What Is the holy spirit?

Conclusion of Misconceptions about the holy spirit

Misconception:  The Bible personifies the holy spirit, and this proves that it is a person.

Fact: The Scriptures  do at times personify the holy spirit, but this does not prove that the holy spirit is a person.  The Bible also personifies wisdom, death, and sin. (Proverbs 1:20; Romans 5:17, 21) For example, wisdom is said to have "works" and "children," and sin is depicted a seducing, killing, and working out covetousness. -Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:35; Romans 7:8, 11. 

Similarly, when the apostle John quoted Jesus, he personified the holy spirit as a "helper" (paraclete) that would give evidence, guide, speak, hear, declare, glorify, and receive.  He used masculine person pronouns such as "he" or "him" when referring to that "helper."  (John 16:7-15) However, he did so because the Greek word for "helper" (pa-ra'kle-tos ) is a masculine noun and requires a masculine pronoun according to the rules of Greek grammar.  When John referred to the holy spirit using the neuter noun pneu'ma, he used the genderless pronoun "it." -John 14:16, 17. 

Misconception: Baptism in the name of the holy spirit proves that it is a person.

Fact:  The Bible sometimes uses "name" to stand for power or authority.  (Deuteronomy 18:5, 19-22; Esther 8:10)  This is similar to its use in the English expression "in the name of the law," which doe snot mean  that the law is a person.  A person who is baptized "in the name of" the holy spirit recognizes the power and role of the holy spirit in accomplishing God's will. -Matthew 28:19. 

Misconception: Jesus' apostles and other early disciples believed that the holy spirit was a person. 

Fact:  The Bible does not say that, nor does history.  The Encyclopedia Britannica states:  "The definition that the holy spirit  was a distinctive divine Person . . .came at the Council of Constantinople in ad 381."  This was over 250 years after the last of the apostles had died.

Next time: How Do Bible Principles Benefit Us? - 1. Why do we need guidance?

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