HOLY SPIRIT, THE PERSON

The Holy Spirit is a person not an “it” as some translations make reference.  The Greek word for Spirit is pneuma and in the Greek language it is a neuter noun and thus the translators were simply using the correct sentence structure.  But this “it” translation has caused some misunderstanding about the nature of the person of the Holy Spirit.

Examples in Scripture that use the neuter noun in reference to the Holy Spirit are as follows:

Romans 8:16, 26 - “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Ephesians 1:13-14 – “That Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

According to the following passages, the Holy Spirit is called by the masculine noun, the Paraclete that comes from the Greek word parakletos meaning one called along side:

John 14:16 – “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”

John 15:26  - “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.”

John 16:7 – “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

The person of the Holy Spirit can be best described by the four primary characteristics that are essential for a complete personality:

1. A person is someone who can think, who has a mind and who has understanding.
   1. Acts 15:28 – “For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.”
   2. Romans 8:27 – “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
2. A person is someone who can feel, have emotions and sensitivity.
   1. John 14:16 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever.”
   2. Ephesians 4:30 – “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”
   3. I Thessalonians 5:19 – “Quench not the Spirit.”
3. A person is someone who can choose, has a will, purpose and volition.
   1. Acts 16:6-7 – “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”
   2. I Corinthians 12:11 – “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
4. A person is someone who can work and take action.
   1. II Peter 1:21 - “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
   2. John 14:26 – “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
   3. John 16:13-14 – “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
   4. John 3:5 – “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
   5. I Corinthians 2:4 – “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”
   6. I Thessalonians 1:5 - “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”
   7. John 14:16-18 – “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
   8. Romans 8:26-27 – “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

In Matthew 28:19-20 the Holy Spirit is named in reference to the Father and the Son: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all thins whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Other Scripture Reference:

1. Holy Spirit, Spirit of Christ and Spirit of God
   1. Romans 8:9 “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”
2. Spirit of the Father
   1. Matthew 10:20 “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
3. Spirit of God
   1. Romans 8:9a “But e are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
   2. Romans 15:19 “Through might sings and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.”
   3. I Corinthians 2:11, 14, 16 “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
   4. I Corinthians 3:16 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwellth in you?”
   5. I Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
   6. I Corinthians 7:40 “She is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”
   7. I Corinthians 12:3 “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”
4. Spirit of Christ

a.       II Corinthians 3:17,18 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

b.      Galatians 4:6 “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

c.       Philippians 1:19 “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.”

d.      I Peter 1:11 “Searching what, our what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.”

5. Other
   1. Spirit of Life – Romans 8:2 “But the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free the law of sin and death.”
   2. Spirit of Truth – John 16:13 “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself: but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
   3. Spirit of Grace - Hebrews 10:29 “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
   4. Spirit of Adoption – Romans 8:15 “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”