Scholarly Reflections
McDonnell, Kilian & Montague, George T. "Chapter Four: Spiritual Body and Spiritual Rock: Spirit-Baptism in the Pauline Tradition and Hebrews." Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries. Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991, 42-55.
Montague considers Paul's epistles, along with Hebrews, as "a theological mine" from which we can learn a tremendous amount about the early understanding of the Holy Spirit (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 42). Montague walks through several passages considering them in turn.
1 Corinthians 12:13 speaks of being baptized into one body by one Spirit. Montague takes this passage as at least having metaphorical leanings, though being fairly clearly literal in regard to water baptism (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 43). Although Montague sees the passage as a reference to baptism in water, he recognizes an assumption on the part of Paul and the Corinthians that there is an element of spiritual giftedness as a result of water baptism (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 44). However, the theme of unity in the body is of greater prominence than a consideration of what spiritual gifts might look like and when they become evident. The unity of the body of Christ is illustrated at length here (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 45).
1 Corinthians 6:11 speaks of washing, and does so in close proximity to a statement about the Holy Spirit (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 46). In general, the washing here is taken as a reference to baptism, rather than some other, metaphorical meaning. Montague sees the implication that the Holy Spirit is received in conjunction with water baptism.
Galatians 3:1-5 speaks of the Galatians receiving the Holy Spirit by faith, rather than by works. Montague considers the context to clearly indicate the Holy Spirit was received and that gifts were poured out on the Galatians beginning at their baptism and continuing to the present (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 47).
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 speaks of the Holy Spirit as an anointing and a seal placed on the Corinthians when they believed. Montague sees this as something which would remain active in them.
Romans 6:1-5 provides us with a vivid picture of dying to sin in baptism, then rising to new life. There is no specific mention of the Holy Spirit here, as Montague acknowledges (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 49). However, Montague makes it clear that in Paul's view, any time we see Jesus, we expect to see the work of the Holy Spirit. That would include this passage, in which we are raised from death with Jesus, presumably in the power of the Holy Spirit (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 50).
Montague does not consider Titus or Hebrews to be Pauline. Yet he comments on them in this chapter. Titus 3:4-7 speaks of salvation by a washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 51). Montague takes the regeneration and renwal to refer to one event. The Holy Spirit, given at baptism, continues to work in the life of the Christian (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 53). Finally, Hebrews 6:1-5 speaks of testing heavenly gifts and becoming partakers of the Holy Spirit. Again, Montague understands this text as tying the gifts of the Holy Spirit to both baptism and the laying on of hands, treated essentially as one event (McDonnell & Montague 1991, 55).