Which term is the descent of the Holy Spirit; the birthday of the church?

Which term is the descent of the Holy Spirit; the birthday of the church?

• A. Pentecost
• B. The Resurrection of Christ
• C. The Great Commission
• D. Advocate

Answer: (A)

Pentecost is the term that names the descent of the Holy Spirit and marks the birth of the Church. Fifty days after Easter, and originally a Jewish harvest festival (Shavuot), it becomes the moment when the Spirit is poured out on the apostles, empowering them to proclaim the gospel in many languages. This outpouring signals the formation of the Church as a community guided by the Spirit, hence its celebration as the Church’s birthday. The other terms refer to different aspects: the Resurrection is Jesus rising from the dead, not the Spirit’s descent; the Great Commission is Jesus sending believers to make disciples, not the event of the Spirit’s coming; the title Advocate describes the Spirit’s role, but does not name the event or the birth of the Church.

Pentecost is the term that names the descent of the Holy Spirit and marks the birth of the Church. Fifty days after Easter, and originally a Jewish harvest festival (Shavuot), it becomes the moment when the Spirit is poured out on the apostles, empowering them to proclaim the gospel in many languages. This outpouring signals the formation of the Church as a community guided by the Spirit, hence its celebration as the Church’s birthday.

The other terms refer to different aspects: the Resurrection is Jesus rising from the dead, not the Spirit’s descent; the Great Commission is Jesus sending believers to make disciples, not the event of the Spirit’s coming; the title Advocate describes the Spirit’s role, but does not name the event or the birth of the Church.