Does the virgin Mary have a holy spirit as it says in the Nicene Creed?
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Asked July 02 2014
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Ken Porter
Supporter
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Singapore Moses
Supporter
Mary conceived when the Holy Spirit came on her and the power of the Highest overshadowed her (Lk 1:35). This was an unique and blessed experience. But when Jesus commanded His disciples to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit in baptismal power, Mary was one of the 120 humble and obedient believers who tarried in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14). She received the baptism with the Holy Spirit like the other disciples and spoke in new tongues the wonderful works of God in praise and worship (Acts 2:4). Mary needed the power of the Spirit to witness for Christ (Acts 1:8). She could not do it apart from the power of the blessed third Person of Trinity. When a multitude of Jews, who were wonderstruck by the miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the disciples on the day of Pentecost, asked Peter and the other apostles what they should do, Peter instantly replied that they should repent and be baptized and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He further said, "The promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call" (Acts 2:37-39). Yes, beloved, the promise of the Holy Spirit is good for you if you are His child. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our life for several reasons: (a) The Holy Spirit makes us "holy." He gives us strength to overcome the temptations of the devil. He produces in us His fruit. He transforms us daily into the likeness of Jesus Christ. (b) The Holy Spirit is the Author of the Bible. He leads us into all truth. He opens our eyes to understand the mysteries of God. He reminds us of the words of Jesus—the right word at the right time. (c) He helps us in our prayers. We do not know how exactly we must pray. He prays from within us. He makes the presence of Christ real to us. (d) The Holy Spirit is God’s Comforter. He encourages and strengthens us in times of trials and sufferings. He quickens our mortal bodies. (e) He enables us to find God’s will and directions for our life. (f) The Holy Spirit empowers us to witness for Christ boldly. He gives us His gifts to be used for the blessing of others. (g) In all circumstances He keeps us in the assurance that we are God’s children and all things work together for our good. O, the blessed Holy Spirit! How to receive the Holy Spirit? Know for sure you are washed by the blood of Christ and have the assurance you are a child of God. Come to Him in prayer with childlike faith and sincere thirst. Mary said, "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich (that is, those who think they have enough) He has sent away empty" (Lk 1:53). Ask God to fill you according to His promise: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Lk 11:13). Praying with Spirit-filled believers will be helpful.
Seth Freeman
Supporter
First off, Mary was only a virgin until Jesus was born. Matthew 1:25 - "...but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus." While Mary was definitely an extremely special woman for being chosen to carry Jesus, she was at the end of the day, just a woman like every other woman. She was conceived in sin, and she needed her sins forgiven just like everyone else. I'm sure that after Pentecost when the Holy Spirit as promised by Jesus came down that Mary, believing that Jesus was God, the forgiver of her sins most certainly received the Holy Spirit herself, even though it's not recorded.
Bruce Morgan
Supporter
The only mention of Mary in the Nicene Creed is the statement "[Jesus] came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man" The aim of the Nicene Creed is to reconcile the divinity and humanity of Jesus (http://www.gotquestions.org/Nicene-creed.html). The Holy Spirit mentioned here is the third Person of the Trinity, not Mary's spirit. For more on the Trinity see https://ebible.com/questions/2872-what-does-the-bible-teach-about-the-trinity
Vincent Mercado
Supporter
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,... who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, Does the Nicene Creed say Mary has the Holy Spirit? No. What Mary has in her womb is not the third person of the Trinity, instead she bore the second person of the Trinity, the Son.
Vattachal-Vadakketil Thomas John alias V T John
Supporter
For a proper understanding of of the above portion of Holy Creed we have to paraphrase the same as "And in one Lord Jesus Christ................. who was incarnate of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit." It is a misinterpretation to say that the spirit is of virgin Mary.We say, Abraham Lincoln was born of poor parents. In the same way the Holy Creed says, Jesus was born of virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit came down upon virgin Mary and the power of the Highest overshadowed her with the result that she conceived; so we have the words "by the Holy Spirit" [See Luke 1:35]
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