Bible - the person of the Holy Spirit of God

The Person of the Holy Spirit
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The denial
Some folks deny that the Holy Spirit is a Person. Their reasons include the following...

The Greek word for "Spirit" is pneuma.
Pneuma is a neuter gender noun.
In other words pneuma is neither masculine nor feminine.
The above facts indicate (so THEY say) that the Holy Spirit is an "it" rather than a person.
Thus (THEY say) the Holy Spirit is not a distinct person.
Moreover, Holy Spirit is (THEY say) merely an emanation or influence from God.

The denial refuted
Since pneuma is neuter, any pronoun used to substitute for pneuma should also be neuter.

However, the Bible does NOT use a neuter pronoun for referring to the Holy Spirit (pneuma).
Instead, the Bible uses the masculine pronoun ekeinos, meaning "He" -- NOT "it."
Two Bible examples of this fact are given in the panel alongside.
(Jesus said...) But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit (pneuma) of truth who proceeds from the Father, He (ekeinos) will testify of Me. John 15.26

(Jesus said...) However, when He (ekeinos), the Spirit (pneuma) 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

Attributes that denote the status of being a person
The attributes of personality are intellect, knowledge, mind, emotions, and will.

The Bible clearly demonstrates that the Holy Spirit manifests all five of these attributes...

Intellect
The Holy Spirit has intellect, as manifested by the fact that He "searches" (evaluates, analyzes, comprehends) all the deep things of God. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Cor 2.10

Knowledge
The Holy Spirit possesses all the infinite knowledge of God. Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2.11b

Mind
God knows the mind of the Holy Spirit.
An "it" does not have a mind. A Person does. Now He (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8.27

Emotions
Eph 4.30 commands God's people to not grieve the Holy Spirit.

"Grieve" translates the Greek word lupeo, meaning to cause distress, sorrow, or sadness.
An "it" cannot be made sorrowful or offended. A Person can.
And do not grieve (lupeo) the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Eph 4.30

Will
The two Bible examples alongside clearly demonstrate the Holy Spirit's capability to make sovereign choices and decisions....

Example #1 shows that the Holy Spirit decides and directs the ministries of God's people.
Example #2 shows that the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts on Christians as He wills.
Now when they (Paul and Silas) had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. Acts 16.6

But one and the same Spirit works all these things (the giving of spiritual gifts), distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Cor 12.11

Activities that denote the status of being a person
The Bible records numerous actions of the Holy Spirit that clearly demonstrate He is a Person. We will list just five...

#1 He testifies (Jesus said...) 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.
John 15.26

#2 He teaches (Jesus said...) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14.26

#3 He intercedes for us as we pray 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. Rom 8.26

#4 He convicts (convinces, persuades, admonishes) us concerning sin and righteousness. (Jesus said...) And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment John 16.8

#5 He guides and instructs God's people. (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

Conclusion
As a Christian, you can take great comfort from the FACT that Holy Spirit who abides in you is a Person...

God the Holy Spirit is with you. In PERSON!
He loves you.
He comforts, guides, and protects you.
He prays with you and for you.
He will never leave you. Never!
Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Cor 3.16

...Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of God's glory. Eph 1.13b-14

Click Here for a list of other studies about the Holy Spirit

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The Person of the Holy Spirit Navigate
The denial Some folks deny that the Holy Spirit is a Person. Their reasons include the following... The Greek word for "Spirit" is pneuma. Pneuma is a neuter gender noun. *In other words pneuma* is neither masculine nor feminine. The above facts indicate (so THEY say) that the Holy Spirit is an "it" rather than a person. Thus (THEY say) the Holy Spirit is not a distinct person. Moreover, Holy Spirit is (THEY say) merely an emanation or influence from God.**
The denial refuted Since pneuma is neuter, any pronoun used to substitute for pneuma should also be neuter. However, the Bible does NOT use a neuter pronoun for referring to the Holy Spirit (pneuma). Instead, the Bible uses the masculine pronoun ekeinos, meaning "He" -- NOT "it." Two Bible examples of this fact are given in the panel alongside.		(Jesus said...) But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit (pneuma) of truth who proceeds from the Father, He (ekeinos) will testify of Me. John 15.26 (Jesus said...) However, when He (ekeinos), the Spirit (pneuma) 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
Attributes that denote the status of being a person The attributes of personality are intellect, knowledge, mind, emotions, and will. The Bible clearly demonstrates that the Holy Spirit manifests all five of these attributes...
Intellect The Holy Spirit has intellect, as manifested by the fact that He "searches" (evaluates, analyzes, comprehends) all the deep things of God.		But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Cor 2.10
Knowledge The Holy Spirit possesses all the infinite knowledge of God.		Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Cor 2.11b
Mind God knows the mind of the Holy Spirit. An "it" does not have a mind. A Person does.		*Now He (God) who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Rom 8.27*
Emotions Eph 4.30 commands God's people to not grieve the Holy Spirit. "Grieve" translates the Greek word lupeo, meaning to cause distress, sorrow, or sadness. An "it" cannot be made sorrowful or offended. A Person can.		And do not grieve (lupeo) the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Eph 4.30
Will The two Bible examples alongside clearly demonstrate the Holy Spirit's capability to make sovereign choices and decisions.... Example #1 shows that the Holy Spirit decides and directs the ministries of God's people. Example #2 shows that the Holy Spirit bestows spiritual gifts on Christians as He wills.		Now when they (Paul and Silas) had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. Acts 16.6 But one and the same Spirit works all these things (the giving of spiritual gifts), distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Cor 12.11
Activities that denote the status of being a person The Bible records numerous actions of the Holy Spirit that clearly demonstrate He is a Person. We will list just five...
#1 He testifies		(Jesus said...) 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. John 15.26
#2 He teaches		*(Jesus said...) But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. John 14.26*
#3 He intercedes for us as we pray		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. Rom 8.26
*#4 He convicts (convinces, persuades, admonishes) us concerning sin and righteousness.*		(Jesus said...) And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment John 16.8
#5 He guides and instructs God's people.		(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
Conclusion As a Christian, you can take great comfort from the FACT that Holy Spirit who abides in you is a Person... God the Holy Spirit is with you. In PERSON! He loves you. He comforts, guides, and protects you. He prays with you and for you. He will never leave you. Never!		Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Cor 3.16 ...Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of God's glory. Eph 1.13b-14
Click Here for a list of other studies about the Holy Spirit