The words “spirit and “holy spirit” are used to speak of the power, influence and operating energy of the person who the Scriptures call “The Holy Spirit.” However, many Scriptures definitely establish the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit.
1) Personal pronouns are repeatedly applied to the Holy Spirit
The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is “Ruach,” which is in the feminine gender; the Greek word for “Spirit” is “Pneuma,” which is in the neuter gender. However, in John 14v26, 15v26 and 16v8,13,14, the personality of the Holy Spirit is emphasised at the expense of violating the rules of strict grammar. The emphatic pronoun “ekeinos”, “He”, is in the masculine gender, whereas the noun “pneuma”, that is, “Spirit”, is the neuter gender. Note the neuter “ekeino” is not used.
The translation “itself,” in Rom 8v16,26, in the Authorised Version, is corrected in the Revised Version to “Himself.” A.T. Robertson, makes the following helpful comment on Rom 8v16, in his “Word Pictures in the New Testament:” “'The Spirit himself' ('auto to pneuma'). The Grammatical gender of 'pneuma' is neuter as here, but the Greek used also the natural gender as we do exclusively as in John 16v13 'ekeinos' (masculine 'he'), 'to pneuma' (neuter). See also John 16v26, ('ho -- ekeinos). It is a grave mistake to use the neuter 'it' or 'itself' when referring to the Holy Spirit.” End of quote.
In John 15v26, “Parakletos,” (Strong’s NT:3875), means, “another sent alongside to help,” that is, another person like Jesus, with active benevolent intelligence. John 14v26, 16v8,13,15. The Holy Spirit comes from beside the Father, to be by the side of us. “Parakletos” occurs in John 14v16,26, 15v26, 16v7, as “Comforter,” and in 1John 2v1, as “Advocate.” Jesus says in John 15v26 that He will send the “Parakletos,” which again, like the emphatic demonstrative pronoun “ekeinos,” is masculine. Jesus twice informs us that the Holy Spirit is sent and proceeds, “from beside the Father,” “para tou patros.” The A.V., “which proceedeth” should read “who proceedeth;” for A.T. Robertson states, “'Which' ('ho') is the grammatical neuter to agree with 'pneuma,' and should be rendered 'who' like 'ho' in John 14v26.” End of quote.
Greek scholars tell us that the use or absence of the definite article (“the”), does not on its own determine whether the reference is to the Holy Spirit the person. However, the use of the definite article before both “pneuma” and “hagios,” “the Spirit the Holy,” does stress the personality of the Holy Spirit; as in Matt 12v32, Mark 3v29, 12v36, 13v11, Luke 2v26, John 14v26, Acts 1v16, 5v3, 7v51, 10v44,47, 13v2, 19v6, 20v23,28, 21v11, 28v25, Eph 4v30, Heb 3v7, 9v8, 10v15. Note: Acts 21v11, “Agabus….said, These things says the Spirit the Holy:” and Acts 15v28, (one definite article in Majority Text, two in Critical Texts) “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” The Scriptures clearly show the Holy Spirit speaks and directs and has plans and purposes, and so must have a will, mind and personality.
2) Personal actions and qualities of character are ascribed to the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is said to have active intelligence and will. 1Cor 2v10,11, 12v11. He strives, Gen 6v3; He speaks, reproves, guides, and directs. Neh 9v20, Luke 12v11,12, John 16v8-11,13, Acts 1v16, 8v29,39, 10v19, 11v12,28, 13v2,4, 15v28, 16v6,7, 20v23, 21v4,11, Rom 8v11-14, Heb 3v7, 10v15. The Holy Spirit works signs, wonders and miracles, and decides through whom they shall be performed. Rom 15v19, 1Cor 12v7-12. He sanctifies, 1Cor 5v11, Titus 3v5; He seals, Eph 1v13, 4v30; He regenerates, John 3v6.; He inspired the Scriptures. 2Tim 3v16; He prays and intercedes for the Church. Rom 8v26,27. These are all qualities, and attributes of character, and actions, that are inseparably connected with, and certify, a definite personality.
