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Sender: Eddie

I am not so clear about these verses that teach

ONE SPIRIT???

â?oFor through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Fatherâ?�
Ephesians 2:18

 â?oBut he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.â?�
1Cr6:17

 â?oFor by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.â?�
1Cr12:13

â?o[There is] one body,
and one Spirit,
even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.â?�
Ephesians 4:4-6

â?o[Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.â?�
John 14:17



Or SEVEN SPIRITS ???

â?oAnd unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.â?�
Rev 3:1

â?oAnd out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and [there were] seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.â?�
Rev 4:5

 â?oAnd I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.â?�
Rev 5:6

 â?oFor who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; they [are] the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.â?�
Zechariah 4:10

 â?oAnd the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;â?�
Isaiah 11:2


OR FOUR SPIRITS???
â?oAnd the angel answered and said unto me,
These [are] the four spirits of the heavens,
which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.â?�
Zechariah 6:5


Does anyone have an understanding of the different number of spirits???

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The one thing you want to keep in mind is that these various passages all come from different genres of scripture. The Bible is written in many types of genres, including the letter, the Gospels, narratives, apocalyptic, phrophetic oracle, etc.

It is important to note the genre because each genre comes with a set of expectations on how to read and understand them. Here is an example. You get a letter in the mail and is starts, "Dear John." And the letter is signed from Ed McMann. Does that mean he is a close dear friend? He began the letter with "Dear John." No of course not. The reason is that this genre is a form letter. It comes with a set of expectations on how to read and understand it. We know that the word "Dear" is merely a part of the standard way to write a letter.

The passages you cite above from the epistles, such as 1 Corinthians, are straightforward. There is just one Spirit. However, the passages from Revelation and the prophetic oracles come from a genre that favors symbolism. The book of Revelation is full of these symbols. Seven is a symbolic number that designates completeness or perfection. The idea is that the Spirit of God in all his fullness is at work. This same idea is expressed in the Isaiah passage. God in the fullness of his Spirit is at work. In Zechariah, the number for stands for the earth. It is used often in the same way in prophetic or apocalyptic visions. Sometimes you read about the "four corners" of the earth. God's Spirit goes out over the whole earth.

One must keep in mind that in apocalyptic and prophetic literature, the use of vivid imagery and symbols are abundant. For instance, there are many prophecies that speak of David ruling on this throne long after he is dead and buried. IN some oracles, the stars sing for joy, the trees and waters take on human characteristics and may exhibit pride. Of course, we understand the figurative nature of this vivid imagery.

So, how many Spirits are there? Paul clearly says in Ephesians 4 that there is only one Spirit just as there is only one God.

John Telgren

P.O. Box 452

Leavenworth, KS 66048

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