Spirit’s Procession

Spirit proceeds from the Father (John 15:26, an the Son, John 20:22).

Discuss video content on procession of the Holy Spirit.

I thought it was important to first address the creedal truth which I briefly mentioned that I align with when I was talking about the procession of the Holy Spirit in the last video. Creedal truth is with reference to the Nicene Creed formed at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which was done to refute Arian heresy spreading at the time. Athanasius was the prominent defender of the Tartarian view held unanimously by Christians today. I would actually argue that any doctrine claiming to be Christian which does not profess the Trinity is heretical by that simple point.

In the last video, I mentioned a Title of the Holy Spirit from Genesis 1:2, ‘Spirit of God’ this is similar to biblical titles given to Christ, which he and the Father declared he is the Son of God, and the Son of Man.

This Title of the Holy Spirit can be explained in the same way, it is declaration of both the Spirit’s relations to the Father and the Son (which is relation to God, sharing in the divine nature of God) and the Spirit’s procession from God as God.

The Spirit has the same authority as the Father and the Son, but is distinguishable in person and is identifiable therefore as the third person within the Trinity.

What does it mean distinguishable by person? A person has a personality, they have unique qualities allowing you to distinguish them. But the nature of God is not that of man. God is one being in 3 persons, all sharing the divine nature of God but in unity and oneness.

The Trinitarian doctrine was formed on the premise that in scripture the Father, Son and Spirit all claim divinity, and they all claim sovereignty. They all demonstrate different personal characteristics, but scripture also emphasises one God, Deuteronomy 6:4 ““Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” and Isaiah 46:9 “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me,” , it was therefore established that God is one God which exists in 3 persons distinguishable by role and person, but is in perfect unity through love. The Father begat the Son, the Spirit Proceeds from the Son and the Father, this is in eternity therefore there was never a time when the Father hadn’t begat the Son and the Spirit wouldn’t Proceed from the Father and the Son.

The word echad.

Now, the Son begotten of the Father shows their connection, the Sprit proceeding from the Father shows their connection, hence, the Nicene creed declares similarly the Spirit’s connection to the Son must in some way be procession from the Son. Some argue that the procession is different to that of the Father such as Eastern Orthodox, which says the Spirit proceeds only from the Father, but sometimes through the Son.

In my view this is a poor justification, and when we look at verses such as John 16:7 “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Philippians 1:19 “for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,”

These verses emphasise the Spirit being of Christ in a way which is identical to that of the Father.

What do we mean by the Spirit proceeds? Well in short, it is the theological explanation for the Sprit’s relationship to the Father and the Son, no one truly knows why, as the same question could be asked as to why is God all powerful, no one knows why, he just is, God by very nature is all powerful, like I by nature am sinful, its a fundamental quality within my being.

The Bible describes us as Spirit, Soul and Body in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” . I cannot separate one from the other and still be being that I am, I am those 3 in unity which makes the completeness of me. Are we not made in the image of God? 

The term proceeds provides suggestion that the Spirit eternally emanates from the Father and the Son, and is therefore of God. The Spirit is by nature God because He is eternally emanated from the Father and the Son, thereby sharing the divine nature of the Father and the Son.

This is thereby how the Spirit proceeds forth, doing the active work of God in all things an people, throughout the entirety of the Cosmos, The Spirit of all that is Good and Holy, True and just, mighty and awesome.

I want to end with a few Bible verses:

Psalm 33:4–5 “For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”

What a stupendously unfathomable God we have. Glory be to you Lord.

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.