Quote:
Originally Posted by mizpeh
There is only one place in the KJV where I know it speaks of believers as having a "measure of faith" but not a "measure of the Spirit".
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However, in
John 3:27-36 says:
27 John (the Baptizer) answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
It's difficult to know if all of this is the testimony of John the Baptist or if some of the latter words are comment by the Apostle John. However, in verse 34 it says "he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit
by measure unto him." I assume this refers to Jesus, and says that He does not have the Spirit by measure (He is the Holy Spirit/God/Father) in a body of flesh, and it seems this is in contrast to others who only receive a measure of the Spirit. In other words, Jesus -the unique Son of God-- does not just have a measure of the Spirit in contrast to the other sons of God who just have a measure.
Help me out here. If I am misreading something, somebody please give me some clarification of this verse. Reading several different versions doesn't seem to make it any clearer.