Огласительное поучение шестнадцатое

[To those preparing in Jerusalem for enlightenment, spoken without preparation, in the words: And in one Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who spoke the prophets; and also on the words from the Epistle to the Corinthians: I do not want to leave you, brethren, ignorant about spiritual gifts, etc. (1 Cor. 12:1) There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit, etc. (1 Cor. 12:4).] 1. Spiritual grace is truly needed to reason about the Holy Spirit: not so much that one should say about Him, for this is impossible, but so that, speaking about Him on the basis of Divine Scripture, thus avoiding dangers. For it is indeed written very terribly in the Gospel, where Christ said clearly: if anyone speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the future (Matthew 12:32); and it is often necessary to fear that someone, out of ignorance or a false sense of piety, saying something obscene about Him, will not be condemned. The judge of the living and the dead, Jesus Christ, said that such a person will not be released. So if anyone stumbles here, what hope remains for him? 2. So, may the very grace of Jesus Christ give us the strength to say everything without omission, and for you to listen with understanding. For understanding is necessary not only for those who speak, but also for those who hear; so that they understand with their minds only by hearing. So, we will talk about the Holy Spirit only what is written. If something is not written, we will not become curious about it. The Holy Spirit Himself spoke the Scriptures; He said about himself how much he wanted or how much we can accommodate. So let us say what He said; and what He did not say, let us not dare to say. 3. There is only one Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Just as God the Father is one, but there is no other Father, and just as the Only Begotten Son and the Word of God is one, but has no brother, in the same way there is only one Holy Spirit, and there is no other spirit equal to Him. So, the Holy Spirit is the greatest power, a Divine and incomprehensible being. For He is a living, intelligent being who sanctifies everything that was created from God through Christ. He enlightens the souls of the righteous; He is also in the prophets, He is also in the apostles in the New Testament. Let us hate those who dare to separate the Holy Spirit who acted in both; one God the Father, Lord of the Old and New Testaments; and there is one Lord Jesus Christ, who was predicted in the Old Testament, and who came in the New, and one Holy Spirit, who preached about Christ through the prophets, who came down after the coming of Christ and showed Him. 4. So, no one separates the Old Testament from the New, no one says that there is another Spirit there and another here. Because such an offense insults the Holy Spirit Himself, who was revered together with the Father and the Son and revealed during Holy Baptism in the Holy Trinity. For the Only Begotten Son of God clearly said to the apostles: go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Our hope is in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We do not preach three gods: let the Marcionites be silent; but with the Holy Spirit, through the one Son, we preach one God. There is no difference in faith, no division in piety. We do not, like some, separate the Holy Trinity; nor do we merge, like Sabellius. But with piety we recognize one Father, who sent us the Savior, the Son; We recognize one Son, who promised to send from the Father the Comforter; We recognize the Holy Spirit, who spoke in the prophets and on the day of Pentecost who descended on the apostles in the form of tongues of fire, here in Jerusalem, in the place where the Church is on high in the name of the apostles. We have every advantage: here Christ came down from heaven; here the Holy Spirit descended from heaven; and truly it would be very fitting to speak about the Holy Spirit in that high Church, just as we speak about Christ and Golgotha ​​on this Golgotha. Since He who descended there together receives glory with the Crucified here, therefore we speak about Him who descended in this way here, for piety is indivisible. 5. We want to say something about the Holy Spirit not in order to completely explain His essence, for this is impossible; but in order to show various errors regarding Him, so that out of ignorance you will not ever fall into them, and block the paths of lies, in order to follow one royal path. If, as a precaution, we now propose something said by heretics, then let this be addressed to their head; but we, both the speakers and the listeners, will not be guilty. 