked, why, in the original, the expression of unity in the two verses differs, one from the other, both doctrinally and grammatically? The reason appears to be, because in one the unity is essential and real; in the other, adventitious and apparent only; and because the eighth verse is dependent on the seventh, as a relative is on its antecedent.*
