Cyril
of Jerusalem
Lecture 16, Part B
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit….” — 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4
Summary: The Holy Spirit is called water for a reason, St. Cyril contends; water is ubiquitous in and indispensable for life. The Holy Spirit’s distribution of gifts brings life to the Church. Even though the word spirit or wind has many confusing uses, there is only One Holy Spirit; from Whom we learn the need to be wary: for there are many false spirits abroad in this world. The Spirit comes to save us; yet, He will also judge us. He enlightened all the Prophets of the Old Testament, as well as all the Apostles of the New: freely given, He is never bought or sold. We do not control Him we share Him: for He empowers us, cooperating with us through our separate wills. As comforter He helps us endure suffering in persecution and tribulation. He helps us become what the Father wants us to be.
Preview: 12. “Why did He call the grace of the Spirit water? Because by water all things subsist….”[i] “Thus also the Holy Ghost, being one, and of one
nature, and indivisible, divides to each His grace, according as He will.”[ii] And so, divers spiritual gifts are
distributed to people who were formerly dry and comparatively lifeless:
struggling just to survive the drought of their own souls. “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal. For to one
is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge
according to the same Spirit; to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to
another gifts of healing, in the same Spirit; and to another workings of miracles;
and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; and to another
various kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: but all
these works that one and the same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He
will.”[iii] 13. “For
as Aaron is called Christ, and David and Saul and others are called Christs, but
there is only one true Christ[iv], so likewise
since the name of spirit is given to different things, it is right to see what is
that which is distinctively called the Holy Spirit.”[v] “Beware therefore when you hear these things,
lest from their having a common name thou mistake one for another.” 14.
Yes, the Spirit speaks, “The Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join
yourself to this chariot.”[vi] “The
Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and said to me, Thus says the Lord.”[vii] “The Holy Ghost said….”[viii]
“Behold
thou the Spirit living, separating, calling, and with authority sending forth?” “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesses in
every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.”[ix] Jesus said, “He shall teach you all things
(and He said not only, He shall teach, but also, He shall bring to
your remembrance whatever I have said to you;[x] for the
teachings of Christ and of the Holy Ghost are not different, but the same)….” 15. “But
sin also is called spirit … in another … sense, as … The spirit of whoredom
caused them to err.[xi] The name spirit is given also to the unclean
spirit[xii], the devil….” “The devils are verily foes of men, using them
foully and mercilessly.” 16. “Such is not the Holy Ghost…. For His doings tend the contrary way, towards
what is good and salutary. First, His coming
is gentle; the perception of Him is fragrant; His burden most light; beams of light
and knowledge gleam forth before His coming.
He comes with the bowels of a true guardian: for He comes to save, and to
heal, to teach, to admonish, to strengthen, to exhort, to enlighten the mind, first
of him who receives Him, and afterwards of others also, through him.” So, a man is transported from darkness to
light. “He sees, like Esaias, the
Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up;[xiii] he
sees, like Ezekiel, Him who is above the Cherubim;[xiv] he sees
like Daniel, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands….”[xv] 17. “Peter was not with Ananias and Sapphira when
they sold their possessions, but he was present by the Spirit; Why, he says,
has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?[xvi] There was no accuser; there was no witness; whence
knew he what had happened?...
[as] in the case also of Elisseus.… Gehazi received the reward … you have sold the
cure of the leper, and the leprosy is your heritage. I, he says, have fulfilled the bidding of Him who
said to me, Freely you have received, freely give;[xvii] but
you have sold this grace; receive now the condition of the sale. But what says Elisseus to him? Went not mine heart with you?[xviii] …
Do you see how the Holy Ghost not only rids of ignorance, but invests with knowledge?
Do you see how He enlightens men's souls?” 18. “Esaias
… says, Zion shall be ploughed as
a field [xix]… And
the daughter of Zion shall be left as a booth in a vineyard, as a lodge in a
garden of cucumbers.[xx] And now the place is filled with gardens of cucumbers. Do you see how the Holy Spirit enlightens the
saints? Be not therefore carried away to
other things, by the force of a common term, but keep fast the exact meaning.” 19. “And
if ever, while you have been sitting here, a thought concerning chastity or virginity
has come into your mind….” “Many ways of
covetousness are there in the world; yet Christians refuse possessions: wherefore? Because of the teaching of the Holy Ghost.” “A mighty ally and protector, therefore, have
we from God; a great Teacher of the Church, a mighty Champion on our behalf. Let us not be afraid of the demons, nor of the
devil; for mightier is He who fights for us.
Only let us open to Him our doors; for He goes about seeking such
as are worthy and searching on whom He
may confer His gifts. 20. “And He is called the Comforter, because He comforts
and encourages us, and helps our infirmities; for we know not what we should
pray for as we ought; but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us, with groanings
which cannot be uttered.”[xxi] Facing martyrdom, the Spirit whispers, “Wait
on the Lord,[xxii] O man; what is now befalling
you is a small matter, the reward will be great.[xxiii] Suffer a little while, and you shall be with Angels
forever.[xxiv] The sufferings of this present time art not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”[xxv] 21. “And
would you be sure that by the power of the Holy Ghost the Martyrs bear their witness?
The Savior says to His disciples, And
when they bring you unto the synagogues, and the magistrates, and authorities,
be not anxious how you shall answer, or what you shall say; for the Holy Ghost
shall teach you in that very hour, what you ought to say.”[xxvi] 22. “Great
indeed, and all-powerful in gifts, and wonderful, is the Holy Ghost. Consider, how many of you are now sitting here,
how many souls of us are present. He is working
suitably for each, and being present in the midst, beholds the temper of each, beholds
also his reasoning and his conscience, and what we say, and think, and believe.”
[i]
Hence, we find a reference to the Spirit in Psalms 1:3.
[iv]
The word meaning anointed is fairly common in Scripture; we are anointed at
baptism; there are many anointed: but, there is only One Anointed, One Christ,
One Messiah.
[v]
The word meaning wind is also fairly common in Scripture; we receive the Spirit
at baptism; each of us also has a human spirit; there are many spirits: but,
there is only One Holy Spirit, One Paraclete.
[vi]
Acts 8:29
[ix]
Acts 20:23
[xi]
Hosea 4:12
[xii]
Zechariah 13:2; Matthew 10:1; 12:43; Mark 1:23, 26-27; 3:11, 30; 5:2, and
others
[xviii]
2 Kings 5:20-36
[xix]
Micah 3:12; Jeremiah 26:18
[xx]
Isaiah 1:8
[xxii]
Psalms 27:14; 37:34
[xxiii]
Matthew 5:12
[xxiv]
1 Peter 5:10
[xxv]
Romans 8:18
[xxvi]
Luke 12:11-12
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