ERNEST of the Spirit

EARNEST/PLEDGE OF THE SPIRIT

Virgil Warren, PhD

 I. Passages (ἀρραβών: “earnest,” “pledge,” “guarantee,” “deposit”)

                  A.  2 Corinthians 1:22: “who [God] also sealed us and gave us the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (NIV says, “marked with a seal”; NKJV translates ἀρραβών as guarantee and deposit.)

                  B.  2 Corinthians 5:5: “. . . God who gave us the earnest of the Spirit”

                  C.  Ephesians 1:13-14: “. . . in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is an earnest of our inheritance unto the redemption of God’s own possession. . . .”

 II. Observations on the Data

                  A. Earnest is Paul’s expression that anticipates the full benefit to Christians in the eschaton. An earnest is normally a deposit of money to show that a person is “in earnest” about a future full purchase. It gives a guarantee of purchase so the seller may take the item off the market because there is a committed buyer.

                  B.  Earnest combines with sealing to indicate a mark of ownership or being reserved for.  Whereas sealing speaks to the outside world, the earnest speaks to the one purchased.

            III. Summary of terminologies, all of which are here taken in reference to the same reality—the interpersonal relationship with the Spirit of God, but under different imageries to highlight various aspects of that reality and in different connections with related things. These are terminological emphases that grow out of the personal relationship with the Spirit.

                              A.  “Baptism of the Holy Spirit” may emphasize the stupendousness value of the relationship.

                              B.  “Gift of the Spirit” emphasizes the graciousness of the relationship vs. merit.

                              C.  “Indwelling of the Holy Spirit” emphasizes the non-self-centeredness that results from the invisible presence of the Holy Spirit with a person.

                              D.  “Filled with the Spirit” emphasizes the full degree to which the qualities of the partner inform a person’s actions.

                              E.   “Earnest of the Spirit” emphasizes the preliminary nature of the present relationship.

F.         “Outpouring” pictures a substantial dispensing of something.

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