Encyclopedia of sacred theology - pagina 566

542

when

THE FORMS OF INSPIRATION

§ 84.

the

Holy

(Acts xvi. 7),

Spirit did not suffer

etc.

As

Paid

to

[Div. Ill

go into Bithynia

a rule, however, such a break did not

occur, and their official calling itself formed the basis on which inspiration took place. The prophets' appearance was

but in a different sense. Their prophecy itself was their office, hence this office was very aphoristic and without a cosmical basis. But the apostles had to discharge the regular duties of a. fixed office, which found its bed in life

also official,

This office was continued until death, and inspiration was merely given them, to direct their service in this office. They do not speak or write because the Spirit stimulates them to speak, or impels them irresistibly to write, but be-

itself.

cause this was demanded of them by their

office.

Thus

This inflowed into their everyday activity. occupied view, of point different the place third volves in the by prophets and apostles, with reference to the centrum

inspiration

of all revelation

;

viz. the

Christ and His truth.

It

is

the

antithesis of imagination and memory, poetry and rememWith the prophets, who came before the incarbrance. nation, the centrum of revelation could assume no other

form than the dioramatic figures of their representation, while the apostles, who came after the Christ, testified of what they had heard and seen and handled of the Word of What was vague with the prophets, with them was life. the j^oetical, but the remembering spirit strikes with them the keynote. Since the inspiration of the Holy Spirit ever joins itself to what is present in its organ

concrete.

Not

and adapts itself to this, it is evident that the inspiration, which with the prophet worked upon the poetical side of his consciousness, was with the apostle first of all a "remembrance" (John xiv. 26). Their spiritual activity, however, did not limit itself to this. They had to proclaim the message, and for this they were endowed with the remembrance. In the second place they were to announce things to come, and for this they were given the apocalyptic vision. But in the third place they had to give the apostolic reflection concerning the " word of life " ; and for this the Holy Spirit led

them

into the deep things of

God

(1 Cor.

ii.

10-12).

And

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen