In the
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι� ...
Bible
The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus ...
, the term Seven Spirits of God appears four times in the
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament (and consequently the final book of the Christian Bible). Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: , meaning "unveiling" or "revelation". The Book of ...
.
[''The Book of Revelation'' by Robert H. Mounce 1997 Eerdmans Pub. pp. 46–4]
/ref>[''Revelation 1–11'' by John F. MacArthur (15 Apr 1999) pp. 108, 151, 16]
/ref> The meaning of this term has been interpreted in multiple ways.[''Revelation'' by Craig S. Keener 2000 Zondervan Section 1:]
/ref>
Biblical references
The seven Spirits of God ( gr, τα επτά πνεύματα του θεού, ''ta hepta pneumata tou theou'') are mentioned four times in the Book of Revelation, and in the Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah ( he, ספר ישעיהו, ) is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Major Prophets in the Christian Old Testament. It is identified by a superscription as the words of the 8th-century B ...
it names each Spirit.
: Revelation 1:4: ''John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;''
: Revelation 3:1: ''And unto the angel of the church in Sardis
Sardis () or Sardes (; Lydian: 𐤳𐤱𐤠𐤭𐤣 ''Sfard''; el, Σάρδεις ''Sardeis''; peo, Sparda; hbo, ספרד ''Sfarad'') was an ancient city at the location of modern ''Sart'' (Sartmahmut before 19 October 2005), near Salihli, ...
write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.''
: Revelation 4:5: ''And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.''
: Revelation 5:6: ''And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.''
Interpretations
The sevenfold ministry of the Spirit
In one interpretation, the "Seven Spirits" represent the sevenfold ministry of the Spirit as depicted in the Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah ( he, ספר ישעיהו, ) is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible and the first of the Major Prophets in the Christian Old Testament. It is identified by a superscription as the words of the 8th-century B ...
. As it is written: "The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD, and He will delight in the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2–3 (NASB). Including the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirits of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, here are represented the seven Spirits, which are before the throne of God.[''Revelation (New Cambridge Bible Commentary)'' by ]Ben Witherington
Ben Witherington III (born December 30, 1951) is an American Wesleyan-Arminian New Testament scholar. Witherington is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary, a Wesleyan-Holiness seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, and ...
(15 Sep 2003) p. 7
/ref> The reference to Lamb of God, the lamb in Revelation 5:6 relates it to the Seven Spirits which first appear in Revelation 1:4 and are associated with Jesus who holds them along with seven stars.
An alternative view is that the seven graces("charisma") of Romans 12:6–8 reflect the seven spirits of God. The Holy Spirit manifests in humankind through these graces, reflecting the seven spirits of God. The seven graces are: 1. insight (prophecy); 2. helpfulness (service or ministry); 3. instruction (teaching); 4. encouragement; 5. generosity (giving); 6. guidance (leadership); and 7. compassion. This agrees with Isaiah 11:2–3 if "the Spirit of the Lord" is recognized as categorical and "the delight in the fear of the Lord" is added. (Isaiah 11:3, Berean Study Bible)
Seven distinct spiritual beings
In the New Testament, the Greek term "Dunamis" (translated by some as "Power") suggests a class of exalted spiritual beings; perhaps parallel to the "chief Princes" (Sar rishown) in the Old Testament, of which the Archangel Michael is stated to be one(Daniel 10:13). "Dunamis" is used by the Apostle Paul to refer to spiritual beings in Romans 8:38; Ephesians 1:21, 3:10, 6:12; and Colossians 1:16, 2:10, 2:15. "Powers and principalities" can apply to both angelic and devilish beings, but more often in the New Testament to devilish beings. However, most modern Protestant translators take "Dunamis" to mean "strength", "power", or "ability", whereas the ancient and modern Catholic conception of activity or power was often understood as "virtues".
Others follow this line of thought, though find the connection to "dunamis" referred to by Paul less likely. It is possible that these seven angels are a special entourage charged with special duties by the Lamb, about whom we have little to no specific knowledge.
Still others look to the apocryphal work 1 Enoch which refers to seven angels who are "watching" creation: Uriel
Uriel or Auriel ( he, אוּרִיאֵל ''ʾŪrīʾēl'', " El/God is my flame"; el, Οὐριήλ ''Oúriēl''; cop, ⲟⲩⲣⲓⲏⲗ ''Ouriēl''; it, Uriele; Geʽez and Amharic: or ) is the name of one of the archangels who is men ...
, Raphael
Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino, better known as Raphael (; or ; March 28 or April 6, 1483April 6, 1520), was an Italian painter and architect of the High Renaissance. His work is admired for its clarity of form, ease of composition, and visual ...
, Raguel
Reuel or Raguel (; Edomite: 𐤓𐤏𐤀𐤋, ''RʿʾL''), meaning "God shall pasture" or more specifically " El shall pasture" (as a shepherd does with his flock) is a Hebrew name associated with several biblical and religious figures.
Biblical ...
, Michael
Michael may refer to:
People
* Michael (given name), a given name
* Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael
Given name "Michael"
* Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...
, Sarakiel/Suriel (in 9.1), Gabriel
In Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam), Gabriel (); Greek: grc, Γαβριήλ, translit=Gabriḗl, label=none; Latin: ''Gabriel''; Coptic: cop, Ⲅⲁⲃⲣⲓⲏⲗ, translit=Gabriêl, label=none; Amharic: am, ገብ� ...
, and Phanuel
Phanuel ( ''Phanouēl'') or Penuel ( ''Pənū’êl'') was the father of Anna the prophetess. He is mentioned once only in the New Testament, in . He was a member of the Tribe of Asher and his name means "Face of God".
Theologian John Gill sup ...
, who is mentioned as one of the four chief angels in 40.9.
Dunamai is the root of the word dunamis. Dunamai means to be able, to have power, whether by (1) virtue of one's own ability and resources or (2)through a state of mind, or through favorable circumstances or(3)by permission of Law or custom or (4)simply to be able powerful.
Dunamis means force or power in action.
Symbolic of perfection
Sevenfold may also be connected with the biblical understanding of the number 7 representing perfection. The "Seven Fold Spirit of God" could be the "perfect" Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit.[Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary Revelations 1:4]
See also
* Christian eschatology
Christian eschatology, a major branch of study within Christian theology, deals with "last things". Such eschatology – the word derives from two Greek roots meaning "last" () and "study" (-) – involves the study of "end things", whether of ...
* Holy Spirit (Christianity)
For the majority of Christian denominations, the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is believed to be the third person of the Trinity, a Triune God manifested as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each entity itself being God.Grud ...
* Seven Archangels
The concept of Seven Archangels is found in some works of early Jewish literature and in Christianity. In those texts, they are referenced as the angels who serve God directly.
Bible
The term ''archangel'' itself is not found in the Hebrew Bib ...
* Seven Churches of Asia
The Seven Churches of Revelation, also known as the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse and the Seven Churches of Asia, are seven major Churches of Early Christianity, as mentioned in the New Testament Book of Revelation. All of them are located in ...
* Water of Life (Christianity)
In Christianity the term "water of Life" ( el, ὕδωρ ζωῆς ''hydōr zōēs'') is used in the context of '' living water'', specific references appearing in the Book of Revelation ( 21:6 and 22:1), as well as the Gospel of John.David L. J ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seven Spirits of God
New Testament words and phrases
Christian terminology
Biblical phrases
Seven in the Book of Revelation
Pneumatology
Holy Spirit