As I draw to a close my study of John 3 using David Guzik’s ‘Enduring Word’, the Holy Spirit prompts me to investigate a potential loophole in Scripture. What catches my attention is this citation from Alford:
“The Rabbinical books say that the Holy Spirit was only given to the prophets by measure. This unmeasured pouring of the Spirit on Him accounts for His speaking the words of God.”
On the surface, and taken out of context, this statement could suggest a theological problem. If Old Testament prophets received the Holy Spirit by measure while Jesus received Him without measure (John 3:34), could this undermine the authority of the Old Testament prophets? Could skeptics argue that their revelations were incomplete or even unreliable?
But, knowing God as I have experienced Him, He is always right. And infinitely smarter than me. So, I dig. I dare call God’s game of probing me to think. After all, He invites, “Come, let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18).
Boy, does God blow my mind. What follows from the question is a profound exegesis.
Spirit by Measure vs. Spirit Without Measure
John 3:34 states:
“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.”
This passage establishes two categories:
1. Jesus as the ultimate revelation of God, possessing the Holy Spirit without measure.
2. Old Testament prophets who received the Spirit in portions, as needed for their mission.
This distinction does not imply inferiority or error in the Old Testament prophets but rather a difference in function and fullness. Scholars argue that while prophets received the Spirit selectively, their messages were fully inspired and accurate.¹ The measure was about the extent of revelation, not its validity.
Progressive Revelation and the Prophets’ Role
God’s communication unfolds over time, what theologians call progressive revelation. The Old Testament prophets were entrusted with pieces of divine truth, leading up to the ultimate revelation: Christ. Their prophecies, while partial, were never incorrect (2 Peter 1:21).² Rather, they were preparatory, pointing forward to the Messiah.
Hebrews 1:1-2 confirms this progression:
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.”
This does not discredit the prophets but completes them. Jesus embodies the full truth they foretold.
Jesus: The Fullness of Divine Communication
Unlike the prophets, Jesus does not receive revelation, He is the revelation (John 1:1, 14). Theologian Michael Horton explains, “Jesus gives the Spirit without measure because He first possesses the Spirit without measure.”³ Unlike the prophets, who were vessels of God’s words, Jesus is the very Word of God (John 1:1).
The prophets spoke in shadows; Jesus is the substance. The prophets gave puzzle pieces; Jesus is the completed picture.
No Loophole, Just Divine Genius
Far from a loophole, the distinction between Jesus and the prophets magnifies God’s perfect design. The Old Testament prophets were fully inspired, yet their revelations were stepping stones to Christ.
God, in His wisdom, allowed humanity to see in part before seeing in full. Had we been given everything at once, would we have grasped it? Or would we have, like the Israelites at Sinai, recoiled in terror at the sheer weight of His glory?
Perhaps the measure was not for God’s limitation but for our understanding.
Practical Application
This passage calls us to trust in the fullness of Christ. If the prophets were fully inspired with partial knowledge, how much more should we cling to Jesus, in whom all knowledge dwells?
It also challenges us to seek a deeper revelation of God. The Holy Spirit, given without measure to Jesus, is now poured out on believers under the New Covenant (Acts 2:17-18). While we may not possess Him in the way Christ did, we are no longer confined to measured revelations. We have full access to God’s truth through His Word and Spirit.
So, no loopholes, just a divine masterpiece unfolding.
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for the wisdom of Your Word. Help me trust in the perfection of Your revelation. Teach me to cherish the voices of the prophets while fixing my eyes on Jesus, the fullness of truth. May I never doubt the consistency of Your plan but marvel at its unfolding beauty.
In Your Holy Name King Jesus,
Amen.
References
1. Horton, Michael. The Spirit of Promise: Fulfillment in Christ and the Church. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 62(1), 2019, 47-63.
2. The Gospel Coalition. The Reliability of the Old Testament. Accessed February 2025. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-reliability-of-the-old-testament
3. Horton, Michael. Christ and the Spirit: The Fullness of Divine Revelation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2015.
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