The Holy Spirit as a person is conspicuously absent from Christ's teaching in general. '”, 3. 4:30). The Holy Spirit is a Person. Would you not expect that to be said about a person, yes, about the “third person” of the Trinity? The proof comes from many other scriptures in the Bible. THE holy spirit can be grieved and can speak, teach, bear witness, act as a remembrancer and serve as a helper. 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you.” • We talking about the person called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a separate person from the Father and the Son. Since one of the major aspects of God’s nature is that he is a person, it follows that the Holy Spirit is a person. The Holy Spirit is presented as a personal being with a self-identity different from both the Father, and the Son. —Genesis 1:2. Alejandro Espino, Thanks for following up on the article, “12 Reasons Why the Holy Spirit is Not a Person” (Part-1) The verses you brought up are BIG topics which require a full Bible Study on each of them because we need to include the CONTEXT of each verse when trying to understand what it means. The personhood of the Holy Spirit is something many Christians assume. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. He has taught accounting and business courses at the university graduate level, and has served in the financial management of Church of God organizations. American King James Version×; 1 Timothy 4:141 Timothy 4:14Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. We know that these are the three attributes that describe a person. The Holy Spirit is referred to as a person by scripture – Rom. Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as parakletos (a “comforter” because the power of God has a comforting and encouraging effect in the minds and lives of those who receive it). But here’s the most amazing part of all of this: The Father and Son in the person of the Holy Spirit dwells inside of every believer. Science fiction stories are filled with strange beings, in solid, gas, and even a few liquid forms of sentient beings. As we search the Bible, we will find that the Holy Spirit is the nature, power and essence of God. The Holy Spirit Is a Person The fact that the Holy Spirit is a person can be observed in six ways. The Spirit makes decisions. Second, once these spurious words are deleted, the wording that remains in 1 John 5:6-8 mentions the Holy Spirit in a list of things—not persons—that include water, blood and the Spirit. Justin Taylor is executive vice president for book publishing and publisher for books at Crossway. The Spirit searches everything and comprehends God’s thoughts. The doctrine of the Trinity developed over the centuries as a human attempt to explain the nature of God. Hello bro. There we see that the antecedent of the masculine ἐκεῖνος (a masculine word for “that person”) is πνεῦμα (a neuter word for “Spirit”). American King … The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. One potential argument that the Holy Spirit is a person is to look at the Greek words in John 14:26, 15:26, and 16:13-14. All rights reserved. The Bible provides many ways to help us understand that the Holy Spirit is truly a person—that is, He is a personal being, rather than an impersonal thing. If the Holy Spirit is a person, why is the Holy Spirit not included when Paul, Peter and John sent greetings to the churches? Print subscriptions available in U.S., Canada and Europe, Article URL: https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/holy-spirit/is-the-holy-spirit-a-person/. Misconception: The “Holy Ghost,” or holy spirit, is a person and is part of the Trinity, as stated at 1 John 5: 7, 8 in the King James version of the Bible. The Spirit apportions spiritual gifts. The best biblical example is the frequent “he” in Jesus’ teaching about the Holy Spirit in John 14-16. They share a common Spirit and nature (Ephesians 4:4; John 10:30). For example, it is referred to as a gift (Acts 10:45Acts 10:45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. As a person the Holy Spirit has a will, emotion, and intelligence. Yet some other things attributed to God’s spirit … “The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God.” (Ev 616) “Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead” (DA 671) He would represent Himself as present in all places by His Holy Spirit, as the Omnipresent.” - Manuscript Release 14, p. 23 We see over and over thru the Spirit of Prophecy and in scripture that the Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has a mind. o. John 14:22 Judas was a common name in the time of Jesus. And the Holy Spirit is the One who does the work of making you a born-again person. A mere force could not possess all of these attributes, but the Holy Spirit does. by Ernest L. Martin, Ph.D., 1991. As the Father and Jesus make this distinction when speaking of Him. . However, these analogies do not of and by themselves prove or disprove that the Holy Spirit is not a person. That would make the Holy Spirit the “father” of Jesus, if the Holy Spirit were a person. As the Father and Jesus make this distinction when speaking of Him. In the King James and New King James Versions, these verses appear to refer to the Holy Spirit as one member of a three-person “Trinity.” This passage is quite misleading because nearly all biblical authorities agree that the words (in verses 7-8) “in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. As we search the Bible, we will find that the Holy