ἅγιον. This epithet is given to the Spirit thrice in this Gospel; John 1:33; John 20:22, and here: in John 7:39 ἅγιον is an insertion. It is not frequent in any Gospel but the third; 5 times in S. Matthew, 4 in S. Mark, 12 in S. Luke. S. Luke seems fond of the expression, which he uses some 40 times in the Acts; rarely using Πνεῦμα without ἅγιον. Here only does S. John give the full phrase: in John 1:33 and John 20:22 there is no article.

ἐν τ. ὀν. μ. As My representative, taking My place and continuing My work: see on John 14:13 and comp. John 16:13-14. The mission of the Paraclete in reference to the glorified Redeemer is analogous to that of the Messiah in reference to the Father. And His two functions are connected: He teaches new truths, ‘things to come,’ things which they ‘cannot bear now,’ in recalling the old; and He brings the old to their remembrance in teaching the new. He recalls not merely the words of Christ, a particular in which this Gospel is a striking fulfilment of the promise, but also the meaning of them, which the Apostles often failed to see at the time: comp. John 2:22; John 12:16; Luke 9:45; Luke 18:34; Luke 24:8. “It is on the fulfilment of this promise to the Apostles, that their sufficiency as Witnesses of all that the Lord did and taught, and consequently the authenticity of the Gospel narrative, is grounded” (Alford).

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Old Testament