The Holy Spirit is the third Person of Trinity. He is called as the Spirit, the Spirit of the Lord, and the Spirit of God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, He is identified as the Holy Spirit in many places. In a few places, He is called as the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of the Son.
The Holy Spirit is mentioned more than ninety times in the Old Testament with at least eighteen different titles. In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit is mentioned more than two hundred and sixty times along with thirty-nine different titles. Out of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, only 2 and 3 John have no reference to the Holy Spirit.
These facts show that the Bible gives importance to the teaching of the Holy Spirit. So it is very important for a believer to know, understand, appreciate and experience the Person, the work and the ministry of the Holy Spirit in his life. To begin with, let us study the personality of the Holy Spirit.
THE PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Bible reveals the Holy Spirit as the third person in the eternal Godhead; co-equal, co-eternal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit is the Person of Godhead sent by the Father and the Son to indwell, teach, comfort and guide believers. The Bible clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit is a person.
1. He is Referred With Personal Pronouns
The Bible uses personal pronouns when referring to the Holy Spirit. The pronouns ‘He’ and ‘Himself are used in sixteen places in the Scriptures. Some examples where the Spirit is used as a person and not as a thing are:
a. John 15:26: He will testify.
b. John 16:8: And when He has come, He will
c. John 16:13: When He, the Spirit of truth comes, He will….
d. John 16:14: He will glorify Me, for He will….
In John 16, the Greek pronoun skeins (He) is used twelve times in the masculine form of the pronoun, contrary to the grammatical rules. Only in two places in the Scriptures is the neuter pronoun used for the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:16, 26).
2. He has the Qualities of a Person
The Holy Spirit is described in the Scriptures to possess three main qualities of a Person. The Holy Spirit has:
a. Intelligence or mind: The Holy Spirit has a mind and so He can think (Rom. 8:27; 1 Cor. 2:10-13).
b. Will: The Holy Spirit has a will and so can decide (1 Cor. 12:11). The Holy Spirit acts with His will to convict (John 16:8-11), comfort (Acts 9:31) and speak to people (Acts 28:25). He gives gifts as per His will (1 Cor. 12:11)
c. Emotions: The Holy Spirit has emotions and can feel (Rom, 8:26, 27, 15:30, Col. 1:5). He is grieved and can be insulted (Eph. 4:30; Heb. 10:29).
d. Knowledge: The Holy Spirit knows as a person (mind) and hence reminds (John 14:26), knows (1 Cor. 2:10-12) and intercedes for us (Rom. 8:27).
3. Personal Titles for the Holy Spirit
Personal titles will not be used for a “force’ or ‘an influence.’ Since the Holy Spirit is a divine Person, He is given the following titles.
a. The Comforter
The Holy Spirit is called as the Comforter (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). The Greek word used for Comforter is parakeets, meaning ‘one alongside.” This title also means ‘an Advocate, meaning ‘one who stands along with us’ in difficult times. A force cannot be ‘another Comforter and stand with men (John 14:26).
The Holy spirit is as personal as Jesus Christ. b. Titles which reveal His personality and divinity
The Holy Spirit is given names which reveal His personality and divinity. He is called as ‘My Spirit (Gen. 6:3), Spirit of God (2 Chr. 15:1), the Spirit of Christ (Rom. 8:9), the Spirit of His Son (Gal. 4:6), the Spirit of your Father (Matt. 10:20), and the Spirit of the Lord God (Is. 61:1).
c. Titles which reveal His qualities
The Holy Spirit has names which demonstrate His qualities as a Person. The
Holy Spirit is called as the Spirit of wisdom and Spirit of understanding (Is. 11:2), the Spirit of grace and supplication (Zech. 12:10), the Spirit of comfort (John 14:16), the Spirit of love (2 Tim. 1:7) and the Spirit of sound judgment (2 Tim. 1:7).
4. Personal Acts of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit performs the following acts which a person does.
He speaks (Rev. 2:7; 1 Tim.
4:1; Acts 13:9)
He works (1 Cor. 12:11)
He teaches us and brings to remembrance (John 14:26)
He bears witness (1 John 5:6)
He leads and directs (Rom. 8:14)
He searches (1 Cor. 2:10)
He instructs (Neh. 9:20)
He dwells in believers (John 14:17)
He convicts sin (John 16:8)
He guides into all truth (John 16:13)
He speaks through the Scriptures (Acts 1:16)
He calls to ministry (Acts 13:2)
He sends for ministry (Acts 13:4)
He intercedes for people (Rom. 8:26)
He testifies (John 15:26)
He convicts of righteousness and of judgment (John 16:8-11)
He glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ (John 16:14)
He strives with men (Gen, 6:3)
He imparts spiritual gifts to believers (1 Cor. 12:7-11)
He directs the believers (Acts 8:29; 16:6, 7)
5. He has Personal Feelings of a Person
The Bible describes the Holy Spirit as having personal feelings similar to a person.
He can be grieved (Eph. 4:30)
He can be lied to (Acts 5:3)
He can be resisted (Acts 7:51)
He can be tested (Acts 5:9)
He can be blasphemed against (Matt. 12:31)
He can be quenched (1 Thess. 5:19)
He can be vexed (Is. 63:10)
He can be insulted (Heb. 10:29)
He can be called upon (Ezek. 37:9)
So the Holy Spirit is a person who is equal to the Father and the Son. This is because His name is linked with the Father and the Son in the last commission (Matt. 28:19) and benediction (2 Cor. 13:14). If He is a power or an influence, then the Bible will not link Him with the Father and the Son and will use the word ‘it’ to call Him in the place of ‘He’.
Kevin J. Conner gives the following three reasons as to why a believer should not consider the Holy Spirit as a mere influence or an impersonal force (Conner 1980:73).
First, it is contrary to the teaching of the Scripture.
Second, it will hinder worship.
Third, it will hinder proper reverence; since we will be calling the Holy Spirit as ‘it’ and make people purchase the power like Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-24).
The Holy Spirit is God and He is a person. He lives in us and guides us. So it is important for believers to consider the Holy Spirit as a person and give proper reverence to Him. The Holy Spirit should never be called as a power or influence but as the ‘Comforter’ who stands along with us when we are in a tight corner.
