Der Heilige Geist: Quelle von Kreativität und Neuheit

This contribution aims to research the meaning of the category of creativity and newness for the doctrine of God and particularly for the identity of the Holy Spirit. It is argued that the biblical narrative itself gives ample ground to criticize the traditional notion of immutability. By briefly analyzing the notion of God’s regret in some biblical passages the conclusion is drawn that God himself in situations of crisis is urged to search for a way forward. In this context the Holy Spirit plays a dominant role as the creative power of the kingdom that was on Jesus and empowered him during his life unto the cross. It is suggested that this should have a bearing on the doctrine of God: The Holy Spirit represents the eschatological drive in the life of God. Contemporary thought on the doctrine of God should take this eschatological accent more serious than traditionally was done.