For the majority of Christians, the Holy Spirit (prior English language usage: the Holy Ghost from Old English gast, “spirit”) is the third person of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is Almighty God.[1][2][3] The Holy Spirit is seen by mainstream Christians as one Person of the Triune God, who revealed His Holy Name YHWH to his people Israel, sent His Eternally Begotten Son Jesus to save them, and sent the Holy Spirit to Sanctify and give Life to his Church.[4][5][6] The Triune God manifests as three Persons (Greek hypostases),[7] in One Divine Being (Greek: Ousia),[8] called the Godhead (from Old English: Godhood), the Divine Essence of God.[9]
Jesus is presented in the Gospels as the prophesied Messiah, who baptizes not with water but with the Holy Spirit and with Fire.[10] Jesus, just before his Passion, during Last Supper, promises to send from the Father another Paraclete to the world, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.[11] Who, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, descended as visible Tongues of Fire on the disciples, Apostles and the Mother of Jesus, Mary, during the event known as Pentecost which marks the beginning of the Church of Jesus on the earth. [Acts 2]
The theology of the Holy Spirit is called pneumatology. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Lord and Giver of Life in the Nicene creed. The Holy Spirit is the Eternal Love of the Father and the Son,[12] the Gift of God.[13] He is the Creator Spirit, present before the creation of the universe and through his power everything was made in Jesus Christ, by God the Father. [Gn 1:1-2] [Pr 8:26-31] [Psalm 33:6] He inspires and enables to interpret all the sacred scripture and leads prophets, both in Old Testament and New Testament [1Cor 2:11-13]. By his Power, Jesus Christ was conceived virginally in the womb of the Virgin Mary.[Lk 1:35] He descended over Jesus in a corporal way, as a dove, at the time of his baptism,[Mt 3:16] and a voice from Heaven was heard: "You are my Beloved Son".[Lk 3:22] It is He Who leads souls to the Salvation: He is the Sanctifier of souls,[1Peter 1:1-3] the Helper and the Comforter,[Jn 14:26] He convicts about the sin [Jn 16:7-11] and helps the weakness of the soul in prayer as He himself intercedes with groanings according to the Will of God. [Rom 8:26-27] Christians receive the Gifts of the Spirit according to his Mercy and Grace, [1Cor 12] and the result of a righteous life is the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
The understanding of the mystery of the Holy Trinity varies across different Christian denominations. Some are deemed Trinitarian and others as non-Trinitarian. Among the Trinitarians, which are mostly Apostolic Churches, some minor differences do still exist: where Eastern and Orthodox Catholic Churches claim the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father (and "through" the Son), the Roman Catholic Church maintains that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son, in what is known as the "Filioque".
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The Greek word "Pneuma" generally refers to spirit and is found around 385 times in the New Testament, with some scholars differing by 3 to 9 occurrences.[14][15] These usages vary, e.g. in 133 cases it refers to spirit in the general sense, 153 cases to spiritual and possibly 93 times in reference to the Holy Spirit.[14] In a few cases it is also used to mean wind or life.[14]
The terms Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost have identical meanings, with the Holy Ghost being the common term in the English language before the 20th century.[16][17]
The term Holy Spirit appears at least 90 times in the New Testament, but only three times in the Old Testament.[18] The sacredness of the Holy Spirit is affirmed in all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 12:30-32, Mark 3:28-30 and Luke 12:8-10) which proclaim that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the unforgivable sin.[19] The participation of the Holy Spirit in the tri-partic nature of conversion is apparent in Jesus' final post-Resurrection instruction to his disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew (28:19): "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit".[20]
The Holy Spirit does not simply appear at Pentecost after the Resurrection of Jesus, but is prominent in the Gospel of Luke (in 1-2) prior to the birth of Jesus.[18] In Luke 1:15, John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit prior to birth and the Holy Spirit came upon the Virgin Mary in Luke 1:35.[18] In Luke 3:16 John the Baptist states that Jesus baptizes not with water but with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus during his own baptism in the Jordan.[18] In Luke 11:13 Jesus provides assurances that God the Father will "give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him".[18]
