What is the Holy Spirit? · Foundations
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What is God's Spirit?
2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Read the verses around it (Genesis 1:1-3)
1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Read the verses around it (Psalm 104:27-30)
27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 28That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 29Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Read the verses around it (Job 34:12-15)
12Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. 13Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? 14If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Read the verses around it (Luke 1:30-35)
30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
Think first
Read Luke 1:35. What phrase stands right beside "the Holy Ghost" in the angel's answer?
Show the explanation
Our explanation
The Hebrew word translated "spirit" is ruach (see the word card). It means breath or wind, and so power: the unseen force by which God acts. At creation, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters," and then God spoke and it was done.
God's Spirit gives and sustains life: "Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created." If God "gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; All flesh shall perish together."
In the New Testament, "Holy Spirit" (the King James Version says "Holy Ghost") means the same as "the Spirit of God" in the Old. The angel told Mary: "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee." The two phrases stand side by side. Jesus promised his disciples they would be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49).
Our understanding: the Holy Spirit is God's own power, the breath of His mouth, through which He creates, gives life and carries out His will.
Word cardרוּחַruach
The Hebrew word translated "spirit." It also means breath and wind. The same word is "the Spirit of God" in Genesis 1:2, the "wind" God sent over the earth after the flood (Genesis 8:1), and the "breath" God takes away when creatures die (Psalm 104:29). It describes unseen power at work.
Genesis 1:2 · Genesis 8:1 · Psalm 104:29
Check your understanding
In Luke 1:35, what phrase is set beside "the Holy Ghost"?
"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" (Luke 1:35). Luke 1:35
Show the answer
Answer: "The power of the Highest."
"The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" (Luke 1:35). Luke 1:35
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