6. The wicked heretics in all cases sharpened their tongues against the Holy Spirit and dared to assert the absurd, as the narrator Irenaeus wrote in his writings against heresies. Some dared to call themselves the Holy Spirit, of whom the first was Simon the Magus, mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. He dared to teach this after he was rejected; and the so-called Gnostics, wicked people, spoke differently about the Holy Spirit. The lawless Valentinians are another thing again; and the wicked Manes dared to say that he himself was the Comforter sent by Christ. And others said that there was another Spirit in the prophets, and another in the New Testament. Their error, or, better, blasphemy, is varied. So, hate such people and flee those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit, for whom there is no remission. What kind of fellowship do you have with the desperate, you who are now baptized into the Holy Spirit? If one who communicates with a thief and agrees with him is subject to punishment, then what can one who offends the Holy Spirit expect? 7. Let the Marcionites also be hated, who destroyed in the New Testament the words quoted from the Old Testament. For the first godless Marcion was the first to admit three gods and, seeing that in the New Testament there are testimonies about Christ from the prophets, he destroyed these testimonies of the Old Testament in order to leave the King without witnesses. Let the above-mentioned Gnostics be hated, experts in name, but full of ignorance, who dared to say things about the Holy Spirit that I dare not say. 8. Let the Catafriges and Montanus, the chief of evil, and his two prophetesses, Maximilla and Priscilla, be hated. For this Montanus is crazy and truly frantic, he would not have said this if he had not been in frenzy, he dared to call himself the Holy Spirit, being a vile man and full of all uncleanness and abomination. In order not to offend the chastity of the wives present here, it is enough to explain this through signs. Having occupied Pepuza, the smallest place in Phrygia, and falsely calling it Jerusalem, he slaughtered the unfortunate little children of women here and crushed them into lawless food, under the pretext of the sacraments they called. That is why, before, during the persecution, we were suspected of this, since these Montanists, although falsely, were called Christians by the same name. A man full of all wickedness and inhumanity dared to call himself the Holy Spirit; he was subject to condemnation as an irresponsible person. 9 . His associate was, as previously said, the most wicked Manes, who collected the evil of all heresies. He, being the last ditch of destruction, having brought together all the heretical teachings, composed a new lie and taught it. He dared to say that he is the Comforter whom Christ promised to send. But the Savior, promising a Comforter, said to the apostles: remain in the city of Jerusalem until you are endowed with power from on high (Luke 24:49). So what? Could it be that the apostles who had died for two hundred years were waiting for Manes to be invested with power? And who will dare to say that during this time they were not filled with the Holy Spirit? And it is written that they then laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17). Didn’t this come true before Manes and before many years, when the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost? 10. Why was Simon the Magus condemned? Is it not because, having come to the apostles, he said: give me this power, so that whoever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:19)? He did not say: give me also the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, but the power to sell to others what cannot be sold and what I myself did not have. And he brought silver to the uncovetous. He saw that those who brought the price of the sold estates laid it before the feet of the apostles, but did not consider that those who trample underfoot the wealth brought for the food of the poor would not give for the price the power of the Holy Spirit. What do they tell Simon? Let your silver perish with you, because you thought to receive the gift of God with money (Acts 8:20). You are the second Judas; you thought that you could sell the gift of the Spirit for silver. So, if Simon, who wanted to gain power at a price, perished, then how wicked is Manes, who called himself the Holy Spirit? Let us hate those worthy of hatred; let us turn away from those from whom God turns away. Let us also say to God with all boldness about all heretics: Should I not hate those who hate You, O Lord, and not be disgusted by those who rebel against You? (Ps. 139:21). For there is also good enmity, as it is written, for example: And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed (Gen. 3:15). For love for the serpent produces enmity against God and death. 11. So this is what we needed to be told about the outcasts. Now let's turn to the Divine Scripture and drink water from our vessels (Proverbs 5:15) i.e. holy fathers, and from their treasure troves of the source. Let us drink of the living water springing up into eternal life (John 4:14). This is what the Savior said about the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were about to receive (John 7:39). Note what He says: He who believes in Me not simply, but as the Scripture says. He points you to the words of the Old Testament: out of the belly will flow rivers of living water (John 7:38). Not visible rivers that water the earth, which produces only thorns and trees, but rivers that enlighten the soul. And in another place he says: but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water flowing into eternal life (John 4:14). The new water is living and flowing, flowing on the worthy. 