3) Personal insults and injuries can be performed against the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit can be resisted and grieved. Acts 7v51, Isaiah 63v10, Eph 4v30, 1Thess 5v19, Heb 3v7-11, 4v7. He can be lied to and tempted, Acts 5v3,4,9; He can be blasphemed and rejected. Matt 12v31,32, Heb 10v29. Jesus said the Jews who had wilfully rejected and opposed His mighty signs, wonders and miracles, had seen and hated Him and His Father. John 15v22-27. Jesus said that when they attributed the works that the Holy Spirit did through Him to the Devil, they committed a sin that could not be forgiven. Mark 3v28-30. Offending and personally insulting the Holy Spirit is the most serious sin of all.
4) Absolute Deity is ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures
a) Divine names are given to the Holy Spirit: He is called God. Acts 5v3,4, 1Cor 3v16, 6v19,20, 2Tim 3v16 with 2Pet 1v21. The Holy Spirit is called Yahweh. Isaiah 6v5,9 with Acts 28v25, Exodus 17v7 with Heb 3v7-9, Jer 31v31-34 with Heb 10v15-17. We also read in 2Cor 3v17 that “the Lord is that Spirit;” when Caesar said he was Lord, everybody knew that he was claiming divinity, and in the New Testament it is used to translate the Hebrew “Yahweh.” Paul in 2Cor 3v18, writes that the “Spirit of the Lord” transfigures us as we behold the glory of the Lord. This is obviously a reference to “the Spirit of Yahweh,” of the Old Testament; and v17 obviously means, “Yahweh is that Spirit.”
b) Divine works and perfections are ascribed to the Holy Spirit: Omnipresence, Psalm 139v7-10, Rom 9v26,27, 1Cor 6v19. Omniscience, Isaiah 40v11-14, John 14v26, 16v12,13, Rom 11v33,34, 1Cor 2v9-11. Eternal uncreated existence, Heb 9v14. Omnipotence, Isaiah 40v13-17, only infinite power can talk thus. Gen 1v2, Job 26v13, 33v4.
c) Worship, love and blessing are given to Him: Some people foolishly say that we should not worship the Holy Spirit, this is wrong. In Acts 28v25, the Holy Spirit is the Yahweh who is worshipped in Isaiah 6v3-9, Rom 15v30, 2Cor 13v14, Matt 28v19. Only God can be worshipped. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the greatest sin; those who reject the workings, deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, and say His works are of the Devil, commit this sin. Matt 12v31,32, Mark 3v28-30.
Yahweh Shalom
1) Personal pronouns are repeatedly applied to the Holy Spirit
The Hebrew word for “Spirit” is “Ruach,” which is in the feminine gender; the Greek word for “Spirit” is “Pneuma,” which is in the neuter gender. However, in John 14v26, 15v26 and 16v8,13,14, the personality of the Holy Spirit is emphasised at the expense of violating the rules of strict grammar. The emphatic pronoun “ekeinos”, “He”, is in the masculine gender, whereas the noun “pneuma”, that is, “Spirit”, is the neuter gender. Note the neuter “ekeino” is not used.
The translation “itself,” in Rom 8v16,26, in the Authorised Version, is corrected in the Revised Version to “Himself.” A.T. Robertson, makes the following helpful comment on Rom 8v16, in his “Word Pictures in the New Testament:” “'The Spirit himself' ('auto to pneuma'). The Grammatical gender of 'pneuma' is neuter as here, but the Greek used also the natural gender as we do exclusively as in John 16v13 'ekeinos' (masculine 'he'), 'to pneuma' (neuter). See also John 16v26, ('ho -- ekeinos). It is a grave mistake to use the neuter 'it' or 'itself' when referring to the Holy Spirit.” End of quote.
In John 15v26, “Parakletos,” (Strong’s NT:3875), means, “another sent alongside to help,” that is, another person like Jesus, with active benevolent intelligence. John 14v26, 16v8,13,15. The Holy Spirit comes from beside the Father, to be by the side of us. “Parakletos” occurs in John 14v16,26, 15v26, 16v7, as “Comforter,” and in 1John 2v1, as “Advocate.” Jesus says in John 15v26 that He will send the “Parakletos,” which again, like the emphatic demonstrative pronoun “ekeinos,” is masculine. Jesus twice informs us that the Holy Spirit is sent and proceeds, “from beside the Father,” “para tou patros.” The A.V., “which proceedeth” should read “who proceedeth;” for A.T. Robertson states, “'Which' ('ho') is the grammatical neuter to agree with 'pneuma,' and should be rendered 'who' like 'ho' in John 14v26.” End of quote.
