What is the Holy Spirit? · Teleios
Step 1 of 5
Sample text. This study is a placeholder and has not been reviewed yet.
Teleios builds on the Foundations of this topic. If you’re new to it, you may want to start with Foundations.
Is the Holy Spirit a person?
17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Read the verses around it (Acts 2:16-18)
16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Read the verses around it (1 John 4:12-13)
12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
19Quench not the Spirit.
Read the verses around it (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22)
16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19Quench not the Spirit. 20Despise not prophesyings. 21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Read the verses around it (Acts 10:34-38)
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 36The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Think first
Read Acts 2:17 and 1 John 4:13. What does God give or pour out "of"?
Show the explanation
Our explanation
Many Christians believe the Holy Spirit is a person, the third person of a Trinity. Look at how Scripture describes it.
God says, "I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh." John writes, "he hath given us of his Spirit." Paul warns, "Quench not the Spirit," the way a fire can be put out. And Jesus was anointed "with the Holy Ghost and with power" (Acts 10:38). A power can be poured out, shared in part and quenched; a person cannot.
Paul opens his letters with greetings from "God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (for example Romans 1:7), never from the Holy Spirit.
Our understanding: the Holy Spirit is God's power and mind at work, not a separate person. Bible Basics notes that the Greek word for spirit is neuter, and that the King James Version itself says "it" in places (1 John 2:27; Romans 8:16). Passages that say "he" are personification, which the next step looks at. Many believers hold this teaching dear. Weigh these passages for yourself.
This browser can’t save notes right now (private browsing may block it).
Notes are saved only on this device. Clearing your browser data deletes them, so export a copy now and then. All your notes and export