12. And why did He call spiritual grace water? Because everything is made up through water. In water there is plant and animal power. Water falls from heaven in rain; and although it comes in one form, it has different actions. One source waters the whole of paradise: the same rain falls all over the world, but in lilies it is white, in roses it is ruddy, in violets and hyacinths it is crimson, and in every kind of flower it is different and varied. In dates it is one way, but in grapes it is different and gives everything a special appearance, while it is uniform and not different in itself. For rain, which does not change in itself, does not fall in one form or another; but, entering into the composition of those things that accept it, it produces its own effect in each. So the Holy Spirit, being one and identical and indivisible, distributes grace to everyone as He pleases. And just as a dry tree, when watered with water, sprouts branches, in the same way a sinful soul, having received the Holy Spirit through repentance, produces the fruits of righteousness. For He, being the same, according to the will of God the Father, in the name of Christ performs different actions. One turns the tongue to the word of wisdom, another enlightens the soul with prophecy; to another he gives the power to cast out demons, and to another he gives the ability to explain Divine Scripture. Strengthens one in chastity, teaches another to be merciful; He teaches others fasting and heroic deeds, others he teaches contempt for what pertains to the body, and others he prepares for martyrdom; in others He produces others, but Himself is not distinct, as it is written: But to everyone is given the manifestation of the Spirit for his benefit (1 Cor. 12:7). To one is given the word of wisdom by the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8); to another faith by the same Spirit; to others gifts of healings by the same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:9); to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:10). Yet all these things are done by one and the same Spirit, distributing to each one individually as He pleases (1 Cor. 12:11). 13. But since many and varied things are said simply about the Spirit in the Divine Scripture and it is dangerous so that someone out of ignorance does not fall into a confusion of concepts, not knowing which spirit to understand what is written, it is now good, as a precaution, to explain which Spirit the Scripture calls Holy. For just as Aaron, and David, and Saul are called Christ (anointed), and others are called Christs, while one is the true Christ, in the same way - since the name of spirit is given to various objects, it is necessary to know who is especially called the Holy Spirit; for many things are given the name of spirit. An angel is called a spirit; our soul is called spirit; and the wind that blows is called spirit; and the great power is called spirit; and a bad way of life is called spirit, and the adversary devil is called spirit. So, be careful when you hear this, so as not to honor one instead of another because of the same name. Scripture says about our soul: His spirit goes out, and he returns to his land (Ps. 145: 4). And this same soul is spoken of in another place: having formed the spirit of man within him (Zech. 12:1). The Psalms say about Angels: You make Your angels spirits, Your servants are blazing fire (Ps. 103:4). And about the wind it is said: with the east wind you crushed the Tarsh ships (Ps. 47:8), and: like a tree in an oak grove, the spirit shakes (Is. 7:2). And in another place: fire and hail, snow and fog, stormy wind (Ps. 149:8). The Lord Himself says about good teaching: The words that I speak to you are spirit and life (John 6:63), that is, they are spiritual: but the Holy Spirit is not spoken with the tongue. He has life, like the Wise One, He gives the power to speak and He Himself converses. 14. And do you want to know what He converses and says? Philip, by angelic revelation, took the path leading to Gaza while the eunuch was traveling. The Spirit said to Philip: Come and dock with this chariot (Acts 8:29). Do you see? The Spirit speaks to the one who hears. And Ezekiel says this: And the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and said to me: Say, thus says the Lord (Ezek. 11:5). And in another place: The Holy Spirit said to the apostles who were in Antioch: separate Barnabas and Saul for me for the work to which I have called them (Acts 13:2). Do you see? That the Spirit has life, separates, calls and sends with authority. And Paul says: only the Holy Spirit bears witness in all cities, saying that bonds and tribulations await me (Acts 20:23). For this good sanctifier of the Church and helper and teacher is the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, about whom the Savior said: He will teach you all things (he did not say: he will only teach you), but he will also remind you of everything that I told you (John 14:26); for there is not another teaching of Christ, but another of the Holy Spirit, but one and the same. He foretold to Paul what was going to happen to him, so that, having learned it in advance, he would be more complacent. This is said in order to explain the words: the verbs that I spoke to you are the Spirit, so that, that is, you do not consider this Spirit to be a mere utterance of the mouth, but good teaching. 