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The Identity of the Holy Spirit – Question 5
To many people, the Holy Spirit is an enigma. Some see Him as an impersonal force or influence, some deny His very existence, and others are not certain who or what the Holy Spirit is. However, the Bible is very clear on this matter; the Holy Spirit is a person, the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
By “person,” we mean one who has their own identity or individuality as a rational being. They are conscious of their own existence.
When we say that the Holy Spirit is a person some assume that He has eyes, feet, and hands. But these are not the marks of a person. The marks of a genuine person are knowledge, feeling, and will.
The fact that the Holy Spirit is a person can be observed in six ways.
We will now consider the personality of the Holy Spirit.
The Scriptures attribute to the Holy Spirit characteristics that only a person can truly possess. He is portrayed as a thinking being, a being who has a mind, an emotional being, and a volitional (or choosing) being.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit has the intellectual capacity to think and know. These are the marks of personhood.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth about this aspect of the Spirit of God. He put it in this manner.
But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10, 11 NLT).
Although no human being can understand the mind of God, the Bible says that Holy Spirit is able to do this. The Holy Spirit thinks, searches, and uses reason. These things imply personality. In fact, the word translated, “search” is the same one used by Jesus in John 5:39 where He said the following to the religious leaders.
You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you possess eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me (John 5:39 TNIV).
The word has the idea to, “examine or investigate.” Since the Spirit is said to “search all things” this implies personality. He searches the deep things of God and reveals them to believers.
Scripture also says that the Holy Spirit has a mind. When he wrote his letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul spoke of the “mind of the spirit.”
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God (Romans 8:27 TNIV).
The word “mind” has the idea of thought and purpose. These are attributes of personality.
The Holy Spirit not only thinks like a person. He has feelings like a person. We can give the following examples.
The Holy Spirit can give and receive love. Paul wrote to the Romans of the love of the Spirit.
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf (Romans 15:30 NRSV).
The love of Christ can be shown through the Holy Spirit.
He also can be affected by the acts of others. He can be grieved. Isaiah the prophet wrote.
Then the Lord’s people turned against him and made his Holy Spirit sad. So he became their enemy and attacked them (Isaiah 63:10 CEV).
The Holy Spirit is grieved by sin. The fact that He can be grieved demonstrates personality. Indeed, one cannot grieve an influence or an impersonal force.
The Bible says that the Holy Spirit can be insulted. The writer to the Hebrews said.
How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29 NASB).
He responds emotionally the way that a person responds. Again, this is a sign of personhood.
After listing the various gifts of the Spirit such as wisdom, knowledge, miracles, and prophecy, Paul links them to the Holy Spirit who gave them. However the Holy Spirit not only gives the gifts, He gives them according to His will. The fact that the Holy Spirit has a will to choose shows personality. Paul wrote.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11 NASB).
Notice that the Spirit distributes these gifts according to His will.
The idea that the Holy Spirit has a choice is consistent with the character of God. James uses the same word “chose” to describe the will of God the Father. He wrote.
Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures (James 1:18 NKJV).
Just as God the Father has a will, so does God the Holy Spirit.
These attributes are consistent with personhood. Therefore, we see that the characteristics ascribed to the Holy Spirit–thought, a mind, feelings, choice–are attributes of a person.
The deeds that the Holy Spirit performs are deeds that only a person can do. His acts and dealings are not those of an impersonal influence or force. There are a number of examples of this.
The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit teaching. Paul wrote.
And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual (1 Corinthians 2:13 NRSV).
It is the Spirit of God who teaches believers in Christ.
Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit would teach believers. Luke records Him saying the following about the teaching ministry of the Spirit.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say (Luke 12:12 NRSV).
The teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit is an essential part of His ministry.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be a teacher of truth. He said.
But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning (John 15:26, 27 NKJV).
Whatever the Holy Spirit teaches will be truthful. Indeed, as God, He cannot lie.
Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit would teach His disciples “all things.”
But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative— and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit— he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you (John 14:26 NLT).
As Jesus taught His disciples the Holy Spirit would also teach them. He would perform the same type of teaching ministry of Jesus. He would cause them to remember all things that Christ had earlier taught them. Jesus said.
