Abstract
This is a ten page MLA exegesis on the Book of John. There are three references which were applied in this exegesis. This MLA citation style exegesis will examine John 7: 39. This MLA citation style exegesis will explore the qualities of context, form, structure, redaction and any editorial changes which may have been made in the subject passage, John 7: 39. A theological analysis will be conducted and the questions which will be reviewed in the theological analysis will be the following:
- What does this passage say about the relationship with God?
- What questions might this passage have addressed for the community for which it was originally written?
A conclusion will summarize the contents of this exegenenesis.
- a. Literary Criticism
- 1. Context
The passage is to be expounded is John 7:39. This passage states: By this he meant the spirit, who those behind him were later destined to receive. Up to that time, the spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not been glorified. The passages which precede this passage are John 7: 37- 38. It is stated from John 7: 37 : On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink”. Verse 38 continues: “Who ever believes in Me as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”. The verse is completely affected by the significance of the first two verses which precede John 7: 39. The verse is directly related to the preceding verse (Fuller, 1969; Brown, 1997).
- 2. Form Criticism
The literary form of this passage is in the narrative. Many of the books which discuss this phenomenon of baptism and the pouring f the Holy Spirit are detailed in the narrative form. The functions of the baptism in the Holy Spirit are many. The Holy Spirit is the manifestation of the Almighty (Acts 5: 3, 4). The Holy Spirit represents the active force of the Almighty. It is the manifestation of the Almighty. This manifestation of the Almighty has been delineated as the Spirit of truthfulness (John 16:13). In the Book of Isaiah, the spirit of the Almighty is detailed as the provider of wise thinking ability, understanding, strength and the fear of the Omnipresent Almighty (Isa 11:2) (Anderson, 1989).
- 3. Structural Pattern
This is a power of being a witness to the Holy Spirit. The word of the Almighty is alive (Heb 4: 12) (Brown, 1997). This spiritual water which flows as mentioned in John 7: 38, is a spiritual water which indicates that trust should be placed exclusively in the power of the Almighty (Psalms 118:8) (Fuller, 1969).There exist many different aspects of the power with regards to the Almighty and his Holy Spirit. Some of those powers are the powers to cure the infirm and to repulse demons (2 Tim 1: 7). The power which is delegated by the Holy Spirit has been referred to as an anointing power. This anointing power enable the repulsion of the endeavors of the Devil (2 Tim 2: 25- 26). For an individual to receive the spiritual water which is detailed in John 7: 37- 39, three activity must occur. These activities are the individual must be baptized into the kingdom of the Almighty (John 7: 37- 39) (Brown, 1997).
- 4. Redaction Criticism
There are some texts which have interchanged the word springs for rivers in John 7:38. This is an exegesis of John 7: 39. The wording is changed from spring to rivers. The structure of this passage is parallel to many of the passages of the New Testament which detail the work of the Holy Spirit. The parts of the Gospel which correspond are Ephesians 5: 18. This verse tells us not to become intoxicated with wine but to become intoxicated with the Spirit. This is an introduction to the process of baptism. To be baptized into the Holy Spirit is to be introduced to the kingdom of the Almighty. We must then learn to walk by faith and not by what is visible (Luke 9: 23). The instructions of becoming baptized in the Holy Spirit are the following. We must accept Jesus Christ and in doing so, we acquire the Holy Spirit (Romans 8: 9). The joy and liberty which are characteristic of the Holy Spirit are available to all who desire. This is the analogy made by water. Water is required for life (Brown, 1997).
5.Key Words
The key word in John 7: 39 is spirit. The steps for receiving this water of the spirit are clearly delineated. The first step is to repent from all wrongdoing. This requires introspection and honesty with the Almighty. The Almighty requires repentance from all recognized forms of sin. Devotion must be given to the Almighty with a complete heart (Deut 4: 24, Acts 17: 30) (Anderson 1989; Brown, 1997). The sins which have been committed must be confessed. Trust must be placed in Jesus Christ the Son of the Almighty (Prov 28: 13). If there is any enmity against a neighbor, that enmity must be absolved in order to gain access to the spiritual water (Mark 11: 25) (Brown, 1997). The Almighty requires exclusive devotion in order to receive spiritual water. We must exercise the fruitage of the spirit and renounce all earthly forms of idolatry (Gal 5: 23; Romans 14:23). In the text which is the subject of the exegesis, Jesus states in John 7: 37- 38 “if any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink”. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said ‘From his innermost being shall flow the rivers of living water”. This living water is the spiritual water which provides everlasting life (Fuller, 1969).
