What follows is an excerpt of my online discussion with Shamael on the Muslim insistence the NT words spoken by Jesus regarding the Comforter were his prophecy concerning Muhammad. This necessary kingpin connection with the New Testament by Muslim theology does not prevent, as is evident in InterFaithDialogue discussions, a total disregard for that same ancient source as being corrupt and unreliable. I would hope Christians would see the need for themselves to understand the scripture without losing the focus of faith.
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Shamael, I have re-created this comment which I have posted various times in IFD to the same question regarding the Comforter and Muhammad.
Note:
1 The future tense of Jesus' words in John's gospel and Acts regarding the Comforter which were yet to be fulfilled at the moment he spoke these words.
2 The interchangeable use of names between Counselor (Comforter), Spirit of truth, Holy Spirit.
3 The timeframe for the fulfillment of the promise: not many days from now.
4. The past tense in Peter's words on the day of Pentecost indicating the promise fulfilled.
5 The promise of the Holy Spirit extended to all who obey the gospel.
Gospel of John
I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,— the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. 14:16,17
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. 14:26
“When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. 15:26
Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. 16:7
However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. 16:13
Book of Acts
Being assembled together with them, he commanded them, “Don’t depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which you heard from me. 1:5 For John indeed baptized in water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” 1:4,5
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” 1:8
Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. 2:33
The promise extended to all who obey the gospel:
Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 2:38
Some of those present on Pentecost who witnessed the fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit:
How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 2:10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 2:11 Cretans and Arabians: Acts 2:9-11
Question:
Does the phrase "not many days from now" suggest to you this promise was to be fulfilled in the a matter of days or six centuries later?
Conclusion:
Shamael, your use of the term "notion" regarding the view of scripture strikes me as rather peculiar. My approach to the scripture is to present it, let it speak and leave it to you to hear, discern and judge the matter for yourself. Your question is quite valid and I know you are not the only one on this forum who continues to wonder about this so I thank you for your willingness to participate in the discussion for the benefit of all.
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