“Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device” (Acts 17:29). This verse and two other passages (Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9) specifically cite the “Godhead” and imply divine personality. The number of divine persons comprising the Godhead from other Scripture is learned to be three. Thus, men often apply the human terms “triune” and “Trinity” to God or the Godhead, suggesting “three persons in one.” These three Divine Persons of the Godhead are uniformly identified in the Bible as God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 8:6; John 1:1; Acts 5:3-4).
The Bible doctrine of three divine persons in one Godhead is fully documented in God’s Word (Matthew 3:16-17; John 15:26; Romans 15:30). “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28:19). However, man experiences difficulty in fully comprehending the fact of the Godhead because there is nothing on earth to which he can completely compare it. Students of God’s Word accept: (1) the fact of the Godhead and (2) that it is made of three divine persons. Whatever divine and personal qualities are biblically ascribed to the Father and the Son apply equally to the Holy Spirit as well. The Holy Spirit is not in Scripture relegated to consideration as an “it” or a mere influence, and He is not properly addressed as such by mortal man either.
The Holy Spirit Has Personality
The Holy Spirit, like the Father and Jesus (at least before his incarnation), has no physical form (John 4:24; Luke 24:39). However, this does not detract from personality. Personality is the product of personal expression, not physical traits, alone. The absence of personal expression (e.g., among the mentally deficient) does not make one an animal, but personal expression verifies that the one making the expression is not animal, an “it” or merely an influence. So, the Holy Spirit, because He expresses Himself is not an “it” or a mere influence.
The Bible applies personal pronouns to the Holy Spirit, incidentally attesting to the individual personality of the Spirit (John 14:26; 15:26; 16:13). The Holy Spirit also is ascribed these personal characteristics by Scripture: (1) He speaks (1 Timothy 4:1). (2) He testifies (John 15:26). (3) He teaches (John 14:26). (4) He guides (John 16:13). (5) He searches (1 Corinthians 2:10). (6) He has a mind (Romans 8:27). (7) He has knowledge (1 Corinthians 2:11). (8) He has affection (Romans 15:30). (9) He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11). (10) He has goodness (Nehemiah 9:20). (11) He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30; Isaiah 63:10). (12) He can be despised (Hebrews 10:29). (13) He can be blasphemed (Matthew 12:31-32). (14) He can be resisted (Acts 7:51). (15) He can be lied to (Acts 5:3) (Sweeney 35-39). (16) He chose certain men (Acts 13:2) and he makes intercessions (Romans 8:26) (Howard 11-12).
The foregoing personal characteristics of the Holy Spirit are tempered with divine qualities. The Holy Spirit is: (1) eternal (Hebrews 9:14); (2) omniscient (1 Corinthians 2:10-11); (3) omnipotent (Micah 3:8) and (4) omnipresent (Psalm 139:7, 10). He also participated or participates in: (5) creation (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13), (6) providence (Psalm 104:30), (7) redemption (John 3:5), (8) the coming resurrection (Romans 8:11) and (9) was the source of miracles (1 Corinthians 12:9, 11) (Sweeney 39-42).
Lastly, as one would expect of a person, the Holy Spirit is addressed in God’s Word by name. (While it is true animals and objects also may have names, typically every person does have a name.) Someone has suggested there are “…18 different names used in referring to the Spirit in the Old Testament and 39 in the New Testament for a total of 52 different names in the Bible since five of them are common to both Old and New Testaments” (L’Roy 6). These references include: the Spirit of God; Spirit of the Lord; my Spirit; Holy Spirit; Spirit; thy good Spirit; Spirit of truth; Spirit of Christ; Spirit of the Living God; Spirit of his Son; Comforter; right Spirit; free Spirit; Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and might of knowledge and fear of the Lord; Spirit of Holiness.
Works Cited
Howard, V.E., The Holy Spirit, second edition, West Monroe, Central Printers & Publishers, c. 1975.
L’Roy, Elmer, The Holy Spirit, Shreveport, Lambert Book House, c. 1966.
Sweeney, Z.T., The Spirit And The Word, Nashville, Gospel Advocate Company, n.d.
