One Tale, One Spirit, One Authority from Old Testament to New

It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven-things into which angels long to look! (1 Peter 1:12)

This is the progress of the revelation.  “Revelation”, not the last book of the Bible where God and the Devil engage in the final “Wrestlemania”, but revelation, “revealed”, shown to us, given to us, laid out for us.  What Peter is talking about is how the God’s promises have been revealed to his audience and, by extension, to us.

The revelation began with the prophets of the Old Testament.  They had the Word of God for their time, and they had the Word of God for the future.  They predicted, and were aware that they were making predictions of Jesus for the future. 

But in this phrase, Peter is expanding the deliverers of God’s revelation.  It was not simply the prophets of old.  “The things that have been announced” have been announced by Peter himself and the rest of the apostles.  Their credentials are that they brought Good News “by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven”. 

It is “Pentecostal” authority…and no, I do not mean they are connected to the Pentecostal Churches of today.  Rather, the apostles received their authority at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit sent from heaven came upon them.  The churches that self-identify as “Pentecostal” today are identifying with that same authority, that same Spirit sent from heaven.

In the previous sentence, vss. 10 and 11, Peter identifies the “Spirit of Christ” working with the prophets of Old, the same Holy Spirit sent from heaven working with the apostles of the present.  What is constant is the presence of God, through God’s Spirit.  The Holy Spirit=the Spirit of Christ, the “third person” of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Why does it matter?  It matters because Peter is here equating his authority with what they, the Jews, have invested in the ‘Old Testament’, that same authority is to be found in the work and words of the prophets and the apostles.  The story of God’s revelation began back with the prophets, but it continues with the apostles.  It is one tale to be found and continued from Old Testament to New.  One tale, one spirit, one authority given by God for the salvation of humanity.