Mark 13:11 specifically refers to the power of the Holy Spirit to act and speak through the disciples of Jesus in time of need: "be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit." Matthew 10:20 refers to the same act of speaking through the disciples, but uses the term "Spirit of your Father".[21]
Three separate terms, namely Holy Spirit, Spirit of Truth and Paraclete are used in the Johannine writings.[22] The "Spirit of Truth" in used in John 14:17, 15:26 and 16:13.[18] The First Epistle of John then contrasts this with the "spirit of error" in 1 John 4:6.[18] 1 John 4:1-6 provides the separation between spirits "that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God" and those who in error refuse it - an indication of their being evil spirits.[23]
In John 14:26 Jesus states: "But the Comforter, [even] the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things". The identity of the "Comforter" has been the subject of debate among theologians, who have proposed multiple theories on the matter.[24]
The Acts of the Apostles has sometimes been called the "Book of the Holy Spirit" or the "Acts of the Holy Spirit".[25][26] Of the about seventy occurrences of the word Pneuma in Acts, fifty five refer to the Holy Spirit.[26]
From the start, in Acts 1:2, the reader is reminded that the Ministry of Jesus, while he was on earth, was carried out through the power of the Holy Spirit and that the "acts of the apostles" are the continuing acts of Jesus, facilitated by the Holy Spirit.[26] Acts thus presents the Holy Spirit as the "life principle" of the early Church and provides five separate and dramatic instances of its outpouring on believers in 2:1-4, 4:28-31, 8:15-17, 10:44 and 19:6.[25]
References to the Holy Spirit appear throughout Acts with Acts 1:5 and 8 stating towards the beginning: "For John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized in the Holy Spirit ... ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you" referring to the fulfillment of the prophecy of John the Baptist in Luke 3:16: "he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit".[27]
The Holy Spirit plays a key role in the Pauline epistles and Apostle Paul's pneumatology is closely connected to his theology and Christology, to the point of being almost inseparable from them.[28] The First Epistle to the Thessalonians, which was likely the first of Paul's letters, introduces a characterization of the Holy Spirit in 1:6 and 4:8 which persist throughout his epistles.[29] In 1 Thessalonians 1:6 Paul refers to the imitation of Christ (and himself) and states: "And ye became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit", whose source is identified in 1 Thessalonians 4:8 as "God, who giveth his Holy Spirit unto you".[29][30][31]
These two themes of receiving the Spirit "like Christ" and God being the source of the Spirit persist in Pauline letters as the characterization of the relationship of Christians with God.[29] For Paul the imitation of Christ involves readiness to be shaped by the Holy Spirit and as in Romans 8:4 and 8:11: "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you."[30] The First Epistle to the Thessalonians also refers to the power of the Holy Spirit in 1:5, a theme which persists in other Pauline letters.[32]
For the majority of Christians, the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is Almighty God.[1][2][3] The Holy Spirit is seen by Christians as one Person of the Triune God, who revealed His Holy Name YHWH to his people Israel, sent His Eternally Begotten Son Jesus to save them, and sent the Holy Spirit to Sanctify and give Life to his Church.[4][5][6] The Triune God manifests as three Persons (Greek hypostases),[7] in One Divine Being (Greek: Ousia),[8] called the Godhead (from Old English: Godhood), the Divine Essence of God.[9]
The theology of spirits is called pneumatology. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the Lord and Giver of Life in the Nicene creed. He is The Creator Spirit, present before the creation of the universe and through his power everything was made in Jesus Christ, by God the Father. He is credited as He Who inspires and allows to interpret all the sacred scripture and leads prophets, both in Old Testament and New Testament. By His Power, Jesus Christ was conceived virginally in the womb of the Virgin Mary.[Lk 1:35] He descended over Jesus in a corporal way, as a dove, at the time of his baptism,[Mt 3:16] and a voice from Heaven was heard: "You are my Beloved Son".[Lk 3:22] He is the Sanctifier of souls, the Helper,[Jn 15:26] the Comforter,[Jn 14:16] the Giver of graces, he who leads souls to the Father and the Son from Whom He proceeds. Christians receive the Fruits of the Holy Spirit by means of his Mercy and Grace. The Holy Spirit is a person, and also does the work within the person of becoming more Christlike as Christians surrender to his will.
