Browsing by Author "Hasiso, Elias Assefa"
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- ItemThe Holy Spirit in Matthew 12:15-32 : an intertextual investigation(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-04) Hasiso, Elias Assefa; Nel, Marius Johannes; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Former studies of Matthew’s Gospel in general, and 12:15-32 in particular, have emphasised on Christology to the detriment of Matthew’s presentation of the Holy Spirit. Previous research further limited its consideration of the role of the Holy Spirit in relation to Jesus’ miraculous ministry to 12:15-32, in the light of preceding and succeeding chapters. No study has investigated the integral role that the Holy Spirit played in Jesus’ entire miraculous ministry and the reasons behinds Jesus’ provocativeness towards the Jewish religious leaders. This thesis aims to fill this gap in Matthean studies. This study investigates Matthew’s presentation of the Holy Spirit in relation to Jesus’ miraculous ministry in a specific pericope of his Gospel in order to ascertain whether Jesus, Matthew and his faith communities’_ and even the Jewish religious leaders were aware of the Holy Spirit. The study endeavours to address a specific research question: How does Matthew present the Holy Spirit in relation to Jesus' miraculous ministry in Matthew 12:15- 32 in terms of the Old Testament? This study used an intertextual method and specifically Richard Hays’ “_backward reading_ or “_figurative reading_” of Scriptures to study the relevant passages. Particular attention is given to Matthew’s direct and indirect quotations and allusions to the Holy Spirit and the Spirit’s relationship with Jesus the Messiah. This intertextual study examined how Matthew’s rereading of the OT Scriptures shapes not only his understanding of Jesus the Messiah, but also the dynamic role of the Holy Spirit in the life and ministry of the Messiah. The research on Matthew 12:15-32 with its preceding and succeeding texts shows that Matthew presents the Holy Spirit as known to Jesus, his followers and Matthew’s faith community, and as being actively involved in Jesus’ conception, baptism, temptation and miraculous ministries. Matthew 12:15-32 also indicates that Jesus, who himself empowered by the Holy Spirit in performing his miracles. Jesus further encouraged his disciples by promising that the Holy Spirit would accompany them on their mission among their fellow Jews and Gentiles. Thus, to disregard what the Holy Spirit is doing in Jesus means to reject the visitation of God which will incur judgment, whether the perpetrators are the Pharisees or Matthew’s faith community.