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Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions · 12

The Relationship of the Apostles with the Holy Spirit

Faith Q&A › Many Years with People's Questions › Part IV

The question

Were all the Apostles supported by the Holy Spirit? And on this basis did the Lord Christ have the same relationship with the Holy Spirit as the apostles had?

The answer

The apostles had a relationship with the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit - according to the Creed - was the One who 'spoke through the prophets'.

But the relationship that the Lord Christ had with the Holy Spirit was hypostatic and quite distinct from that of the apostles or anyone else with the Spirit. This is because Christ's relationship with the Holy Spirit is eternal, and is based on equality.

Christ's relationship with the Holy Spirit existed before the creation of the world, before all ages, before time and from

infinity, while none of the apostles had this same kind of relationship.

Christ abides in the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit abides in Him, and both are ever-present in their mutual essence. They are of the same nature. This is the point on which Christ differed from all others in His relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Then again it was Christ who sent the Holy Spirit to the holy disciples, so that it came upon them on the day of Pentecost, and gave them the gift of speaking in tongues. None of the apostles could ever have said that he had sent the Holy Spirit.

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Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory

Thrice-Blessed Pope Shenouda III of Blessed Memory, Many Years with People's Questions, Part IV: Dogma and Ritual Questions. Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate. Translated by Mrs. Glynis Younan, London. Revised by Mrs. Wedad Abbas. First edition, August 1992. Revised COEPA 1997. ISBN 977-5319-0-2-1.