PNEUMATOLOGY

(The Study of The Holy Spirit)

WHAT IS PNEUMATOLOGY?
PNEUMATOLOGY is made up of two Greek words.
Namely, Pneuma and Logos.
Pneuma means Spirit and Logos means word or study. Hence
pneumatology is word or study about the Spirit.
To be able to differenciate the Spirit of God from other kind of spirits,
the word Hagios Pneumatos is used for the Holy Spirit of God.

1|Page
WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Triune God-head, that is, God
the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
This is clearly attested to in the following;
•The Baptismal Formula (Matt 3:16-17)
•The Apostolic Benediction
( 2 Cor 13:14)
•The Church Administration
(1 Cor 12:4-6)
The Holy Spirit is God and active in the spiritual experience of men.
Thus, the Holy Spirit is a person as well as God. We are presently in the
age of the Holy Spirit hence we should not be ignorant about His Deity
and personality. Therefore, we shall examine some of His personalities.

THE DEITY/PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. HIS PERSONALITY
The Holy Spirit is not just a power, an influence or an impersonal force
but a real person. This is due to the fact that personal attributes are
ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Let's look at some of them.
(a) Paracletos (Comforter/Advocate) John 14:16-17. The Holy Spirit is
the Comforter (Paraclete) and a Paraclete is someone who is called to
stand by you to help you, e.g like a lawyer to his client.

2|Page
(b) Just as the new of God 'Theos' and Jesus Christ 'Jesus Christos'
are in the masculine gender,the name of the Holy Spirit 'Hagios
Pneumatos' and 'Paracletos' are also in masculine gender.
(c) Personal acts like speaking, teaching, reproving, judging, advising,
testifying, commanding, overseeing are all attributed to the Holy Spirit
Rev 2:7, John 14:26, John 15:26,
John 16:7-8, Acts 13:2, Acts 16:6-7
Rom 8:26, Acts 20:28.
(d) The Holy Spirit is susceptible to personal treatment e.g,
He may be grieved (Eph 4:30)
He may be lied to (Acts 5:3)
He may be blasphemed (Matt 12:31)
He may be tempted (Acts 5:9)
He may be resisted (Acts 7:51)
He may be quenched (1Thess 5:19)
He may be quieted (Zech 6:8)
He may be vexed (Isaiah 63:10)
He may be fellowshipped with (Phil 2:1)
He may be disobeyed like any other person.

3|Page
(e) Personal pronouns are used for Him For instance words like
"whom""Him"
"He" etc. (John 14:17, 26:7-8,13-15)
(f) Personal relationships:
With the Father ( Matt 28:19)
With Christ (John 16:14)
With the Christians (Acts 15:23)
(g) Personal Property
He possesses intelligence (1 Cor 12:8, Isaiah 11:2-3, 1 Cor 2:10-11, 1
Pet 1:11.
He possesses will (1. Cor 12:11)
He possesses power (Eph 3:16)
He possesses knowledge (1 Cor 2:10-12)
He possesses love (Rom 15:30)
2. HIS DEITY
The Holy Spirit is not just an ordinary human or mere person, but a
living Divine Being. That the Holy Spirit is God is attested to in the
scriptures by the Divine works, names ,and attributes accorded Him
namely;
HIS DIVINE NAMES
(a) The Holy Spirit is called God and the Spirit of the Living God in
many passages in the Bible e.g
(Acts 5:3-10, 2 Cor 3:3, Rom 8:9, 1 Cor 3:16, 1 Pet 1:11, Gen 1:2)
4|Page
(b) He is also called the Spirit of Jesus and of Christ e.g,(Acts 16:7,
Gal 4:6,Phil 1:19, 1 Pet 1:11, Gen 1:2)
(c) He is called the Spirit of Holiness and Truth ( Rom 1:4, John
14:17, 16:13)
(d) He is called the Spirit of Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding,
Counsel , Might and the Fear of the Lord ( Isaiah 11:2)
(e) He is called the Spirit of Grace and the Comforter ( Zech 12:10,
Heb 10:29 John 14:26)
(f) He is called the Eternal Spirit and the Spirit of Life ( Rom 8:2,
Heb 9:14, Rev 11:11)
(g) He is called the Spirit of Glory and the Spirit of prophecy ( 1 Pet
4:14, Rev 19:10.
(h) Other names are Spirit of promise (Acts 2:33) of Burning (Isaiah
4:4), of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2), etc.

HIS DIVINE ATTRIBUTES

(a) Omnipotence (Luke 1:35-37,Acts 1:8,Rom 15:19,
(b) Omniscience (Isaiah 40:1,14, 1 Cor 2:10-11.
(c) Omnipresent (Psalm 139:7-11)
(d) Other attributes include Love
(Rom 15:30)
(e) Holiness (Rom 1:4) Wisdom, knowledge and excellence (Dan 5:11-
12), Eternity (Heb 9:14) Truth (John 16:13).