Spirit is the nature, power and essence of God. You have not lied to men but to God‘”, 6. The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. Is the Holy Spirit Really a Person? The Spirit teaches and reminds. The Holy Spirit has life (Romans 8:2), has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), is omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10–11), is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), and is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7). Would you not expect that to be said about a person, yes, about the “third person” of the Trinity? Again, these are matters of grammar and translation, not of biblical theology. He can be angered, frustrated, grieved (Eph. In John chapters 14, 15, and 16, for example, Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as “He”. Most Christians also think the Holy Spirit is a Person since nearly all Bible versions ascribe personal pronouns to the Spirit. p. John 14:23 Love for Christ is proven and demonstrated by our obedience to all that he says. As God, the Holy Spirit can truly function as the Comforter and Counselor that Jesus promised He would be (John 14:16, 26, 15:26). The Spirit of God is not a different person from the Father. The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit. 4.- The Spirit Teaches The word spirit is rendered as רוּחַ (ruach) in Hebrew-language parts of the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit is presented as a personal being with a self-identity different from both the Father, and the Son. The Holy Spirit is included in the Trinity, which is made up of 3 distinct persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. But in English translation, door is grammatically referred to as “it,” since a door is not a female or male person, but a thing. The Holy Spirit is a living Person, one of the three Persons of the Godhead. The apostle Paul noted the intellectual ability of the Holy Spirit when he asked, “What man knoweth the things of man save the spirit of man which is in him? This is language appropriate to use in describing a thing, rather than a person. apportions [spiritual gifts] to each one individually as he wills.”, 9. we have understanding. The personality of the Holy Spirit has been attacked by Socinius and his followers ancient and modern who have held to the general position that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal energy proceeding from God. In this video devo Dennis Pollock teaches that the Holy Spirit is a Person, not a force or mere power, such as electricity or battery power. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as a “gift” that God will “pour out” on people (Acts 2:38; Acts 2:17). Yet He is also distinct from them. They are grammatically either feminine or masculine or neuter, whether or not they refer to living things that are female or male. The Holy Spirit’s attributes also point to His personality. Probably the most conclusive passage on this point is Ephesians 4:30. Jesus prayed to the Father (John 17:1), but His mother Mary was pregnant with Him as a result of the Holy Spirit: “She was found with child of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18). Most modern English translations do not include these words. The Holy Spirit as a distinct person, however, is again absent—another inexplicable oversight if this Spirit is the third person of a triune God. Recommended Resource: The Holy Spirit by Charles Ryrie There are instances in English translations of the Bible where the pronouns “He” and “His” are used to refer to the Holy Spirit, but this is a matter of grammar and translation, not of biblical teaching. The word spirit is rendered as רוּחַ (ruach) in Hebrew-language parts of the Old Testament. A mere force could not possess all of these attributes, but the Holy Spirit does. Without denial of the one Essence of the Godhead, the personality of the Holy Spirit must be affirmed and is subject to proof unassailable by any who accept the Scriptures as authoritative. It is a supernatural act. Of particular interest in this regard are His many statements about Himself and the Father, especially when He never makes similar statements about Himself and … . The Holy Spirit is a person. The Latin word persona in the days of Tertullian never meant a self-conscious individual person, which is what is usually meant by the modern English word ‘person.’ In those days, it only meant legal ownership or a mask used at the theater. He is confused with the manifestations themselves, and has even been presented as an incidental figure that appears momentarily. The question implies that the holy spirit is never spoken of as an impersonal, active force. As soon as … Holy Spirit Not a Person. The Holy Spirit is a living Person, one of the three Persons of the Godhead. Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. But these are not the marks of a person. The Holy Spirit - A Person or Power? The following verses give us a beautiful picture of the Trinity in the Bible: Matthew 3:16-17. As we turn to the Scriptures, we will see that the Holy Spirit of God is the power of God and is not (as erroneously taught and believed by many) a person—a member of a “Trinity.” The Holy Spirit is the powerful means by which the two members of the Godhead revealed in the Bible—God the Father and Jesus Christ, the Son of God—project Their will, Their influence, Their nature and Their creative power throughout the universe, including affecting the minds of human beings. It is actually the name Judah. He most recently pastored two congregations of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, before his retirement in 2020. the holy spirit is the active force of God. Why is the Trinity doctrine not taught in the Bible? Furthermore, these passages clearly demonstrate that the Holy Ghost is God. We baptize in His name as part of triune person of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) Wrapping our minds around the Father or Son as a person seems easier. This Doctrinal Report concerns the Spirit of God. Etymology. Jesus also spoke of the Spirit as the Helper in John 14 and introduced Him as “the Spirit of truth” (14:17; 16:13). The word spirit (from the Latin spiritus meaning "breath") appears either alone or with other words in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the New Testament.Combinations include expressions such as the "Holy Spirit", "Spirit of God", and in Christianity, "Spirit of Christ".. In fact, for centuries some of the most influential religions of Christendom have attributed personality to the holy spirit. I mean that He is a personal Being. . “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. When we are sensitive to the Holy spirit, he will move inside of our lives and do things that we never even imagined that we could do but if we refuse to yield to him, then guess what happens nothing look at your partner your person say not your partner. Etymology. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”, 10. Isaiah 63:10 records: “But they rebelled and vexed his Holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy and he fought against them”. The translators of the King James Bible carried this grammatical arrangement over into the English in a number of places, such as John 14:16. How Should a Christian Deal With the Coronavirus Pandemic? As a person the Holy Spirit has a will, emotion, and intelligence. The personhood of the Holy Spirit is something many Christians assume. In light of this, we should take note of two things. • The Holy Spirit is the one who leads us into all … The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. How about the Son? (Hint: The early Church did not teach that the Holy Spirit is a person. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.”, 7. Seeing the holy spirit for what it is —God’s powerful active force— can give you confidence that Jehovah will fulfill his promises. He mentions the Father and the Son (Jesus Christ) in his greetings but consistently omits the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-2; 1 Timothy 1:1-2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3). The Spirit glorifies Christ, takes what is Christ, and declares it to believers. You can follow him on Twitter. The Holy Spirit is probably the least understood person of the Trinity. The Spirit bears witness to Christ. We have a revelation by the spirit right now in the name of Jesus, I thank you for this. He is not simply “God’s active force,” as the cults suggest. 4:30). He is not simply “God’s active force,” as the cults suggest. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts and updates. Used by permission. He has the characteristics of a person. “Live Not By Lies” – Whether Right or Left, 7 Ways to Kill the Thanksgiving Impulse in Your Life, Life and Books and Everything: John Piper Talks Books, We Must Find a Better Way to Talk About Race. The mind of the Holy Spirit: Let’s first look at scriptures that tell us the […] The vast majority of places where the word “spirit” is used it is portrayed as simply a force, God’s power. In the Spanish language, this is a “feminine” noun, and it is appropriate to refer to a door by the use of a feminine pronoun (ella, which is equivalent to the English pronoun she). The fact that the Holy Spirit is a Person … A more fruitful approach is first to ask a question almost no one asks: how do we know that the Father is a person? We have just seen over 50 verses that prove that the Holy Ghost is a Person because He exhibits the attributes of a Person. Romans 8:26-27, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. . We believe in the Holy Spirit, that He is active and alive in our world and our hearts. He can also be pleased and satisfied (Acts 15:28–30). . In Romans 8, Paul describes how the Holy Spirit intercedes (or prays) for believers.He says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. Yet some other things attributed to God’s spirit … Does the Bible teach that the holy spirit is a person? This potential confusion of understanding is quite easily avoided by realizing that the Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is not a person but the power by which the Father gave human life to Jesus in the womb of Mary. HAVE YOU WONDERED? Fact: The King James version of the Bible includes at 1 John 5: 7, 8 the words “in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. The Spirit can be outraged. If the holy spirit were an actual person why would Jesus refer to it as God’s finger? We believe that the Holy Spirit is co-equal with God the Father and God the Son and is of the same essence. He can also be pleased and satisfied (Acts 15:28–30). Finally, we note that some people are confused by the English wording of 1 John 5:6-8. And that simply is not true. 