Subject: nature of the holy spirit of god |
Bible Note: hi tim! below is a response i made for jeff but it also mentions the above verses you cited: Hi Jeff! So sorry I could only get back to you now. You must know that what is important to me is what the bible really teaches. I am not out to defend any doctrine taught by churches. Here are my thoughts on your response for whatever they are worth *_*. Now on to Mark 13:11 and Luke 12:12. If only there are no passages in the bible in the Greek manuscripts that use a pronoun for the Holy Spirit in the neuter gender I would naturally think the Holy Spirit is a person. But this is not so as in the sample verses below. The pronouns in the English translation are in the third person, but in Greek, they are in neuter gender. Jn 14:26 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He (Gk 1565 ekeinos) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Jn 16:13 13 However, when He (Gk 1565, ekeinos), 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. Jn 16:14 14 He (Gk 1565, ekeinos) will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. Here is the definition of the original Greek word bolded and underlined above: ekeinos NT:1565 ekeinos (ek-i'-nos); from NT:1563; that one (or [neuter] thing); often intensified by the art. prefixed: (Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.) So although the pronoun in the English translation is that of a third person, it is actually in neuter in the Greek language. Also, Mark 13:11 and Luke 12:12 do not prove the personhood of the Holy Spirit. In the following, the spirit of Job drinks; that of Asaph makes diligent search; that of King Nabuchadnezzar, was anxious to know; and that of man, knows the things in man. Job 6:4 4 For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; My spirit (Hebrew 7307 ruwach) drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me. Ps 77:6 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, And my spirit (Hebrew 7307 ruwach) makes diligent search. Da 2:3 3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit (Hebrew 7307 ruwach) is anxious to know the dream." 1 Co 2:11 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit (Greek 4151 pneuma) of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit (Greek Pneuma) of God. The verses that seem to me to imply a separate personhood are the following: Mt 28:19 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 2 Co 13:14 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. Ge 1:1 - 2 Th 2:13 13 Stand Fast But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, But then again, we know that God the Father is a spirit; so is the Christ and the angels. The pronoun Scriptures assigned to them is that of third person. So why would the neuter pronoun be used of the Holy Spirit? Should you have any insight into any of the above, I would appreciate knowing them *_*. Take care, Grace |