Introduction
Prepositions identify and specify relationships, positions, locations, and actions. This study classifies the various prepositions used in Scripture regarding the Presence-Influence of the Holy Spirit among God’s servants and disciples. The Presence-Influence issue is synonymous with the Indwelling-Operation question.
A foundational understanding of biblical pneumatology helps us evaluate and accept the scripture passages listed in this article. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Godhead—pure spirit in essence, infinite, transcendent, immanent, omnipresent, and omnipotent.
Three Major Views on the Presence-Influence (Indwelling) Issue
View #1: The Holy Spirit’s presence-influence is personal and operates in conjunction with the Word.
View #2: The Holy Spirit’s presence-influence is mediated through the Word only.
View #3: The Holy Spirit’s presence-influence is strictly figurative/symbolic, neither literal, personal, nor through the Word.
Position of the Author: View #1 is the most biblically consistent and defensible position. While the Spirit frequently influences through spoken and written instruction, the following passages clearly state or strongly imply a personal presence and influence. As you examine each passage, consider this core question: Is the presence-influence of the Holy Spirit personal or not?
Scriptural Classification by Prepositional Usage
A. The Holy Spirit Is Upon, On, or Rests Upon a Servant / Disciple
Num. 11:17, 25–27 – Came upon Moses and the 70 Elders
Num. 11:26 – Came upon Eldad and Medad
Num. 27:18 – The Spirit is in/upon Joshua
Judges 3:10 – Came upon Othniel
Judges 6:34 – Came upon Gideon
Judges 11:29 – Came upon Jephthah
Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14 – Came upon Samson
1 Sam. 10:6, 10 – Came upon Saul
1 Sam. 16:13 – Came upon King David
1 Sam. 19:20 – Came upon the messengers of Saul
1 Sam. 19:23 – Came upon Saul
2 Chron. 15:1 – Came upon Azariah
2 Chron. 20:14 – Came upon Jahaziel
2 Chron. 24:20 – Came upon Zechariah
Isa. 11:2; 42:1; 61:1 – Rests upon the Messiah
Isa. 32:15 – Poured out upon Israel
Isa. 59:21 – Upon the prophet and his descendants
Joel 2:28–29 – Poured out upon all flesh
Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32 – Spirit descended upon Jesus
Matt. 12:18 – Put My Spirit upon Him (the Messiah)
Luke 2:25 – The Holy Spirit was upon Simeon
Luke 24:49 – Promise of the Father sent upon the apostles
Acts 1:8 – The Holy Spirit comes upon you
Acts 2:17–18 – Pour out My Spirit on all flesh
Acts 2:33 – Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit
Acts 8:15–19 – Holy Spirit fell upon the Samaritans
Acts 10:44–45; 11:15 – Holy Spirit fell/poured out upon Cornelius and the Gentiles
Titus 3:5–6 – Holy Spirit poured out abundantly
1 Pet. 4:14 – The Spirit of glory rests upon the persecuted
B. The Holy Spirit Dwells In a Servant / Disciple
Psa. 51:11 – “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (departure implies presence within/with David)
Dan. 4:18 – The Holy Spirit dwells in Daniel
John 7:39 – The Spirit whom believers would receive
1 Cor. 3:16 – The church/believer is a temple of the indwelling Spirit
1 Cor. 6:19 – The physical body of a disciple is a temple of the Holy Spirit
Rom. 8:11 – The Spirit who raised Jesus dwells in you
Gal. 5:17 – The internal conflict between the flesh and the Spirit
2 Tim. 1:13–14 – The Holy Spirit who dwells in us
James 4:5 – The Spirit He caused to dwell in us
C. The Holy Spirit Is In or Entered Into a Servant / Disciple
Gen. 41:38 – The Spirit of God is in Joseph
Num. 27:18 – Joshua, a man in whom is the Spirit
Psa. 139:7 – God’s Spirit present everywhere in creation
Dan. 4:8–9, 18 – The Holy Spirit is in Daniel
Ezek. 2:2; 3:24 – The Spirit entered into Ezekiel
Ezek. 36:27; 37:14 – “I will put My Spirit in you” (Messianic promise to Israel)
Zech. 7:12 – The Spirit in the former prophets
John 14:17 – The Spirit of truth dwell with you and will be in you
Heb. 6:4 – Believers become partakers of the Holy Spirit
1 Pet. 1:11 – The Spirit of Christ in the OT prophets
D. The Holy Spirit Is With the Servant / Disciple
Isa. 63:14 – The Spirit of the Lord led Israel in the wilderness
Mic. 3:8 – Spirit of the Lord as the source of power for Micah
Mal. 2:15 – Remnant of the Spirit
Matt. 4:1; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1 – The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness
Luke 11:13 – The Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask
John 3:34 – God gives the Spirit without measure
John 14:17 – He dwells with you and will be in you
Rom. 8:16–17 – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit
Phil. 2:1 – Fellowship of the Spirit
E. The Holy Spirit Is Received By, Given To, or Possessed By
John 7:39 – Believers were to receive the Holy Spirit
John 20:22 – Jesus breathed on apostles: “Receive the Holy Spirit”
Acts 2:38 – Repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit
Acts 5:32 – The Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him
Acts 10:47 – Received the Holy Spirit just as we have
Acts 15:8 – God gave the Holy Spirit to the Gentiles
Acts 19:2, 6 – “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
Rom. 5:5 – Love poured out through the Holy Spirit given to us
Rom. 8:9 – If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His
Rom. 8:23 – Christians have the firstfruits of the Spirit
Gal. 3:2, 14 – Received the promise of the Spirit through faith
Gal. 4:6 – God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts
Eph. 1:13; 4:30 – Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise
1 Thess. 4:8 – God gives His Holy Spirit to us
Jude 19 – Worldly people who do not have the Spirit
F. The Holy Spirit Is Among or In the Midst Of God’s People
Isa. 63:11 – Put His Holy Spirit within their midst
Isa. 63:14 – The Spirit of the Lord gave them rest
Ezek. 36:27; 37:14 – My Spirit among/within redeemed Israel
Hag. 2:5 – “My Spirit remains among you; do not fear”
G. The Servant / Disciple Is Filled With the Holy Spirit
Exo. 31:3; 35:31 – Tabernacle artisans (Bezalel and workers) filled with the Spirit
Luke 1:15 – John the Baptist filled with the Spirit from his mother’s womb
Luke 1:41 – Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit
Luke 1:67 – Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 2:4 – Believers filled with the Spirit at Pentecost
Acts 4:8 – Peter filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 4:31 – The assembly filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking with boldness
Acts 6:3, 5 – Deacons selected as men “full of the Holy Spirit”
Acts 7:55 – Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven
Acts 11:24 – Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:9 – Paul filled with the Holy Spirit
Acts 13:52 – Disciples filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit
Eph. 5:18 – “Be filled with the Spirit”
Conclusion
We have examined numerous scriptural passages employing varied prepositions that strongly indicate the personal presence and direct influence of the Holy Spirit.
When reading these scriptures, allow the full weight of the text to guide your understanding. Avoid limiting God’s operations solely through physical or material frameworks. In the physical realm, an entity inside a boundary cannot simultaneously be outside of it. However, the Holy Spirit is both transcendent and immanent at the same time. As Deity, the Spirit exists outside of physical space and time while actively abiding with and within believers in the world.
Maraming salamat. Comments and feedback are welcome.
— Eusebio Tanicala, Ph.D.