5|Page
HIS DIVINE WORKS
The Holy Spirit is actively involved in Divine works right from the
creation of the world until now and till the second advent. For instance:
(a) He took part in the creation of the world and that of man (Gen 1:2 &
26, Job 26:13, 33:4, Psalm 204:30)
(b) He took part in the incarnation of Jesus for the redemption of
mankind (Lk 1:35)
(c) He convicts, regenerates, sanctifies and justifies believers (John 16:8-
11, 3:5,8, Titus 3:5, 1 Pet 1:2, 1 Cor 6:11)
(d) He seals up the believer and equips him with power for the Lord's
work
(Eph 1:13, 4:30, Acts 1:8)
(e) He builds up the body of Christ by imparting spiritual gifts (1 Cor
12:4-14)
(f) He intercedes on behalf of the believer and also helps him to pray
(Rom 8:26)
(g) At the parousia, He will help believers to resurrect and be raptured
(Rom 8:11)

6|Page
4. THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was regarded as the "Breadth of
God", the wind communicated to man by divine inspiration (Gen 2:7).
Man was filled with God's Spirit before his fall. The Holy Spirit in the
Old Testament is
(a) Not resident in the vessels God used. He used to be on and off in the
messengers of divine instructions.
(b) Not generally operative in all the congregation of the people of God
but was limited to the vessels of the Lord through divine appointment.
INSTANCES OF THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN
THE OLD TESTAMENT
i). Inspired Prophecy (Num 11:17,
24:2, 2 Sam 23:2, 1 Cor 12:18, Isaiah 61:1, Neh 9:30 - Calling people
into the office of a prophet.
ii) Inspired the ecstatic worship of the sons of the prophets (1Sam
10:6,10, 20:29.
iii) Carried off Elijah to heaven ( 1 Kings 10:12, 2 Kings 2:16)
iv) God through His Spirit carried on His diverse activities in:
(a) Creation (Gen 1:1,Job 26:13 Ps 104:27-32)
(b) In the affairs of men (Zech 4:1-5)
(c) Endowing men with specific gifts (Exo 31:3, Judges 3:10, 14:5-6, 1
Sam 16:13, Isaiah 11:2, 61: 1-3)
(d) Rebuking, convicting and encouraging them ( 2 Chro 15:1-3, Isaiah
63:10, Micah 3:8)

7|Page
(5) THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
The New Testament recognizes the Spirit of God in His transitory,
charismatic aspects. The Spirit inspired the sacred writers of the Old
Testament (Mtt 22:43, Mark 12:36)
(a) Before Pentecost
i) Jesus was baptized by the Spirit of God (Mtt 3:1-7) and was led by the
Spirit (Luke 4:16-21)
ii) He cast out demons by the Spirit (Matt 12:28)
iii) Carried on His work by the Spirit (Luke 4:16-21)
iv) Jesus promised His disciples that they would soon receive the Holy
Spirit,the Comforter (John 14:26, 16:7-11,and be His witnesses (Acts
1:8)
(b) At Pentecost and it's Aftermath
i) On the day of Pentecost, 50th day after the Passover, the Holy Spirit
descended on the 120 disciples
(Acts 2:2)
ii) Outward manifestation-speaking in different languages or tongues
(glossolalia)
iii) People were mocking them saying " They were filled with wine" but
Peter defended the experience by quoting from the book of Joel 2:28-32.
iv) 3,000 souls were saved on that day and were added to the church.
Mass conversion of people later followed.

8|Page
v) The disciples performed extra-ordinary feast e.g healing of the lame
man at the beautiful gate
(Acts 3:6, Acts 5:12-13)
vi) Upsurge of revival e.g. Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8)
vii) The disciples were very bold in the preaching of the Gospel and the
Jews persecuted them hence they spread abroad (Acts 8:1)
viii) Paul and other disciples went on missionary journeys and founded
churches in Corinth, Ephesus Philippi, etc, so that the Gospel spread to
Europe, Africa and other parts in the world.

6. THE FUNCTIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH

TILL DATE
a) GENERAL
i. The Holy Spirit makes New Birth possible through the word (John
3:3,5, Titus 3:3-5, 1 Pet 1:23)
ii. Gives power to live the christian life of holiness ( 1 Pet 1:2, 2 Thess
2:13
iii. Christlike character ( 2 Cor 2:18
iv. Bears witness to the spiritual adoption of Christians as children of
God (Rom 8:16)
v. The Holy Spirit guides the believers into all truths (John 16:13, Rom
8:14)
vi. Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit at New Birth (Eph 1:13, 2
Cor 1:22, Eph 4:30) Making the Christians as belonging to Christ.