In order to receive the spiritual water which was mentioned in the Book of John (John 7: 37 – 39), the request must be made in faith. In the Book of John and the Book of Luke there are many instances where we are instructed in how to request in faith (John 16: 24; Luke 11: 12). When we arrive at the presence of the Lord and request, if we request with a heart which thirsts for the spiritual water, the request will be granted (John 7: 37- 39; 1 Cor 12: 13) (Fuller, 1969).
The Holy Spirit is a gift which is received not by deeds by opening the heart and allowing our heart to perceive it (Gal 3: 5). Faith must be placed in what we have not seen. In the expression of the words of the Almighty, we must completely submit to His will. This submission is an active occupation. This active occupation enables the Holy Spirit to be able to express itself through us (Acts 2:4). When the individual submits to the Holy Spirit by means of accepting the spiritual water, power is given (Matt 7:22) (Brown, 1997).
.
In being baptized by the Holy Spirit, the occupation is that the person must become consecrated to the Almighty. This consecration requires prayer, love and the redemption of souls for the body of Christ. This consecration leads to the direction of attention on the words of the Almighty and on the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. This consecration requires self denial of the physical aspects of the person (generally fasting or sacrificing some element of food), a consistent commitment to humility, the comprehension of the authority which has been delegated, faith and courage in addition to becoming instructed as how to take heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit (1 Sam 1: 18) (Anderson, 1989). Finally in order to receive the living spiritual water which flows within, we must acknowledge our own insignificance (Rom 3: 23, 1 Phil 3:3- 8). He is the light of the world and no one can gain entry to the kingdom except through Him (John 3: 16) (Fuller, 1969).
- b. Theological Analysis
- 1. Relationship with God
All who accept Jesus Christ as their Savior are reborn through the spiritual water. All who have been reborn have been witness to the endeavors of the Holy Spirit is a variety of manners. These manners are inclusive of having the spiritual commitment, being reborn anew and being manifest that the Holy Spirit is in our lives and that we are children of the Almighty. The characteristic of power that the Almighty wills for us can only be attained through baptism (Acts 2: 38). Notwithstanding that a great quantity of Christians have attained positive outcomes without being baptized, they would be able to reach the full potential which the Almighty has in his designs (Brown, 1997).
.
There exist the potential for a Christian to realize a variety of distinct aspects in the designed endeavors of the Holy Spirit while never having received baptism through the Holy Spirit. There exist many proponents of this perspective who perceive that baptism is no longer existent (Acts 10:47). There are advocates of John 7: 37- 39 who perceive that the only manner for a Christian to be reborn is to be baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit (Brown, 1997).
The function of the baptism in the name of the Holy Spirit is that the individuals will not only evolve into children of the Almighty, they will also adopt the manners of behaving which have been instructed by Jesus Christ. These manners of behaving are to demonstrate humility while having great holiness and spiritual power in their ministry similar to the manner in which Jesus Christ conducted his ministry. In accepting baptism, the Almighty is demonstrating the new potentials which he has designed for humanity to attain (Brown, 1997).
.
The designs of the Almighty with regards to the potential for humanity are delineated in John 14: 12. It is not anticipated that humanity will be able to replicate the miracles which Jesus Christ performed while conducting his ministry. Nevertheless, we are expected to demonstrate the same qualities of submission and humility to he will of the Holy Spirit is we desire the designs of the Almighty of which we are a part to become completely realized (Fuller, 1969).
It is not anticipated that Christians will attain the qualities of endeavors and the holiness which Jesus Christ manifested. Jesus Christ being the son of the Almighty had a different characteristic of Holy Spirit which was made accessible to him after his glorification. As Jesus was, the Christian is required to be submissive and dependent upon the name of the Holy Spirit in order to give glory to and accomplish the will of the Almighty. Receiving baptism through the Holy Spirit cannot substitute for the daily choices that the Christian must realize in order to maintain submission to the will of the Almighty (Brown 1997).
The primary function of the Baptism in the name of the Holy Spirit is to provide additional evidence to the manifestation of the glory of Jesus Christ and to touch the spirit of followers in order to accept Him in order to realize their redemption (Acts 1: 8). Considering everything else in equality, the Christian who accepts the Baptism in the Holy Spirit will have more positive outcomes in spreading the gospel and touching the hearts of others who wish to become Christian. The causal attribute of this effect is that the Holy Spirit has been enabled with a greater liberty to manifest itself through the Christian who has received baptism of the Holy Spirit (Brown, 1997).
The word of the Almighty is alive (Heb 4: 12). The Holy Spirit endows Christians with the capacities of healing the infirm and being able to repulse the spirits of diabolical forces (Mark 16: 17). The Holy Spirit enables this aspect in order to facilitate the ability of having faith in Jesus and being able to discern that through Jesus Christ salvation is possible. It has been a facilitator of the faith of those who wish to become Christians to believe in Jesus Christ after someone has laid hands on the Christian who has been replenished by the Holy Spirit (Fuller, 1969).