But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you (John 16:7 NLT).
He personally comes and teaches all believers. This is His responsibility.
The Holy Spirit is a personal guide to Christians. Paul wrote.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God (Romans 8:14 NRSV).
God’s children are guided by the Holy Spirit.
We find that the Holy Spirit guided Paul into areas of hardship. He said.
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me (Acts 20:22, 23 TNIV).
Thus, the ministry of the Holy Spirit consists of giving guidance to believers.
Comforting, or helping, is another ministry of the Holy Spirit. This too is a mark of personality. Jesus said.
But I tell you that I am going to do what is best for you. That is why I am going away. The Holy Spirit cannot come to help (John 16:7 CEV).
The Holy Spirit comforts those who belong to Christ.
The Holy Spirit can issue commands that can be obeyed. The Book of Acts records a number of such commands. For example, the Spirit commanded Philip.
Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it” (Acts 8:29 NRSV).
The Contemporary English Version translates it this way.
The Spirit told Philip to catch up with the chariot (Acts 8:29 CEV).
Only a person can issue commands.
Peter was commanded by the Holy Spirit to receive certain men. We read in the Book of Acts.
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them” (Acts 10:19, 20 TNIV).
This is a further indication that the Holy Spirit has personality.
Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to go to Asia.
Paul and his friends went through Phrygia and Galatia, but the Holy Spirit would not let them preach in Asia. After they arrived in Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not let them (Acts 16:6, 7 CEV)
In each of these examples, the Holy Spirit commanded what to do, and what not to do.
The Holy Spirit also appoints people to offices in the church. We read the following in the Book of Acts.
Keep watch over yourselves and over all the flock, of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son (Acts 20:28 NRSV)
The Spirit of God appoints people to the ministry of Christ.
Giving understanding is a work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come (John 16:13 NKJV).
The Spirit of God was given to give understanding to the people.
The Bible records the Holy Spirit speaking. The Book of Acts records the following.
While they were worshiping the Lord and going without eating, the Holy Spirit told them, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul to do the work for which I have chosen them” (Acts 13:2 CEV).
The Spirit of God, on occasion, could verbally make Himself known to people.
The Holy Spirit intercedes, or speaks on behalf of people. Paul wrote.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26 NKJV)
The same Greek word, translated as “intercession,” is used later in this chapter of Romans of Christ and His intercessory work. It says.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us (Romans 8:34 NRSV).
Thus both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit intercede on behalf of believers.
The Holy Spirit performs miracles. In fact, Jesus Himself said that He cast out demons by the Spirit of God. We read.
But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you (Matthew 12:28 NRSV).
It was through the Spirit of God that Jesus performed miracles.
On the Day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit miraculously allowed the disciples of Christ to speak in languages previously unlearned. We read.
And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability (Acts 2:4 NLT).
Again, we find the Holy Spirit involved in miracles.
The Apostle Paul wrote of the Spirit’s miraculous power in his letter to the Romans. He put it this way.
I have won them over by the miracles done through me as signs from God— all by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ all the way from Jerusalem clear over into Illyricum (Romans 15:19 NLT).
Scripture clearly teaches the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. This too is another sign of the personality of the Holy Spirit.
Conviction of sin is the work of the Holy Spirit. God said the following before the flood in Noah’s day.
Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not contend with man forever, for he is mortal; his days will be a hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3 NIV).
The Spirit of God will not put up with sin. The fact that this can be said of Him implies personality.
Jesus said the Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin. We read His words in the gospel of John.
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8 TNIV).
The Holy Spirit is a Divine prosecutor convicting the world of its sin.
The Holy Spirit, sanctifies, or sets people apart from ministry. We read the following in the Book of Acts.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them” (Acts 13:2 ESV).
In this instance, it was the Holy Spirit who set these believers apart for God’s work.
Peter wrote about the Spirit sanctifying the believers. He put it this way.
According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: (1 Peter 1:2 ESV).
People are set apart for God service by the work of the Spirit of God.
The Holy Spirit gives gifts as He desires. Paul wrote the following to the Corinthians.
To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills (1 Corinthians 12:8–11 ESV).
The Bible makes the distinction between the Holy Spirit and the gifts that He gives to people.
