Q: When Jesus says in Matthew 12 ‘but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.’… what exactly is the Holy Ghost? Also so if anyone speaks wrong / against the Holy Ghost they will never be forgiven or go to Heaven?
In Matthew 12, when Jesus speaks about the “Holy Ghost” (often referred to as the Holy Spirit in many Bible translations), He is referring to the third person of the Christian Trinity. The Trinity concept in Christian theology describes God as one Being in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is often understood as the presence of God active in the world and in believers, guiding, inspiring, and sanctifying them.
The passage you’re referring to, Matthew 12:31-32, is a complex and much-debated one in Christian theology. Jesus says, “And so I tell you, every kind of sin and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (NIV).
The precise meaning of “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” has been interpreted in various ways throughout Christian history. Generally, it is understood to mean attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to the devil or stubbornly refusing to acknowledge and repent of one’s sins despite the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. It’s seen as a willful, persistent rejection of God’s grace and forgiveness.
As for the question of forgiveness and heaven, many theologians argue that this sin is unforgivable because it represents a heart hardened against God’s grace. In this view, it’s not so much that God refuses forgiveness, but that the person in question has irrevocably turned away from accepting it. Thus, it’s not a specific word or action against the Holy Spirit that is unforgivable but a state of the heart that continuously and willfully rejects God’s grace.
It’s a nuanced and deeply theological topic, and various Christian denominations may have slightly different interpretations of this passage. The key takeaway is that it’s not just a matter of a single blasphemous statement but a persistent state of the heart and rejection of God’s grace that is at the heart of this warning.
I disagree with the AIs response, there is no trinity. The bible is quite clear that there is only ONE omnipotent omniscient creator (let’s call him the Deity). The bible often uses personification in its writings. The holy spirit is an example of this; put simply it is the Deity’s power. At the time of the gospel writings, Christ had been anointed with the Holy spirit without measure (he could perform any miracle, alter the law of physics etc), the disciples were gifted the holy spirit in part (some could heal the sick, some could prophecy, speak in tongues etc). Those living and witnessing these miracles could see with their own eyes the Holy spirit power and know that only the Deity could provide such a power to whoever possessed it. If they denied the Holy spirit whilst witnessing it first hand with their own eyes that was unforgiveable and blasphemous. That’s basically what i believe answers your question… I’m sorry i don’t have time to find the relevant scripture to substantiate what I’m saying here - God willing, I’ll return at a later date and post more!
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Thank @MAI ,
I have also ran your above response through AI out of curiosity of response.
If interested, the response was:
In response to MAI’s disagreement, and integrating scriptural references:
MAI’s perspective is reflective of the Christadelphian viewpoint, which diverges from the doctrine of the Trinity, commonly accepted in mainstream Christian denominations. Christadelphians interpret the Holy Spirit as the power of God, rather than a separate person within a Trinity. This interpretation focuses on the oneness of God, as emphasized in scriptures like Deuteronomy 6:4, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” The Holy Spirit is viewed as God’s active force or power, aligning with passages such as Acts 1:8, where Jesus says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”
MAI’s understanding of the unforgivable sin in Matthew 12 offers a distinct perspective. In this view, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is tied to a deliberate denial of God’s evident power, especially as demonstrated through Jesus Christ and the apostles via miracles. This interpretation underscores the responsibility of those who directly witnessed Christ’s miracles and still attributed them to a non-divine source, contrary to what is suggested in John 14:11, “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves.”
This Christadelphian interpretation emphasizes the importance of recognizing and accepting God’s power as manifested through Jesus and the early church, resonating with scriptures like John 3:2, where Nicodemus acknowledges, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
Given the variation in theological interpretation, it’s crucial for individuals to investigate these topics in a manner consistent with their faith tradition and personal beliefs. Engaging with diverse viewpoints, such as those from mainstream Christian theology and the Christadelphian perspective, can enhance the understanding of scriptural texts and the varied interpretations they receive within the Christian community.
Steve
Interesting. So given the AI’s last paragraph, Is it’s own ‘faith and personal belief’ that of mainstream Christianity? It’s original answer it gave appeared as a statement of truth and it wasn’t until i disagreed about the trinity it gave a more balanced and varied perspective. All through scripture, it points to only a very few small remnant holding fast to ‘The Truth’ - think the flood when only Noah & his family was saved, the end of the Jewish dispensation AD70 when the ‘remnant of the woman’s seed’ escaped into the wilderness (Revelation 12 i think)… all prophecies state that it will be the same at the end of gentile times when Christ returns. If that’s the case, logic would dictate that any ‘mainstream’ widely-held religion is not going to be Truth. Just a quick though as I’m off out! X
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