Greek scholars tell us that the use or absence of the definite article (“the”), does not on its own determine whether the reference is to the Holy Spirit the person. However, the use of the definite article before both “pneuma” and “hagios,” “the Spirit the Holy,” does stress the personality of the Holy Spirit; as in Matt 12v32, Mark 3v29, 12v36, 13v11, Luke 2v26, John 14v26, Acts 1v16, 5v3, 7v51, 10v44,47, 13v2, 19v6, 20v23,28, 21v11, 28v25, Eph 4v30, Heb 3v7, 9v8, 10v15. Note: Acts 21v11, “Agabus….said, These things says the Spirit the Holy:” and Acts 15v28, (one definite article in Majority Text, two in Critical Texts) “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.” The Scriptures clearly show the Holy Spirit speaks and directs and has plans and purposes, and so must have a will, mind and personality.
2) Personal actions and qualities of character are ascribed to the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is said to have active intelligence and will. 1Cor 2v10,11, 12v11. He strives, Gen 6v3; He speaks, reproves, guides, and directs. Neh 9v20, Luke 12v11,12, John 16v8-11,13, Acts 1v16, 8v29,39, 10v19, 11v12,28, 13v2,4, 15v28, 16v6,7, 20v23, 21v4,11, Rom 8v11-14, Heb 3v7, 10v15. The Holy Spirit works signs, wonders and miracles, and decides through whom they shall be performed. Rom 15v19, 1Cor 12v7-12. He sanctifies, 1Cor 5v11, Titus 3v5; He seals, Eph 1v13, 4v30; He regenerates, John 3v6.; He inspired the Scriptures. 2Tim 3v16; He prays and intercedes for the Church. Rom 8v26,27. These are all qualities, and attributes of character, and actions, that are inseparably connected with, and certify, a definite personality.
3) Personal insults and injuries can be performed against the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit can be resisted and grieved. Acts 7v51, Isaiah 63v10, Eph 4v30, 1Thess 5v19, Heb 3v7-11, 4v7. He can be lied to and tempted, Acts 5v3,4,9; He can be blasphemed and rejected. Matt 12v31,32, Heb 10v29. Jesus said the Jews who had wilfully rejected and opposed His mighty signs, wonders and miracles, had seen and hated Him and His Father. John 15v22-27. Jesus said that when they attributed the works that the Holy Spirit did through Him to the Devil, they committed a sin that could not be forgiven. Mark 3v28-30. Offending and personally insulting the Holy Spirit is the most serious sin of all.
4) Absolute Deity is ascribed to the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures
a) Divine names are given to the Holy Spirit: He is called God. Acts 5v3,4, 1Cor 3v16, 6v19,20, 2Tim 3v16 with 2Pet 1v21. The Holy Spirit is called Yahweh. Isaiah 6v5,9 with Acts 28v25, Exodus 17v7 with Heb 3v7-9, Jer 31v31-34 with Heb 10v15-17. We also read in 2Cor 3v17 that “the Lord is that Spirit;” when Caesar said he was Lord, everybody knew that he was claiming divinity, and in the New Testament it is used to translate the Hebrew “Yahweh.” Paul in 2Cor 3v18, writes that the “Spirit of the Lord” transfigures us as we behold the glory of the Lord. This is obviously a reference to “the Spirit of Yahweh,” of the Old Testament; and v17 obviously means, “Yahweh is that Spirit.”
b) Divine works and perfections are ascribed to the Holy Spirit: Omnipresence, Psalm 139v7-10, Rom 9v26,27, 1Cor 6v19. Omniscience, Isaiah 40v11-14, John 14v26, 16v12,13, Rom 11v33,34, 1Cor 2v9-11. Eternal uncreated existence, Heb 9v14. Omnipotence, Isaiah 40v13-17, only infinite power can talk thus. Gen 1v2, Job 26v13, 33v4.
c) Worship, love and blessing are given to Him: Some people foolishly say that we should not worship the Holy Spirit, this is wrong. In Acts 28v25, the Holy Spirit is the Yahweh who is worshipped in Isaiah 6v3-9, Rom 15v30, 2Cor 13v14, Matt 28v19. Only God can be worshipped. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the greatest sin; those who reject the workings, deity and personality of the Holy Spirit, and say His works are of the Devil, commit this sin. Matt 12v31,32, Mark 3v28-30.
Yahweh Shalom