John 20:22 to Genesis 2:7

NT Text: John 20:22

OT Source(s):

• Genesis 2:7 (God breathes Spirit into Adam at creation; LXX has exact same verb form as John 20:22)
• 1 Kings 17:21 (Elijah breathing life into widow's son)
• Ezekiel 37:9 (breath/Spirit bringing life to dry bones)
• Acts 2 (Pentecost—actual giving of Spirit fifty days later)

Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Reference Type: Allusion

Connection Method(s): Typology + Longitudinal Theme

Significance: Jesus' act of breathing on disciples and saying "Receive Holy Spirit" in 20:22 best understood as symbolic promise of impending gift of Spirit, not actual giving of it fifty days later at Pentecost (cf. Acts 2; see Carson). Theological antecedent clearly is Genesis 2:7, where LXX has exact same verb form as in John 20:22 (see also 1 Kings 17:21; Ezekiel 37:9; Wisdom of Solomon 15:11). There in Genesis God breathes his Spirit into Adam at creation, constituting him as living being. Analogously, in instance of "new creation" theme (Morris; Barrett; Brown; Keener), Jesus' breathing on disciples constitutes them as new messianic community in anticipation of outpouring of Spirit subsequent to his ascension.