9|Page
7. BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
It is the endowment with power for Christian services. It is an
experience totally different from salvation experience. (Acts 19:2-7)
There is only one baptism but many fillings (Acts 4:8,31, Acts 7: 55,
11:24, 13:9, 52)

EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO WERE FILLED AND BAPTISED

WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
i) Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was born of the Holy Spirit.
His life was indwelled by the Spirit. Note that until He was filled with
the Holy Spirit, He did not enter into His public ministry.
(Mtt 3:16,Acts 10:38, Isaiah 11:2, 42:1,61:1, John 1:32)
ii. Believers at Pentecost (Acts 2:3)
iii. The Samaritan Christians (Acts 8:14-17)
iv. Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-46)
v. The Ephesian Believers (Acts 19:6-7)

HOW TO RECEIVE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

a) Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour (Acts
2:38, 10:44, Gal 3:2,5,14)
b) Thirsty after God's righteousness (Mtt 5:6)
c) Earnest prayer of faith (Luke 11:11-13, Jms 1:6)
d) Absolute surrender in obedience to Jesus Christ (Acts 5:32)
10 | P a g e
e) Realization of the need that the Holy Spirit is for everyone who
believes ( John 14:16-18)

8. THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Operations of the Holy Spirit are the gifts the Holy Spirit bestows on
sincere Christians for specific assignments. They are listed in
(1 Cor 12:4-11, 28-40)
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are Nine but subdivided into 3 as follows:
1. GIFTS OF REVELATION
a) The word of wisdom (Dan 2:23,Acts 21:10-11,Dan 4:1-26)
b) The word of knowledge
( 2 Kings 5:20-27, Mtt 16:17, Acts 5:3,4)
c) The discerning of spirits (Acts 16:16-18, 13:6-22, 1 Cor 12:19)

2. GIFTS OF INSPIRATION
a) Prophecy (1 Cor 12:28, 14:3,39)
b) Divers kinds of Tongues (1 Cor 12:10, 14:2,5)
(c) Interpretation of Tongues (1 Cor 12:10, 1 Cor 14:27-28)

11 | P a g e
3.GIFTS OF POWER
a) Faith (1 Cor 12:9, Heb 11:32-40,Mk 11:22)
b) Gift of Healing (Mk 16:18, John 14 :12,.Acts 8:6-7)
c) Gift of Miracle (1 Cor 12:10, John 2:11, Mk 2:12, 4:39,48, Acts
8:6,Heb 2:4)

BY PRODUCTS OF FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Godly habits produced in life of spirit-filled believers. They are found in
the book of (Gal 5:22-23)
The phrase "fruit of the Spirit" is singular because all of them are unified
in purpose and direction and should be seen as a piece or harmony as
compared with "the works of the flesh" - plural in
(Gal 5:19) because evil passions are many and varies. This the nine fruit
of the Spirit can be grouped into three:

1. FRUIT IN RELATION TO SELF

a) Love - 1 John 4:4,16 John 3:16,Rom 4:8
b) Joy - Ps 43:4, Isa 61:10, Heb 3:16, Phil 1:25, Neh 8:10
c) Peace - Rom 5:1,2 Cor 5:18-20, Gal 3:15
Love, Joy and Peace reveal a perfect orderly pattern. Love is the bedrock
of the other two. Joy is love singing while peace is love resting.

12 | P a g e
FRUIT AS PERTAINING TO MY NEIGHBOR
d) Long-suffering - 1 Cor ,13:4-7, Col 1:11, Ecc 7:8, Rom 12:12, 1Tim
4:2
e) Gentleness - 2 Tim 2:24-25, Titus 3:1-2, James 3:17,
f) Goodness - Titus 2:14, Prov 25:21, Mtt 5:44, Luke 6:27, Rom12:20,
1Thess 5:15.
Long-suffering is the basis of the other two. Gentleness is Long-
suffering in its passive expression while goodness is in its active
expression.
FRUIT IN RELATION TO MY MAKER
g) Faith -1 Kings 8:56, Deut 7:9
h) Meekness - Mtt 11:29, 2 Cor 10:1, Eph 4:2, Col 3:12, Titus 3:2, 1 Pet
3:15.
i) Temperance or self - control - Rom 13:14, Titus 2:2, Phil 3:19.
Faith , meekness and self control are also in perfect order. Faith stands
on its own ,then It's meekness which is the expression of faith towards
God while self control is the expression of faith in practical Christian
life.

13 | P a g e
OFFICE SPELT OUT BY HOLY SPIRIT
The gifts bestowed on each believer will dictate his office or portfolio
( 1 Cor 12:28,29, Eph 4:11-13, Rom 12:6-8)
The main offices are :
1. Aposltes - Wisdom, knowledge
2. Prophets - Prophecy, discerning of spirits, tongues, interpretations of
tongues.
3. Teachers - Wisdom, knowledge
4. Evangelists -Faith, working of miracles, healing.
5. Pastors - Wisdom, knowledge, discerning of spirits.