15. Sin is also called spirit in Scripture, as we said, but in a different and opposite sense, as, for example, it is said: the spirit of fornication led them astray (Hos. 4:12). An unclean spirit is called a spirit (Luke 11:24), the devil, but with the addition of unclean. Every spirit, to designate its properties, is given its own name. If Scripture calls the human soul the spirit, then with the addition: human spirit. If he calls the wind a spirit, he calls it a stormy wind (Ps. 47:8). If he calls sin a spirit, he calls it the spirit of fornication (Hos. 4:12). If he calls the devil a spirit, he calls him an unclean spirit, so that we know what kind of spirit he is talking about. Do not think that this is talking about the Holy Spirit - no; for the name of spirit is something general, and everything that does not have a gross body is usually called spirit. Since devils do not have such bodies, they are called spirits. But there is a great difference here. For an unclean spirit, when it attacks a person’s soul (may the Lord preserve from this the soul of all those who listen, including those who are not here!), is like a bloodthirsty wolf attacking a sheep in order to devour it. His appearance is the most terrible, the most unbearable for the feeling, it produces darkness in thoughts; his attack is lawless; he steals someone else's acquisitions by force, treats someone else's body as if it were his own, and overthrows someone standing with someone else's instrument; for he is an accomplice to him who fell from heaven; perverts the tongue, twists the lips, in which there is foam instead of words; the person becomes darkened, the eyes are open, but the soul does not see with them, and the unfortunate person groans terribly before death. Truly, the enemies of men are the devils, who deal with them in such a vile and merciless manner. 16. No, that is not the Holy Spirit; On the contrary, his actions are aimed at good and salvation. And, firstly, His appearance is gentle, when He is received there is a fragrance, His burden is the lightest. Rays of light and knowledge shine before His appearance. He comes with the love of a true Guardian. For he comes to save and heal, teach, enlighten, confirm, console, enlighten the mind first of the one who receives, and through him the minds of others. And just as someone who was previously in darkness, then suddenly sees the sun, receives the light with his bodily eyes and sees what he did not see clearly; So one who has been rewarded with the Holy Spirit is enlightened in his soul and, having become higher than man, contemplates what he has not seen. On earth with body, but with soul looking to heaven. He sees, like Isaiah, the Lord sitting on a throne, high and exalted (Is. 6:1); sees Ezekiel sitting on Cherubim (Ezek. 10:1); He sees, like Daniel, tens of thousands and thousands of thousands (cf. Dan. 7:10). And a small person sees the beginning of the world and the end of the world, and the middle of times, and the succession of kings knows what he did not understand before, for the true Enlightener is with him. There is a man within the walls, but the power of knowledge extends far, and he even sees the deeds of others. 17. Peter was not with Ananias and Sapphira when they sold the estate, but he was there in spirit. Why, he says, did you allow Satan to put into your heart the thought of lying to the Holy Spirit? (Acts 5:3). There was no accuser, there was no witness. How did he know what happened? What you owned was not yours, and what was acquired by sale was not in your power? Why have you put this in your heart? (Acts 5:4). The unlearned Peter, by the grace of the Spirit, learned what the Greek sages did not understand. You know something similar about Elisha, for when he healed Naaman’s leprosy for free, Gehazi took payment, accepting the reward for someone else’s labor; and taking the money from Naaman, he hid it in a dark place; but darkness is not dark for the saints. For how soon did he come, Elisha asks him; and as Peter says: tell me, how much did you sell the land for? (Acts 5:8). So this one also tests: from where, Gehazi? (2 Kings 5:25). Not because he didn’t know where, but out of grief he said: where from? You came from darkness and you will go into darkness. You sold healing to the leper and you will receive his leprosy in exchange. I have fulfilled, he says, the commandment of Him who said to me: Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:8); But you, having sold this gift, accept leprosy, which was an opportunity for sale. What does Elisha say to him? Didn't my heart go with you? (2 Kings 5:26) Although I was here with my body, the Spirit given to me by God saw also distant things and showed me clearly what was happening in another place. Do you see that the Holy Spirit not only leads out of ignorance, but also imparts knowledge? Do you see how he enlightens souls? 