When the Holy Spirit is activated through the multitude, there is a better potential of the replication of the ministry which occurred in the retime of the writing of the gospels. It is important to become baptized with the Holy Spirit in order to provide a multiplying aspect to the ministry of Jesus Christ. This ministry entailed spreading the good news of the gospel and healing the infirm in addition to counteracting diabolical forces (John 7:37 – 39, Mark 16: 17). In complementing the witness of the Holy Scriptures, there exist multitudes of Christians throughout history who have been witness to the power of the Holy Spirit subsequent to their receiving spiritual baptism (Fuller, 1969).
This passage, John 7: 39 tells us that we can have a new relationship with the Almighty in accepting the Holy Spirit through being baptized. To complement the witness of the Holy Scriptures, there exist multitudes of Christians who have borne witness to receiving this power of the Holy Spirit which is detailed as being a spring which flows from within after dedicating oneself to the teaching of Jesus Christ (Fuller, 1969; Brown, 1997).
In conclusion, the scripture demonstrates that being reborn into the kingdom of the almighty is not always synchronous with being baptized in the Holy Spirit. The scripture demonstrates that it is the desire of the Almighty that individuals become intoxicated with the power of the Holy Spirit in a manner where they are adorned with the power of the Holy Spirit, are able to heal the infirm, cast our diabolical influences and manifest the ability of being able to communicate in languages which they had no knowledge of prior to receiving the Holy Spirit (Fuller, 1969; Brown, 1997).
When a person submits to the theocratic authority of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Almighty, they become witness to the glory of the Almighty. In receiving the Holy Spirit through being baptized, the Christian attains the spiritual characteristic of Jesus Christ (Acts 5:32; Mark 16: 17; 1 Cor 12: 10). When a person receives Jesus Christ in their hearts, the former person passes away and they become a renewed creation (John 3: 17; 2 Cor 5: 17) (Fuller, 1969; Brown, 1997).
- 2. Questions for the Original Community
The questions for the community would have been: could anyone be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit? Is it really possible to be cured of infirmities by the Holy Spirit and faith? Is the baptism and being spiritually reborn one and the same? These would have been the questions for the original community for which this was written. The answers would have been the following: There were Samaritans who placed their faith in the gospel and they became baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2: 4). In the situation of the apostles, being baptized and being reborn of the Holy Spirit were not synchronous. The apostles were baptized prior to Jesus Christ’s ascension to the right hand of the Almighty (Matt 3: 11; John 20:22) (Brown, 1997).
After Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven on the day which represented the first day of the festival of the Pentecost subsequent to the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven to be seated besides the Almighty, those who acknowledged Jesus and the Holy Spirit became intoxicated with the Holy Spirit. All of the participants initiated the speaking of tongues, as this was the Holy Spirit being made manifest in order to provide a witness for those who wished to accept Jesus Christ and the holy spirit and become baptized (Acts 2:4; Eph 2: 8-9) (Fuller, 1969).
Conclusion
The passage is which is the theme of this exegesis is John 7:39. This passage states: By this he meant the spirit, who those behind him were later destined to receive. Up to that time, the spirit had not yet been given, since Jesus had not been glorified. The passages which precede this passage are John 7: 37- 38. It is stated from John 7: 37 : On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink”. Verse 38 continues: “Who ever believes in me as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them”. The verse is completely affected by the significance of the first two verses which precede John 7: 39. The verse is directly related to the preceding verse (Fuller, 1969; Brown, 1997).
This living water is the spiritual water which provides everlasting life. In order to receive this spiritual water which is delineated in John &: 37 – 39, we must make that request in faith. In the Book of John and the Book of Luke there are many instances where we are instructed in how to request in faith (John 16: 24; Luke 11: 12). When we arrive at the presence of the Lord and request, if we request with a heart which thirsts for the spiritual water, the request will be granted (John 7: 37- 39; 1 Cor 12: 13) (Fuller, 1969).
The Holy Spirit is a gift which is received not by deeds by opening the heart and allowing our heart to perceive it (Gal 3: 5). Faith must be placed in what we have not seen. In the expression of the words of the Almighty, we must completely submit to His will. This submission is an active occupation. This active occupation enables the Holy Spirit to be able to express itself through us (Acts 2:4). When the individual submits to the Holy Spirit by means of accepting the spiritual water, power is given (Matt 7:22. This is a power of being a witness to the Holy Spirit. The word of the Almighty is alive (Heb 4: 12) (Anderson, 1989). This spiritual water which flows as mention in John 7: 38, is a spiritual water which indicates that trust should be placed exclusively in the power of the Almighty (Psalms 118:8) (Fuller, 1969).