The Three Chief Stages of the Way

[Nowayout]

Originally Posted by Miss Hepburn

I'm loving all this talk of the Holy Spirit.

Tell me, Miss Hepburn, what do you think, is the Holy Spirit selective as a Christian spirit, one within the trinity. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Or does she? move in all places...in all times, in anyone?

The Holy Spirit descended upon us at Pentecost, and here we are...

Neither Enoch or Elijah went to Gods dwelling place-Heaven. John 3:13
Elijah wrote a letter to the king 10 years after the chariot event- 2Chronicles 21:12-15

If one notices Genesis 1:1-God created the heavens-- with an s--
1) our atmosphere
2) outer space
3) Gods dwelling place-- all referred to as heaven-- thus in light of John 3:13--- only those in darkness teach that Elijah and Enoch went to Gods dwelling place.

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 10 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by Nowayout

Father Son and Holy Spirit, we know this as the trinity. But are they equals?
Mind-body and soul, this is interesting theological, need to look at it again.

The Hindus also have a Trinity quite similar to the "Father Son and Holy Spirit" Trinity. What is your understanding of this Trinity?

Also, what is your understanding of the "Mind-body and soul" trinity?

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

QUOTE 10 EXCERPT: Also, what is your understanding of the "Mind-body and soul" trinity?

Still Waters,

This particular thing has bothered me for a long time. It has to do with the constitution of man…..tri-partite vs. bi-partite. Biblically and traditionally man was constituted of body, soul and spirit. Then the Church decided in one of the Councils of Constantinople…..either 867 or 869 ?…..that man was bi-partite….body and soul. The understanding essentially became that soul and spirit were synonymous…….removing some of the uniqueness of Spirit. Hebrews 4:12 speaks of the word of God being sharper than a double-edged sword that can “divide soul and spirit”. This undoubtedly had long term effects on points of emphasis and understanding.

FYI canon 11 Council of Constantinople 869 rejected the tripartite concept

Originally Posted by Molearner

FYI canon 11 Council of Constantinople 869 rejected the tripartite concept

This distinction is significant in understanding the scriptures. Failure to understand this, among other things, has allowed the promulgation and acceptance of the doctrine of original sin.

[Still_Waters]

Originally Posted by Molearner

This distinction is significant in understanding the scriptures. Failure to understand this, among other things, has allowed the promulgation and acceptance of the doctrine of original sin.

I find myself paying less and less attention to theologians ... especially western theologians and their "doctrine of original sin". The doctrine of original sin is strictly a western concept and is NOT accepted in the Eastern Christian Churches. Here is a good video on how the doctrine of original sin evolved via the western theologians.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgcnhI1K2Nw

[Still_Waters]

QUOTE 14 EXCERPT:

Originally Posted by Molearner

Biblically and traditionally man was constituted of body, soul and spirit. Then the Church decided …..that man was bi-partite….body and soul. The understanding essentially became that soul and spirit were synonymous…….removing some of the uniqueness of Spirit.

Unfortunately, words cannot adequately describe the nature of man who is "made in the image of God". Hence, theologians and intellectuals quibble over the choice of words and only end up confusing everyone.

In Hinduism, there are the pancha koshas (the five bodies/sheaths of man with the "soul" being beyond all five). That is their way of describing the nature of man. There are many different ways in the various traditions to describe the nature of man and none of them are really adequate.

I always refer questioners to Psalm 46:10 ("Be still and KNOW that I AM God.") Instead of simply reading the words of theologians and councils which often contradict each other, it seems best to BE STILL and KNOW.

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

... theologians and intellectuals quibble over
the choice of words and only end up confusing everyone.
BE STILL and KNOW.

Stop talking like me!!!

[Miss Hepburn]

Originally Posted by Nowayout

Tell me, Miss Hepburn, what do you think, is the Holy Spirit selective as a Christian spirit, one within the trinity.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

I had experiences of the Holy Spirit long before any Christian input, if that helps. Called them God, tho; God experiences,
Divine experiences...or being shown Reality...since 8 yrs old.
I don't dabble in conversations re the Trinity anymore online.
I'm no scholar and I don't care what anyone believes about it, sorry.