The Spirit: Carried or Led?

                                                                                                                  by Bobby Price
There are many biblical examples of the Spirit leading people geographically (Luke 4:1; Acts8:29, 10:19-20, 16:6-7) and behaviorally/vocally (Mat. 10:19-20; Jhn. 16:12-14; 2 Pet. 1:21).  The question is, are Christians today "led" by the Holy Spirit in the same way the Apostles and prophets were of the New Testament? Is 2 Peter 1:21 the same as Romans 8:14?

[2Pe 1:21 ESV] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
[Rom 8:14 ESV] For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

The key to the discussion of what it means to be led by the Spirit is determining the difference, if there is any, in these two passages. What is the difference between being led by the Spirit and being carried/moved by the Spirit? Are they the same?

Many denominational Christians conflate these two. They suggest that we as Christians are moved by the Spirit in the way that the prophets were moved by the Spirit in being told where to evangelize or what to say.

The Greek for the term in 2 Peter 1:21 "carried/moved" (φερόμενοι G5342) implies the Holy Spirit was the actor, and the prophets were the passive object. The Spirit picked them up and put them in a new location, but not physically--in their minds.

The Spirit guided them into all truth, like Jesus said in John 16. Many of these truths were not already in their minds. Jesus said he had more things to teach them but couldn't (v12).  There were lessons that the Apostles needed to learn but wouldn't learn from Jesus. These lessons would be taught to the Apostles by the Spirit in place of Jesus.

2 Peter 1:21 is in the context of prophecy which can be trusted and is written by eyewitnesses of Jesus' majesty. That prophecy is produced apart from mankind's design, not by "the will of man." It was produced through men but by the work of the Holy Spirit. Again, the word for "carried/moved" implies the Holy Spirit was the actor, and the prophets were the passive object.

Romans 8:14 is in the context of living a life in the life of Christ, free from sin and death.  In this chapter, walking by the Spirit (v4) is the same as being led by the Spirit (v14), and the same as living by the Spirit (13). As opposed to the concept of being "carried" or "moved" by the Spirit, Paul here says we are "led" by the Spirit. The word for "led" is much more passive (ὅσοι G3745). It can mean "lead, guide, direct; of an animal: to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination."

This word is often used for leading animals. If you've ever led an animal you know that it isn't always smooth sailing. If the animal fights against you, it makes things very difficult and at times impossible.

There is a big difference in these terms; notice the difference between the Spirit picking someone up and taking them, and the Spirit leading and guiding someone. The first is more forceful while the second is more cooperative. The Holy Spirit took the Apostles' minds where they needed to go for revelation; the Holy Spirit guides our minds to where they need to go for living by faith.