The Holy Spirit is understood to be one of the three persons of the Trinity. As such he is personal and also fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and Son of God.[1][2][3] He is different from the Father and the Son in that he proceeds from the Father (or from the Father and the Son) as described in the Nicene Creed.[2]
The belief in the Holy Trinity among many Christians includes the concept of God the Holy Spirit, along with God the Son and God the Father.[33][34] Theologian Vladimir Lossky has argued that while in the act of the Incarnation, God the Son became manifest as the Son of God, the same did not take place for God the Holy Spirit which remained unrevealed.[35] Yet, as in 1 Corinthians 6:19 God the Spirit continues to dwell in bodies of the faithful.[34]
The Holy Spirit is believed to perform specific divine functions in the life of the Christian or the church. These include:
The Holy Spirit is also believed to be active especially in the life of Jesus Christ, enabling him to fulfill his work on earth. Particular actions of the Holy Spirit include:
Christians believe the "Fruit of the Spirit" consists of virtuous characteristics engendered in the Christian by the action of the Holy Spirit. They are those listed in Galatians 5:22-23: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."[42] The Roman Catholic Church adds to this list generosity, modesty, and chastity.[43]
Christians believe that the Holy Spirit gives 'gifts' to Christians. These gifts consist of specific abilities granted to the individual Christian.[37] They are frequently known by the Greek word for gift, Charisma, from which the term charismatic derives. The New Testament provides three different lists of such gifts (1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4) which range from the supernatural (healing, prophecy, tongues) through those associated with specific callings (teaching) to those expected of all Christians in some degree (faith). Most consider these lists not to be exhaustive, and other have compiled their own lists. Saint Ambrose wrote of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit poured out on a believer at baptism (Isaiah 11:1-2):
It is over the nature and occurrence of these gifts, particularly the supernatural gifts (sometimes called charismatic gifts), that the greatest disagreement between Christians with regard to the Holy Spirit exists.
One view is that the supernatural gifts were a special dispensation for the apostolic ages, bestowed because of the unique conditions of the church at that time, and are extremely rarely bestowed in the present time.[45] This is the view of the Catholic Church[3] and many other mainstream Christian groups. The alternate view, espoused mainly by Pentecostal denominations and the charismatic movement, is that the absence of the supernatural gifts was due to the neglect of the Holy Spirit and his work by the church. Although some small groups, such as the Montanists, practiced the supernatural gifts they were rare until the growth of the Pentecostal movement in the late 19th century.[45]
Believers in the relevance of the supernatural gifts sometimes speak of a Baptism with the Holy Spirit or Filling with the Holy Spirit which the Christian needs to experience in order to receive those gifts. Many churches hold that the Baptism with the Holy Spirit is identical with conversion, and that all Christians are by definition baptized in the Holy Spirit.[45]
Various Christian denominations, have various doctrinal variations on their beliefs regarding the Holy Spirit.
In Roman Catholic theology the primary work of the Holy Spirit is through the church. According to the Catechism: "The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church, which is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit.
Eastern Orthodoxy proclaims that the Father is the eternal source of the Godhead, from whom the Son is begotten eternally, and also from whom the Holy Spirit proceeds eternally. Unlike the Roman Catholic Church and Western Christianity in general, the Orthodox Church does not espouse the use of the Filioque ("and the Son") in describing the procession of the Holy Spirit.
The majority of mainstream Protestantism hold similar views on the theology of the Holy Spirit as the Roman Catholic Church, as described above.
While the Holy Spirit is acknowledged as God in all mainstream denominations, he is given particular emphasis in Pentecostal churches. In those churches he is seen as the giver of natural and supernatural gifts, such as tongues and prophecy, to modern-day Christians.
Non-trinitarian views about the Holy Spirit differ significantly from mainstream Christian doctrine. Groups with Unitarian theology such as Polish Socinians, the 18th-19th Century Unitarian Church, and Christadelphians conceive of the Holy Spirit not as a person but an aspect of God's power.[46] Jehovah's Witnesses view the Holy Spirit, not as an actual person separate from God the Father, but as God's "energy" or "active force", that He uses to accomplish His will in creation and redemption.[47]
The Holy Spirit is frequently referred to by metaphor and symbol, both doctrinally and biblically. Theologically speaking these symbols are a key to understanding of the Holy Spirit and his actions, and are not mere artistic representations.[3][48]
The 'Holy Spirit has been represented in Christian art both in the Eastern and Western Churches using a variety of depictions.[51][52][53] The depictions have ranged from nearly identical figures that represent the three persons of the Holy Trinity to a dove to a flame.
The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove, based on the account of the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus like a dove when he was baptized in the Jordan. In many paintings of the Annunciation, the Holy Spirit is shown in the form of a dove, coming down towards Mary on beams of light, as the Archangel Gabriel announces Jesus Christ's coming to Mary. A dove may also be seen at the ear of Saint Gregory the Great─as recorded by his secretary or other church father authors, dictating their works to them. The dove also parallels the one that brought the olive branch to Noah after the deluge (also a symbol of peace), and rabbinic traditions that doves above the water signify the presence of God.
The book of Acts describes the Holy Spirit descending on the apostles at Pentecost in the form of a wind and tongues of fire resting over the apostles' heads. Based on the imagery in that account, the Holy Spirit is sometimes symbolized by a flame of fire.
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