Hearing the Spirit: Knowing the Father through the Son.

by Christopher Ash

How does the Spirit relate to the Bible? This book is for those who are 'thirsty for a deeper experience of the Spirit of God'. This careful biblical argument, drawing mainly from John's gospel, helps us to see the answers to the difficult questions in a firmly Trinitarian understanding. Hearing the Spirit is the way we know the father through the Spirit. By asking where the Bible fits in this process, this helps us listen more deeply to the words of God.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Christopher Ash works for the Proclamation Trust in London as director of the Cornhill Training Course. He is also writer in residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, and is the author of several books, including Out of the Storm: Grappling with God in the Book of Job and Teaching Romans. He is married to Carolyn and they have three sons and one daughter.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very helpful. Ash works through John's gospel, demonstrating how Jesus makes the Father known. The basic argument of the book is that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus was the full and final revelation of God the Father. If you know Jesus then you know the Father. Our access to that revelation is only possible through the apostolic testimony to Jesus. And that revelation is only effective through the work of the Holy Spirit, who enables belief and understanding. Therefore, it is as we open up the Bible that the Spirit will be at work and Jesus will continue to make the Father known.

Three reasons I enjoyed this book:

First, this really helped me in my understanding of John's gospel. Ash has lots of great comments on John. He opens up lots of issues John raises: the problem of human unbelief, the focus on apostolic testimony, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the identity of Jesus, the eternal Word. Really great!

Second, this is a biblical and clear explanation of the Trinity. The Bible is a sufficient testimony to who God is and John's gospel is a great place to see that.

Third, Ash gave me a desire to go back to the Bible, to pray for the Spirit's help in reading and teaching it, and he gave me confidence that as the Bible is heard people are able to know God. Glad I read this.

[Vaclav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every pastor/teacher would benefit greatly from reading this short, but very helpful book.

[Terri Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greatly needed for anyone who is thirsty for the Spirit. The book tears down the assumptions that we have of the trinity which limits God and gives a biblical perspective of the ministry of the Spirit and how to approach him, the Son, and the Father. Makes you hungry for more of the Spirit and the Word.

[Collin Mcadams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climatic chapter is the last in which we learn about the actual conviction of truth. Kind of a difficult read however was worth it, makes known how God's message is giving to us through the Holy Spirit, God's helper and connects the Old Testament and the New Testament from the words of Jesus himself.

[Michael Willis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the easiest book to read by this author. I struggled perhaps because I read it over too many sittings - it really ought to be read a whole chapter at a time, in quick succession. Among the most helpful parts for me were the refutations of bad theology around the work of the Holy Spirit. I should re-read chapter 1 having now finished the book, given that it is foundational to the rest.

[Brian Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

More academic than I expected, but A LOT of eye-opening insights that have encouraged my faith. I definitely recommend this book.

[Nicholas Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great study, mostly through the Gospel of John, on the importance of relating the Holy Spirit to the Word.

[Chris Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this. Christopher Ash has written a book that is both deeply-engaged with the topic and an engaging read.

Using John's gospel as its main foundation, it ranges over much of the Bible and a wide range of opinions of the Bible (both current and historic). The basic thesis is that the Spirit empowers Jesus' words - in the Bible - to reveal the Father. Thus, the Spirit is not divorced from scripture nor from Jesus and the Father.

Central to the argument is the completeness and Jesus' ministry: he did (and does) reveal the Father; and he did (and does) provide Spirit-filled words through the apostles' testimony.

Ash summarises, "If we are not gripped by the wonder and finality of Jesus, we will never feel the force of the biblical argument that follows." (p 157)

[David Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful work from Christopher Ash on the relationship between Word and Spirit. With a particular focus on John's gospel he teases out how hearing Father, Son, Spirit and Word are interwoven. As he does so he upholds the idea of the sufficiency of Scripture. Recommend it to anyone thinking through this issue.

[Phil Butcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really helpful book explored the relationship between the Word and Spirit using Jesus' teaching in the book of John. The author engages with popular current writers such as Rob Bell or Joyce Huggett to show where they are not being faithful to what Jesus taught. I found it a great help and encouragement.

[Mundy Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did this book a disservice by taking so long to read it. Like Ash' other works this is clear, and oh so helpful. For the final 2 chapters alone this book is worth reading. He is able to take you through the Spirit's relationship to Christ, the Bible and the believer in an encouraging, challenging way.

Read it - and make more of the book than I did!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this Book!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study, primarily from the Gospel of John, of the relationship of the Spirit of God and the Word of God.