(28) "Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter,
(29) but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--
(28) Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πάντα ἀφεθήσεται τοῖς υἱοῖς τῶν ἀνθρώπων, τὰ ἁμαρτήματα καὶ αἱ βλασφημίαι ὅσα ἐὰν βλασφημήσωσιν·
(29) ὃς δ' ἂν βλασφημήσῃ εἰς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον οὐκ ἔχει ἄφεσιν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἀλλὰ ἔνοχός ἐστιν αἰωνίου ἁμαρτήματος
This passage always creates some controversy. How can there be an unpardonable sin? What does it mean to blaspheme the Holy Spirit? Is this something we as Christians should worry about?
My understanding is that if we are concerned about it then we have nothing to worry about. A Christian is someone who is sealed and indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, a Christian cannot blaspheme him.
Him? Yes, I wrote Him. Of course, τὸ πνεῦμα is neuter, but that doesn't make the Holy Spirit neuter. The word for "spirit" is τὸ πνεῦμα. In this case, the words τὸ ἅγιον modify the word "spirit." This refers to The Holy Spirit. The articles on both words imply that the two go together.
My take on this is that we cannot blaspheme an impersonal force. We'll get to this more later on when we get to the book of Ephesians. Also, how is it possible to blaspheme anyone but God? I agree that the Trinity is never explicitly spelled out in Scripture other than the spurious addition in 1 John 5, but there is plenty here to understand the triune nature of God. Three persons, one God. Confusing? Yes. Again, I don't want to worship a God that I can completely understand. If God were completely comprehendible by men then He isn't much of a God.
7 comments:
My understanding is that if we are concerned about it then we have nothing to worry about.
That's our take, as well. The mere fact that a person is genuinely remorseful over this or that trespass is an indication that they haven't committed "the unforgiveable sin."
Greetings Jason
Although you don't want to worship a God that you can completely understand;
nevertheless, the ONE GOD,the Father, seeks you to worship solely HIM as Almighty GOD i.e.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Seeing that the Trinity is never explicitly spelled out in Scripture,
I recommend this video:
The Human Jesus
Take a couple of hours to watch it; and prayerfully it will aid you to reconsider "The Trinity"
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
So why didn't Jesus correct Thomas when Thomas worshiped Him as Lord?
Because Thomas worshiped Christ (rightly) as the Lord Messiah, the Son of GOD;
[Hence, John 20.31; cp. Matt. 14.33]
not as the Lord GOD.
Jesus, the Son of GOD is indeed
the Lord Messiah
[Col 3.24, Luke 2.11, Acts 2.36]
Please watch the video; I am confident it will address your queries.
Yours In Messiah
Adam Pastor
The Human Jesus
I am unlikely to watch the video because of time constraints and the linguistic evidence that is overwheling to me. John 8:58 is another example.
It basically comes down to whether or not you think Arius was a heretic. Either the council got it right or they didn't. I think this is one place where the church got it right.
Hi Jason,
I think you're quite correct with regard to Thomas. His declaration wasn't that Jesus is Messiah, but ὁ κύριός μου καὶ ὁ θεός μου. John 8:24 certainly sets up the scene in chapter 8 to boldly assert that unless one believes Jesus is YHWH they remain dead in sin.
You never did explain what you think the unforgivable sin entails...
Grace and peace.
Clearly it is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, whatever that is exactly.
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