Meet The Puritans

Adam-Christ Parallels (e.g. Holy Spirit)

Posted on 08. Sep, 2009 by Mark Jones.

The parallels between Adam and Christ provide an interesting starting-point for theological discussion, particularly in the area of Christology.  A question in connection with the parallels between Adam and Christ that seems to be rarely asked is whether Adam possessed the Holy Spirit.  Christ was the man of the Spirit par excellence (Isa. 41:1; 61:1-2; Lk. 4).

The Puritan, Thomas Goodwin, affirms that Adam possessed the Spirit in Eden.  Goodwin suggests that the Spirit “was in Adam’s heart to assist his graces, and cause them to flow and bring forth, and to move him to live according to those principles of life given him (6:54)”  There are, however, differences between his having the Spirit and ours!  The emphasis in our experience is, of course, Christological; we receive the risen exalted Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9) who dwells in our hearts by faith (Eph. 3:17), which happens to be the best way to discuss the ordo/historia salutis problem in my opinion. [...]

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