The Holy Spirit is also involved in the resurrection of the dead. Paul wrote to the Romans.
If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you (Romans 8:11 NRSV).
This is another indication of His personhood.
The Holy Spirit is also the Creator. We read the following in the Book of Genesis.
Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2 NIV).
The Contemporary English Versions says.
The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water (Genesis 1:2 CEV).
Thus, the Holy Spirit was involved in the creation process.
The Holy Spirit is the ultimate authority behind the Scripture. Peter wrote.
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21 NIV).
These deeds attributed to the Holy Spirit are not the acts of an impersonal force; they are the acts of a person.
Whenever the Holy Spirit is encountered in a historical situation we discover that He is always treated as a person.
The Bible records that Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts says.
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” (Acts 5:3 NKJV).
You can lie only to a person.
Stephen told the Sanhedrin that they were disobeying the Holy Spirit by resisting Him. We read of him saying.
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do (Acts 7:51 NRSV).
You do not disobey an impersonal force; you can only disobey an actual person.
On another occasion Simon Peter went to the house of Cornelius as the Holy Spirit directed. The Book of Acts says.
And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down, and accompany them without hesitation; for I have sent them”(Acts 10:19, 20 RSV).
Consequently, whenever we find the Holy Spirit in a historical narrative He is consistently treated as though He is a person, never as anything less.
The Holy Spirit has been given the ministry, or responsibility that only a person can fulfill. Jesus said that the job of the Holy Spirit was to be another Comforter or Helper.
Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don’t see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you (John 14:16, 17 CEV).
The Holy Spirit is “another” Comforter. He came to take the place of the absent Savior who is the other Comforter. Since Jesus, the first “Comforter” is personal we would also expect the other Comforter to also be a Person. Indeed, He is.
We also learn something from the word translated “another.” There are two Greek words, which can be rendered another – allos and heteros. Allos usually means “another of the same kind” while heteros usually means “another of a different kind.” The word used here is allos – another of the same kind. The Holy Spirit is another of the same kind of Comforter as Jesus – a Person. While the word “another” distinguishes the Holy Spirit from Jesus, it puts the two on the same level. The continuance of the presence of Jesus Christ in the church is because of the Holy Spirit.
The word that is translated “comforter” is the Greek word paraklatos. The Latin word is advocatus in which the English word “advocate” is derived. It has the idea of, “one called to the side of another for the purpose of helping them in any way.”
This was particularly true in legal and criminal proceedings. It was the custom in ancient courts for the parties to appear with one or more friends. They were called their paraklatos. These people gave their friends their wise counsel as well as speaking and acting on their behalf. All of this was done without charge because the paraklatos was concerned for the well-being of the person charged.
This was the relationship the Lord Jesus had with His disciples while He was here upon the earth. The disciples were concerned about the idea of Jesus leaving them and going away for good. He comforted these men by saying that He was going to send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would defend, help, counsel, and teach them during the time of Jesus’ absence from them.
Jesus promised that after He left the world He would not leave His disciples as orphans.
I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you (John 14:18 NRSV).
The Holy Spirit would take the place of Jesus in His absence.
Jesus said that it was necessary for Him to go away so that the Comforter could come. John records the Lord saying the following.
But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Counselor won’t come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you (John 16:7 NLT).
For the Holy Spirit to come, Jesus must go away.
Later in Scripture, Jesus Himself is called the paraklatos, or Advocate, (Comforter) by John. We read.
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1 NKJV).
The fact that Jesus sent the “Comforter” does not mean that He has ceased to be the Helper and Advocate of His people. Jesus Christ, who is now in heaven, defends the charges made against His people while the Holy Spirit is working the same ministry here on earth. Jesus Christ is the paraklatos in heaven while the Holy Spirit is the paraklatos here upon the earth.
There is also the fact that the Holy Spirit is sent in the name, or authority, of Jesus. Jesus said.
But when the Counselor comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness to me; and you also are witnesses, because you have been with me from the beginning (John 15:26-27 RSV).
One does not send some sort of impersonal force or influence in the name of someone to do their work – one sends a person. We are also told that the Holy Spirit will testify of Jesus Christ and teach the disciples the things they need to know. These are all personal acts.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned in connection with other persons. The evidence is as follows.