18. Isaiah saw Zion as a tabernacle for almost a thousand years, while this city still stood, was decorated with markets and was in glory, and another prophet says: Zion will be plowed like a field (Mic. 3:12), predicting what has now come true with us. Note the accuracy in the prophecy; it says: And the daughter of Zion remained like a tent in a vineyard, like a hut in a vegetable garden (Isa. 1:8). Nowadays, in these places there are almost cucumber ridges everywhere. Do you see how the Holy Spirit enlightens the saints? So, be careful that instead of Him, because of the similarity of the name, you do not receive another spirit, but try to find the exact signs. 19. If, while you are sitting, the thought of purity or virginity comes to you, then this is the teaching of the Holy Spirit. Don’t we often see that a girl, having already been at the marriage bed, ran away from it, being taught virginity by the Holy Spirit? Don't we often see how a glorious courtier despised wealth and dignity, being taught by the Holy Spirit? Don’t we often see that a young man, seeing bodily beauty, closed his eyes, moved away so as not to see it, and thus avoided defilement? You want to know why this happened: the Holy Spirit taught the soul of the young man. There are so many flattering benefits in the world, but Christians have nothing. Why? By inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A truly invaluable gift, the Holy and Good Spirit. Righteously we are baptized into the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Man, while still in the flesh, confronts many of the most ferocious unclean spirits. And often the unclean spirit, which many could not subdue with iron bonds, was subdued by the prayer of the one in whom the power of the Holy Spirit dwelt: and one breath of the conjurer becomes fire for these invisible enemies. So, we have a great Champion and Representative from God, a great Teacher of the Church, a great Patron. Let us not fear evil spirits, nor the devil himself, for our Defender is greater; Let us only open the doors to Him. For He, going around everywhere, looks for those worthy, looking for someone to communicate His gifts to. 20. He is called the Comforter because He consoles, exhorts and alleviates our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed (Rom. 8:26), obviously before God. It often happens that someone suffers unjust anger and dishonor for Christ: martyrdom ensues, torment comes from everywhere, and fire, and swords, and animals, and the abyss. But the Holy Spirit inspires, saying: Trust in the Lord (Ps. 26:14). Human! It doesn’t matter what happens to you, but the gifts are great: without working here for long, you will live forever with the Angels. For I think that the sufferings of this present time are not worth anything in comparison with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). He depicts to man the Kingdom of Heaven, and shows the paradise of sweetness; and the martyrs, of necessity, standing before the courts personally in the body, being already in paradise by the power of the Spirit, despised the cruelties they saw. 21. And do you want to know that by the power of the Holy Spirit the martyrs accomplish the feat of martyrdom? The Savior speaks about this to the Disciples: When they bring you into the synagogues, to the principalities and powers, do not worry about how or what to answer, or what to say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you should say (Luke 12:11-12). For it is impossible to accomplish martyrdom for Christ if one does not accomplish it with the help of the Holy Spirit. For if no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3), then who would give his life for Jesus without the help of the Holy Spirit? 22. Great, omnipotent and wonderful in gifts is the Holy Spirit. Think how many of you are there now, how many souls are here! He acts, adapting to everyone and being among us, he sees everyone’s properties, sees thoughts and conscience, knows what we say and what we think. What I have said about Him is truly great, but it is still not enough. You, who have a mind enlightened by Him, look how many Christians are in our region and throughout Palestine; then from this area turn your mind's eye to the entire Roman kingdom; and after this look at the whole world, at the Persian tribes, at the Indian peoples, at the Goths and Sarmatians, at the Gauls and Spanish, at the Moors, and Libyans, and Ethiopians, and at other peoples unknown to us. For we do not even know many peoples by name. Look in every nation at the bishops, presbyters, deacons, monastic virgins, and also at the laity. Look how the great Representative and Distributor of gifts throughout the world grants purity to one, perpetual virginity to another, a disposition to alms to another, love of poverty to another, and the power to drive out nasty spirits to another; and just as light with one flicker of a ray illuminates everything, so the Holy Spirit enlightens those who have eyes. So, if anyone, being blind, is not worthy of grace, let him not blame the Spirit, but his own unbelief. 