PERSPECTIVE
THE TRINITY PART 4
THE TRINITY PART 4
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24
John 4:24
PART 4: THE SPIRIT OF GOD
Unable to determine the nature of a spirit some have seen the Spirit of God as an "active force," instead of the third person of the Godhead. They see the Holy Spirit as something like an electrical force that God uses to accomplish his will. But is this what the Bible really declares?
There are two terms used in the Bible for "spirit". The word "ruwach" in the Hebrew means wind, breath, mind or spirit. It is used 378 times in the Old Testament and is translated "spirit" 232 times. It is also the Hebrew word for wind and breath, it is translated as wind 92 times and as breath 27 times. It is translated 9 times in direct connection with personal actions or traits, such as mind, anger and courage. Its root word means to smell, touch, understand or accept.
The word "pneuma" in the Greek, means a spirit or being. It can also mean breath or wind. The root word "pneo" means blow or wind, or to breath. It is the Greek equivalent of the word "ruwach." But "pneuma" unlike its Hebrew equivalent of the 385 times it is used in the NT it is used in conjunction with a person or being or to refer to personality and translated as "spirit" it reefers to traits or personal action more than 360 times.
Below are just a few examples of how the word "spirit" is used. These all indicate that a spirit is not just a form of power but denotes personality. The examples from the Old Testament use the word "ruwach" for spirit, the examples from the New Testament use "pneuma". Note that none of the passages that these verses are taken from are being written in figurative language.
John 4:24 (Is God an active force?)
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
A spirit exhibits emotion
Genesis 41:8, Exodus 6:9, Luke 1:47, Ephesians 4:30
A spirit is a being
1 Kings 22:20-22, Luke 9:26-29, Acts16:17-18, Acts 19:13,15
The Spirit speaks as the Lord God
Ezekiel 3:24-27, Ezekiel 11:5
The Spirit speaks
John 16:13, Acts 8:29, Acts 10:19 1 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 2 & 3
The spirit testifies
Romans 8:16, 1 John 4:2,
The spirit has a personality.
1 Corinthians 4:21, 1 Peter 3:4
Romans 8:26-27 (The Spirit intercedes for us)
1 Corinthians 2:13 (The Spirit teaches)
Acts 5:3 (Spirit can be lied to)
Acts 5:9 (Spirit can be tempted)
Matthew 12:31 (You can blaspheme the Holy Spirit)It seems odd that God would forgive all manner of sin and blasphemy, even against his own Son, but not forgive it against an impersonal active force akin to a holy electrical charge, unless the Holy Spirit is indeed a person.
In truth there does not need to be an assumption about the personal nature of the Spirit, for many places in the Bible declare it clearly and in non-metaphorical, literal terms. In order to believe that the Spirit is not personal we have to disregard the many places where the Spirit of God and other spirits are shown to be persons, in favor of an assumption that the nature of a spirit is only a force. That is not reasonable.
Unable to determine the nature of a spirit some have seen the Spirit of God as an "active force," instead of the third person of the Godhead. They see the Holy Spirit as something like an electrical force that God uses to accomplish his will. But is this what the Bible really declares?
There are two terms used in the Bible for "spirit". The word "ruwach" in the Hebrew means wind, breath, mind or spirit. It is used 378 times in the Old Testament and is translated "spirit" 232 times. It is also the Hebrew word for wind and breath, it is translated as wind 92 times and as breath 27 times. It is translated 9 times in direct connection with personal actions or traits, such as mind, anger and courage. Its root word means to smell, touch, understand or accept.
The word "pneuma" in the Greek, means a spirit or being. It can also mean breath or wind. The root word "pneo" means blow or wind, or to breath. It is the Greek equivalent of the word "ruwach." But "pneuma" unlike its Hebrew equivalent of the 385 times it is used in the NT it is used in conjunction with a person or being or to refer to personality and translated as "spirit" it reefers to traits or personal action more than 360 times.
Below are just a few examples of how the word "spirit" is used. These all indicate that a spirit is not just a form of power but denotes personality. The examples from the Old Testament use the word "ruwach" for spirit, the examples from the New Testament use "pneuma". Note that none of the passages that these verses are taken from are being written in figurative language.
John 4:24 (Is God an active force?)
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
A spirit exhibits emotion
Genesis 41:8, Exodus 6:9, Luke 1:47, Ephesians 4:30
A spirit is a being
1 Kings 22:20-22, Luke 9:26-29, Acts16:17-18, Acts 19:13,15
The Spirit speaks as the Lord God
Ezekiel 3:24-27, Ezekiel 11:5
The Spirit speaks
John 16:13, Acts 8:29, Acts 10:19 1 Timothy 4:1, Revelation 2 & 3
The spirit testifies
Romans 8:16, 1 John 4:2,
The spirit has a personality.
1 Corinthians 4:21, 1 Peter 3:4
Romans 8:26-27 (The Spirit intercedes for us)
1 Corinthians 2:13 (The Spirit teaches)
Acts 5:3 (Spirit can be lied to)
Acts 5:9 (Spirit can be tempted)
Matthew 12:31 (You can blaspheme the Holy Spirit)It seems odd that God would forgive all manner of sin and blasphemy, even against his own Son, but not forgive it against an impersonal active force akin to a holy electrical charge, unless the Holy Spirit is indeed a person.
In truth there does not need to be an assumption about the personal nature of the Spirit, for many places in the Bible declare it clearly and in non-metaphorical, literal terms. In order to believe that the Spirit is not personal we have to disregard the many places where the Spirit of God and other spirits are shown to be persons, in favor of an assumption that the nature of a spirit is only a force. That is not reasonable.
Zechariah 4:6
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
The Spirit of God is the third person of the Godhead; this is evident from all the inspired Word of God.