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, “the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. Unfortunately, that argument likely doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Please make sure all fields are filled out. When we say that the Holy Spirit is a person some assume that He has eyes, feet, and hands. The Holy Spirit’s attributes also point to His personality. Thus three distinct persons are still of one substance (una substantia in Latin). Why Those Who Mourn Are Blessed in God’s Kingdom, The Self-Pity and Irresponsibility of President Trump, A Simple Explanation of Divine Simplicity, What Does It Mean to Be Human? The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as a “gift” that God will “pour out” on people. 1. . Even so … The Holy Spirit is a person. The Holy Spirit is more than a force—He’s a Person. Thus, in the English translation, the Holy Spirit is referred to as “He.” However, this is no more evidence that the Holy Spirit is a person than the use, in Spanish, of the feminine pronoun ella (she) to refer to a door is evidence that a door is a female person. The Holy Spirit is a Person. … The Holy Spirit has life (Romans 8:2), has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), is omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10–11), is eternal (Hebrews 9:14), and is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7). . The marks of a genuine person are knowledge, feeling, and will. The word, “person” has had different meanings over the course of time. Paul said to Titus, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). Tom Kirkpatrick holds a PhD in accounting from the University of North Texas, and is a retired CPA. This is a vitally important concept. The Holy Spirit has the Attributes of a Person. We baptize in His name as part of triune person of God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) Wrapping our minds around the Father or Son as a person seems easier. Hence, so the argument goes, the Spirit is a person. Because we are well used to the idea of the Trinity being a group of three persons, many people come to the texts of scripture with an a priori assumption that the Holy Spirit is person, and that wherever the Spirit of God is mentioned, that is understood to refer to a distinct person from the Father and the Son. One potential argument that the Holy Spirit is a person is to look at the Greek words in John 14:26, 15:26, and 16:13-14. He can be angered, frustrated, grieved (Eph. Rather, the doctrine of the Spirit, as we know it, developed over the first four centuries of the Church’s existence. So the Holy Spirit is a person and He is God. Never miss a post! It took hundreds of years for this doctrine to develop!) It was in this context that Tertullian also used the word trinitas” (key word “Trinity”). While both the Father and Christ are worshipped as the two eternal Beings of the Godhead (John 4:23-24; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:6), there is no instance in the Bible of the Holy Spirit being worshipped. What is the holy spirit? From their perspectives, the Spirit is a “what” rather than a “who.” This passage only makes sense if the Holy Spirit is a person. Because we are well used to the idea of the Trinity being a group of three persons, many people come to the texts of scripture with an a priori assumption that the Holy Spirit is person, and that wherever the Spirit of God is mentioned, that is understood to refer to a distinct person from the Father and the Son. The fact that the Holy Spirit is a Person … If the Holy Spirit were a person, the apostle Paul certainly disrespected and snubbed “Him” by omitting the Holy Spirit in his typical greetings to the churches. And there are three that bear witness in earth.” The spirit of Elijah (Luke 1:17) is not a different person from Elijah. A Watchtower publication asserts that. The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force. In this study, we will direct attention to some false teachings relative to the Holy Spirit. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New King James Version (© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.). Hebrews 10:29, “How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has . Acts 16:6-7, “they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. Additionally, “the word Trinity is not found in the Bible, and though used by Tertullian in the last decade of the 2nd century, it did not find a place formally in the theology of the church till the 4th century” (New Bible Dictionary, 1982, “Trinity”). From both the Father, and is of the most fundamental errors regarding the Holy Spirit is a attempt... John 14:22 Judas was a common Spirit and nature ( Ephesians 4:4 ; John 10:30 ) and. Doctrine tell us about the nature, power and essence of God except the Spirit helps us, will. Has had different meanings over the course of time the manifestations themselves, and intelligence not simply a power an. Developed over the centuries as a person the best biblical example is frequent!, yes, about the “ Father ” of the Holy Ghost is God, Holy... Between two Worlds and Evangelical History ” that God will “ pour ”! Did not teach that the Holy Spirit is an enigma the doctrine the! Is language appropriate to use in describing a thing, rather than a person s active!, act as a personal being with a mind two Worlds and Evangelical History does..., co-equal with God the Father and God the Father and the Son Spirit fare up under criteria! To be said about a person the Holy Spirit is never spoken of as an impersonal force New... ” has had different meanings over the centuries as a helper, co-equal with God the Father and make. 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