There are diversities of operations (Eph 4:4-5). According to First

Corinthians Chapter 12, the gifts are spiritual enablements for specific
service. The ultimate aim of every church worker should be
" for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, and for the
edifying of the body of Christ (Eph 4:12)

1. APOSTLES
The word Apostle is used in two senses in the New Testament. In the
first sense, is used to refer to the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus and they
witnessed to the death and resurrection of our Lord.
These were the people who laid the foundation of the Church.

14 | P a g e
(Mtt 10:2,Luke 6:13, 11:49, Acts 1:2, 15-16, 8:1,14. Secondly, it means
special Christian messengers given special assignments like Barnabas
who was sent as a missionary by the Church at Antioch (Acts 13:3,
14:14). Andronicus and Junias were outstanding Apostles (Rom 16:7)
An Apostle must:
i) Possess sign gifts - 2 Cor 12:12, 1 Cor 14:18, Acts 2:43
ii) Be a witness to the resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 9:1, 1 Cor 15:5-8)
iii) Be called by God (Rom 1:1)
The task of an Apostle is that of exploration ( Rom 15:20)
Paul and others organized brethren and traveled from place to place
"starting new works". This gift is available today.

2. PROPHETS
They are divine guides for members or the church.
(Acts 13:1-3, 21:10-14. They speak to edification, exhortation and
comfort of the body of Christ (1 Cor 14:3)

3. EVANGELISTS
The word evangelist is translated from Greek word " evangelistes"
meaning a bringer of glad tidings. His work is to evengelise by
preaching the Gospel to unbelievers with the aim of getting multitudes
saved ( 2 Tim 4:2,5) Example of such is Philip in Acts 8:40,58, 12, 35.

15 | P a g e
Jesus commanded every believer to witness ( Acts 1:8). Also, He gave
certain believers the gift of evangelism in order to bring multitudes to
Himself (Eph 4:11)

4. PASTORS
Grace and ability to look and care for the church members. Like the
shepherd, he cares for the sheep.
QUALITIES
i) Must have a personal knowledge of God and experience of Gospel. He
should be a sheep of the Lord Himself (John 10:5, 3:5, 2 Cor 5:17)
ii) Have a divine call of God.He should not enter the ministry because of
personal ambition,respect,honour, self interest or love of life of ease, etc.
(John 10:2, Acts 13:3, 1 Cor 12:28, Eph 4:11, Rom 11:29) Other
qualifications are in 1 Tim 3:2-7, Titus 1:6-9)
iii) Should have consecrated motives for the will and glory of God. Be
zealous for the lost sheep hence should have best interest of the church
as his priority. (Luke 15:1-24, John 10:9-14, Acts 20: 28,2 Cor 5:14-21,
Eph 4:12)
v) Must have divine anointing of God. Human education, wisdom,
polished efforts cannot do the work successfully. He must obtain divine
help and leading of God. (Acts 26:22, Luke 11:13,24:40, John 7: 37-39,
Acts 1: 4-8, 5:32.
vi) Must be a good example to the flock Should feed them and not drive
them away. Must live what he preaches. (John 10:3-4, 1 Cor 4:8-16,
11:1, 2 Cor 4:8-11. Should speak for God and not self (Jer 23:16) Be
free from deceit (Jer 23:26)
16 | P a g e
Cause the flock to remember God ( Jer 23:22) Be honest and truthful
(Jer 23:14-25) Faithful in declaring God's counsel ( Jer 23:28)
5. TEACHERS
The gift of evangelism brings new life while the gift of teaching sustains
it. The church is able to make new disciples through teaching (Mtt
28:18-20) Effective teaching improves christian maturity (Col 1:28)
The gift of teaching is the ability to acquire and communicate Biblical
truth effectively to the understanding of the hearers ( Acts 13:1, 1 Cor
12:28-29, Eph 4:11, 1Tim 2:7, 2 Tim 1:11, 2:2, Heb 5:12, James 3:1)
These offices must work in harmony e.g, The Prophet after seeing a
place where the church could be established informs the Apostle who
organises the church workers and the evangelist to preach there while
the converts won are given to the Pastor to care for and the teacher to
assist him in nurturing the converts.
10. THE FUTURE (ESCHATOLOGICAL) WORKS OF THE
HOLY SPIRIT
By Eschatology works of the Holy Spirit,we mean the future functions
of the Holy Spirit at the Parousia ( The second coming of Christ (Mk
13:26) .The major role of the Holy Spirit would be to translate (rapture)
the elects of God. The change would be impromptu, within the twinkling
of an eye ( 1 Cor 15:51-52), Zech 9:14, Mtt 24:31, 1 Thess 4:16-17)

17 | P a g e