23. You have seen His power at work throughout the world; do not stop on earth, but ascend to heights; Ascend your mind to the first heaven and look there at the myriads of Angels. Raise your thoughts, if you can, even higher. Look at the Archangels, look at these Spirits, look at the Powers, look at the Principalities, look at the Powers, look at the Thrones, look at the Dominions. Comforter for all of them, Ruler from God and Teacher and Sanctifier. Men have need of Him, Elijah and Elisha and Isaiah; The Angels, Michael and Gabriel, need Him. Nothing created has equal dignity to Him. The ranks of Angels and their entire host are not equal to the Holy Spirit. All of them are invisible before the all-good power of the Comforter. They are sent into service, and He tests the depths of God, as the apostle says: The Spirit penetrates everything, even the depths of God. For which man knows what is in a man except the spirit of man that dwells in him? Likewise, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:10–11). 24. He proclaimed Christ in the prophets; He acted in the apostles; He still seals souls in baptism. And although the Father gives everything to the Son, the Son gives it over to the Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself says this, not me: All things have been delivered to Me by My Father (Matthew 11:27). And about the Holy Spirit he says: When He comes, the Spirit of truth, etc. (John 16:13). He will glorify Me, because He will take of Mine and proclaim it to you (John 16:14). Everything is given by the Father through the Son together with the Holy Spirit. Not some gifts of the Father, others of the Son, but others of the Holy Spirit. There is one salvation, one power, one faith, one God the Father, one Lord, His Only Begotten Son, one Holy Spirit the Comforter. It is enough for us to know this; do not be curious about His nature or being. For if it had been written about this, we would have spoken. What is not written, we dare not say. It is enough for us to know for salvation that there is a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Spirit. 25. This Spirit descended on the seventy elders under Moses (but let a long conversation not be a burden to you, beloved; May He Himself of whom we speak give strength to all of us, both to me, the speaker, and to you, the listener). This Spirit descended, as I said, on the seventy elders under Moses. I offer this to you in order to now show that He knows everything and acts as He pleases. Seventy elders were chosen: And the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was on him, and gave it to seventy elders (Num. 11:25); It was not the Spirit that was divided, but the grace that was divided according to the readiness and ability of those who received it. But sixty-eight were there and prophesied; Eldad and Modad were not there. So, to show that it was not Moses who communicated this gift, but the active Spirit, Eldad and Modad, although they were called, did not come and meanwhile prophesied. 26. Joshua, the successor of Moses, was amazed and came and said to Moses: You heard that Eldad and Modad prophesied; they were called and did not come: My lord Moses! rebuke them (Num. 11:28). “I cannot forbid them,” says Moses, “for it is a gift from heaven; and all the more I cannot forbid them that I myself have the gift of grace. But I don’t think you said that out of envy. Do not envy that they prophesy, but you have not yet prophesied. Wait for time." Oh, that all the Lord's people would be prophets, that the Lord would send His Spirit upon them! (Numbers 11:29) Moses also said this prophetically: when the Lord willing. Now I haven’t given it yet, that’s why you don’t have it yet. Did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph not have this Spirit? Did their former ones also not have Him? But these words: when the Lord gives, obviously mean that he will give for everyone. Now grace is partial, then it will be given abundantly. He spoke fortune-telling about what happened to us on the day of Pentecost, for the same Spirit came upon us. He has visited many before. For it is written: And Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, because Moses laid his hands on him (Deut. 34:9). Do you see that everywhere, both in the Old and New Testaments, the Spirit was communicated in the same way? Under Moses, the Spirit was communicated through the laying on of hands; and Peter communicated the Spirit through the laying on of hands: and upon you, when you are baptized, grace will come; how? I don’t say it, because it’s not time yet. 27. This Spirit descended on all the righteous and prophets, i.e. Enos, Enoch, Noah and others: on Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. And regarding Joseph, Pharaoh already knew that he had the Spirit of God in him. You have heard many times about Moses and his wonderful actions performed by the power of the Spirit. The courageous Job and all the saints had this Spirit, although we cannot count the names of all of them. 28. By the power of this Spirit, as we read in the book of Judges, Othniel judged; Gideon was strong, Jephthah was victorious, Deborah’s wife fought; and Sampson, as long as he acted righteously and did not offend the Spirit, did by His