He is mentioned in connection with Christians. The council of Jerusalem wrote the following letter to believers.
For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials (Acts 15:28 NRSV).
Here the Holy Spirit is linked with believers. This of course, implies personhood.
He is also mentioned in connection with Jesus Christ. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit.
He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you (John 16:14 NIV).
Jesus mentions the Holy Spirit in connection with Himself. This is further indication of His personal nature.
The Holy Spirit is also mentioned in connection with God the Father and God the Son. Paul wrote.
All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all (2 Corinthians 13:13-14 ESV).
In these contexts where the Holy Spirit is mentioned, it is alongside genuine persons. There is no hint whatsoever that the Holy Spirit is somehow different in personality than the persons mentioned.
The Bible makes the comparison between the Holy Spirit and evil spirits. Mark wrote.
But whoever curses the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. He is guilty of an everlasting sin.” Jesus said this because the scribes had said that he had an evil spirit (Mark 3:29-30 God’s Word).
The religious leaders claimed that Jesus had an unclean or evil spirit, which allowed Him to cast out demons. In response to the claim that He had an evil spirit, Jesus replied that He had the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus said that it was His power that allowed Him to cast out the demons.
Furthermore, these evil spirits that Jesus cast out were not impersonal forces – they were personal entities. They have the ability to speak, reason, and show emotion. Contrasting the Holy Spirit to these unclean personal beings is further evidence of the personality of the Holy Spirit.
There is also the contrast made between the Holy Spirit and deceitful spirits or demons. We read.
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons (1 Timothy 4:1 ESV).
Deceitful spirits, or demons, are treated in the Bible as personal entities. They have the ability to teach things that will cause people to lose faith. In the same manner, the Holy Spirit should be considered a personal being since He is contrasted to them.
In addition, He is said to have “spoken.” The ability to speak is a sign of personality.
There is also the contrast between the Spirit that God gave believers, the Holy Spirit, and false spirits. John wrote.
Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit (1 John 3:24 God’s Word).
John then contrasts the Spirit that God gave believers with counterfeit spirits that are claiming to be from God. He said.
Dear friends, don’t believe everyone who claims to have the Spirit of God. Test them all to find out if they really do come from God. Many false prophets have already gone out into the world (1 John 4:1 CEV).
The Spirit of truth, whom God has given to every believer, is personal, just as are these false spirits.
The final reason that we conclude that the Holy Spirit is a person is that He is addressed as God. The evidence is as follows.
The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead which consists of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus said.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19 NLT).
The Father and Son are personal beings and the Holy Spirit is treated in the same manner and assumed to be a person. Thus, if the Holy Spirit is God, and God is personal, then the Holy Spirit must be personal.
Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit could be blasphemed, or dishonored.
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven (Matthew 12:31 ESV).
Only God, and His Word, can be blasphemed. We read in the Book of Revelation.
It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven (Revelation 13:6 ESV).
Jesus Christ also can be blasphemed. When He was suffering on the cross those that passed by Him were hurling insults.
And the people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery (Matthew 27:39 NLT)
The unpardonable sin cannot be merely blasphemy against the power of God or some attribute of God. If that were the case, then blasphemy against God Himself would be a lesser offense than blasphemy against His power – since the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the ultimate unforgivable sin.
However the Scripture says that the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is more serious than the blasphemy against Jesus. This clearly means that the Holy Spirit is personal and is God.
As we search the Scripture, the Holy Spirit is ascribed personality in the fullest sense. Indeed, through a study of Scripture a number of things become clear. The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person. He has characteristics that only a genuine person can have.
The Spirit also performs the acts of a person. In other words, He does things that only a person can do. The Holy Spirit is treated as a person. In historical situations the Spirit of God is treated as other persons are treated. The Holy Spirit has the ministry of a person.
He does things that in the Christian ministry that only persons can do. The Holy Spirit is mentioned in connection with other persons. This is further indication that the Spirit of God is indeed a person.
The Holy Spirit is God, and therefore, by nature is personal. Each of these truths makes it clear that Spirit of God is indeed a person.
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