Originally posted by checkbaiter
It is not capitalized because it is the "gift" of holy spirit.
It should be capitalized in those instances where a distinction is understood between the human spirit and the Spirit Who is God.
Of course in the NT at certain places it is not easy to tell because the two spirits have been joined as ONE -
"He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17)
Even in the OT the human spirit is seen as distinct from the Spirit of God. For example God formed a [human] spirit within man on the created earth -
" The burden of the word of Jehovah concerning Israel, Thus declares Jehovah,
who streches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him." (Zech. 12:1)
That is the small
s spirit of man - the human spirit formed within man. It is the highest component of the human being. Man not yet receiving the Holy Spirit has the human spirit formed within him.
Elsewhere in the Old Testament we see that the spirit of man is the lamp of God.
" The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the innermost parts of the inner being." (Proverbs 20:27)
Before being born again man has the spirit within him which is like a lamp of Jehovah. It searches his innermost parts. This probably relates to the conscience of man illuminating for God and man the motives of the soul, the thoughts and intentions of the mind, and the choosings of the human will.
This human spirit was not that capital
S Spirit of God brooding over the surface of the deep ready to bring forth life in Genesis.
" But the earth became waste and emptiness, and darkness was on the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was brooding upon the surface of the waters. And God said, Let there be light; and there was light." (Gen. 1:2,3)
In the New Covenant the Spirit Who is by then the Spirit of the born man, the resurrected and glorified man Jesus is ready to GIVE LIFE to man. That Spirit Who gives divine life is Christ in His pneumatic form.
" the last Adam BECAME ... a life giving Spirit" (1 Cor. 15:45)
Experientially, the Christian cannot detect any difference between the Three of the Trinity. So in his "shot talk" Paul interchangeably uses different titles to mean the same Divine Person of the Trinity.
The following passage is not a dogmatic doctrinal formula. It is "shop talk" meaning it is a talking with taking for granted that the hearers are in the experience of the Person and understand what Paul is saying. It is not a creedal formula. It is however experiencial speaking which Paul takes for granted his audience understands.
" But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Yet if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not of Him.
But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.
And if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you." (Rom. 8:9-11)
The Spirit of God is here the Spirit of Christ.
The Spirit of God (the Spirit of Christ) is
Christ.
The Spirit of God (the Spirit of Christ, Christ) is the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead.
Moving in the other direction -
The Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead is Christ.
The Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead (Christ) is the Spirit of Christ.
The Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead (Christ, the Spirit of Christ) is the Spirit of God.
Subjectively and inwardly Christ cannot be separated from the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
He is distinct or Paul would not use two terms. But there is no separation.
Paul moves seamlessly from one label to the other assuming that the hearers know what he is speaking of.