power works greater than man. We clearly read about Samuel and David in the books of Kings, how they themselves prophesied by the Holy Spirit and were leaders of other prophets. Samuel was called a seer (1 Samuel 9:9), and David clearly says: The Spirit of the Lord speaks in me (2 Samuel 23:2); and in the Psalms: Take not Thy Holy Spirit from me (Ps. 50:13); and in another place: Let Your good Spirit lead me into the land of righteousness (Ps. 143:10). In the book of Chronicles we read that Azariah during the reign of Asa and Jaziel during the reign of Jehoshaphat were granted the Holy Spirit; and another Azariah, stoned. Ezra says: And You gave them Your good Spirit to instruct them (Nehemiah 9:20). Although we do not speak about Elijah, who was taken into heaven, and Elisha, these spirit-bearers and miracle workers, it is known, however, that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 29. If anyone reads all the books of the twelve and other prophets, he will find many testimonies about the Holy Spirit. Micah, on behalf of God, says: But I am filled with the power of the Spirit of the Lord (Micah 3:8). Joel exclaims: And it shall come to pass after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh, etc. (Joel 2:28). Haggai says: I am with you... and My Spirit remains among you (Hag.2:4-5). Likewise Zechariah: But did not My words and My decrees, which I commanded My servants the prophets, comprehend your fathers? and so on. (Zechariah 1:6). 30. Isaiah speaks loudly: and the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and piety; and will be filled with the fear of the Lord (Is. 11:2-3). The Prophet shows that although the Spirit is one and indivisible, His actions are different. And in another place: Jacob my servant (Is.44:1), and then: I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants (Is.44:3). And again: the Lord God and His Spirit have sent me (Is. 48:16). Also: this is My covenant with them, says the Lord: My Spirit which is upon you (Isaiah 59:21). And also: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, for the Lord has anointed Me, etc. (Isa.61:1); then, speaking to the Jews: But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit (Is. 63:10), again: where is He who put His Holy Spirit in his heart? (Isa.63:11). Do you remember (unless you are tired of listening) and the testimony already cited from Ezekiel: And the Spirit of the Lord came upon me and said to me: say, thus says the Lord (Ezek. 11:5). These words: descended on me - should be taken in a good direction: they mean strong love; how, for example, Jacob, seeing Joseph, fell on his neck (Gen. 46:29), and how the child-loving father mentioned in the Gospel, seeing his son returning from a distant country, was moved by mercy, and, running, fell on his neck and kissed him (Luke 15:20); and also in Ezekiel: and He carried me to Chaldea, among the exiles, in a vision, by the Spirit of God (Ezek. 11:24). And you heard other testimonies before in the teaching about baptism: And I will sprinkle you with clean water, and so on. (Ezek.36:25), and I will give it to you (Ezek.36:26). And immediately: I will give you a new spirit; then: The hand of the Lord was upon me, and the Lord brought me out by the Spirit (Ezek. 37:1). 31. This Holy Spirit made Daniel's soul wise, so that he became a judge of the elders while he was a youth. The chaste Susanna was condemned as an adulterer: there was no defender, who could save her from the judges? She was led to death, was already in the hands of murderers. But the Helper appeared, the Comforter, the Spirit, sanctifying all mental nature. Go, young man, He says to Daniel, convict the elders of the sins of their youth. For it is written: God stirred up the holy spirit of a young youth (Dan. 13:45), and, however, we will say briefly, through the voice of Daniel the chaste Susanna was saved. We only offer this for evidence. For now is not the time to tell in detail. And Nebuchadnezzar knew that Daniel had the Holy Spirit. For he said to him: Belshazzar, chief of the wise men! I know that the spirit of the holy God is in you (Dan.4:6). On the one hand, he told the truth, and on the other, an evil lie: that he had the Holy Spirit is true. But he was not the prince of charms, for he was not a sorcerer, but he was wise from the Holy Spirit. Before this, Daniel explained to him a vision of an image, which the one who saw himself did not understand; tell me, he said, a vision that I saw, but do not know. Do you see the power of the Holy Spirit; What those who have seen do not know, those who have not seen know and explain. 32. It was truly possible to collect a lot of evidence from the Old Testament and tell more about the Holy Spirit, but time is short; Moreover, one must be careful not to burden those listening. Therefore, now, having been satisfied with the testimonies from the Old Testament, we will offer the rest from the New, if God wills, in the next teaching. May the God of peace, through our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of the Spirit (Rom. 15:30), make you all worthy of spiritual and heavenly gifts. Glory to Him and power forever and ever. Amen. You might be interested in: