IS THE HOLY GHOST A PERSON?
By Marcel Kahne
Translated by Gerald D. Woodard
(Original French text at www.idumea.org)
The argument against the Holy Ghost is weak: nowhere in the Old or New Testament does it say that the Holy Ghost is a person. It is therefore only the essence of divine power.
The best response is to let the Scripture’s speak for themselves.
Jesus told his missionary apostles: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matt. 28:19). This passage clearly refers to all three members of the Godhead. If the Holy Ghost were only essence, why mention it? Things are not done in the name of essence. (The New World translation by the Jehovah’s Witnesses must include this passage, to their embarrassment, but tries to mitigate it by adding “… and of the holy spirit”. Since there is no real difference between Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit, and since the Greek text does not help in determining whether to capitalize, the attempt at camouflage is futile).
The three members of the Godhead appear again clearly at Jesus’ baptism: “Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily form like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved son; in thee I am well pleased” (Luke 3:21-22).
The following passage also merits consideration:
“Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come” (Matt. 12:31-32).
By what logic would it be forgivable to speak against the Saviour of mankind, but unforgivable to speak against an/his essence?
And can one lie to an essence? "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" (Acts 5:3)
Finally, the following three passages clearly show that the Holy Ghost is a person capable of decisions and feelings:
“For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things...” (Acts 15:28).
“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered, and he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27).
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30)
