Alexander Campbell’s View of “the Gift of the Holy Spirit”／Alexander Campbell 對「聖靈的恩賜」的看法

1. Distinguishing the Terms／名詞區分

Campbell distinguished between “the gift of the Holy Spirit” and “the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

Campbell 區分「the gift of the Holy Spirit（聖靈的恩賜）」與「the gifts of the Holy Spirit（聖靈所賜的各樣恩賜）」。

“The gift of the Holy Spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit himself, given to all believers upon baptism.

「聖靈的恩賜」指的是聖靈自己，在受浸時賜給所有信徒。

“The gifts of the Holy Spirit” refers to miraculous abilities such as tongues, prophecy, and healing.

「聖靈所賜的各樣恩賜」則指神蹟性的能力，例如方言、預言、醫治等。

2. Campbell’s Interpretation of Acts 2:38／Campbell 對使徒行傳 2:38 的解釋

Acts 2:38 promises that repentant and baptized believers will “receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

使徒行傳 2:38 應許悔改並受浸的人要「領受所賜的聖靈」。

Campbell argued that this means believers receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, not miraculous powers.

Campbell 認為，這代表信徒領受的是聖靈的內住，而不是神蹟能力。

3. Greek Explanation／希臘文解釋

The Greek phrase is: τὴν δωρεὰν τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος

(tēn dōrean tou hagiou pneumatos)

Campbell treated this phrase as an epexegetical genitive or genitive of apposition.

Campbell 將此視為 epexegetical genitive（解釋性屬格）或 genitive of apposition（同位屬格）。

This means the genitive identifies or explains what the gift is.

意思是，後面的屬格是在定義前面的禮物到底是什麼。

In other words, the Holy Spirit is the gift.

換句話說，聖靈自己就是那份禮物。

So the sense becomes: “You will receive the gift, namely, the Holy Spirit.”

因此整句比較接近：「你們將領受那份禮物，也就是聖靈。」

4. Theological Implications／神學意涵

Every baptized believer receives the Spirit’s indwelling.

每位受浸的信徒都領受聖靈的內住。

Not every believer receives miraculous gifts.

不是每位信徒都領受神蹟性的恩賜。

Campbell emphasized that the Spirit works primarily through the written word rather than ongoing miraculous revelation.

Campbell 強調，聖靈主要透過寫成的神的話運行，而不是透過持續性的神蹟啟示。

5. Later Criticism and Importance／後來的批評與重要性

Some later scholars criticized Campbell’s pneumatology as underdeveloped.

後來有些學者批評 Campbell 的 pneumatology（聖靈論）發展得不夠完整。

However, Campbell’s central point remained clear: Acts 2:38 is a universal promise for all repentant and baptized believers.

但 Campbell 的核心重點很清楚：使徒行傳 2:38 是給所有悔改並受浸之人的普遍性應許。

*Sources:

JY Bible Notes 聖經小筆記