Over the centuries, the translators of our Common Version English Bible have used the phrase “holy ghost” without any authority. The original Greek word is pneuma, meaning spirit. In more recent times, the Revised Version of the New Testament changed the word “ghost” to more appropriately read “spirit.”
There is no scriptural reason to think of or speak of the holy spirit as another being, distinct in personality from the God the Father and His son, Jesus. On the contrary, it was the Father’s spirit that was communicated to our Lord Jesus, as it is written, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel” (Luke 4:18). Turning to the Old Testament prophecy this quotes from, “The spirit of the Lord Jehovah is on me, because Jehovah hath anointed me to proclaim good tidings to the humble. And the spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of reverence of Jehovah.” (Isaiah 11:1-3) Similarly, the same spirit in Christ is referred to as the spirit of Christ, the mind of Christ, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Philippians 2:5).
The holy spirit is variously described in the Scriptures as: “the spirit of God,” “the spirit of Christ,” “the spirit of holiness,” “the spirit of truth,” “the spirit of a sound mind,” “the spirit of liberty,” “the spirit of the Father,” “the holy spirit of promise,” “the spirit of meekness,” “the spirit of understanding,” “the spirit of wisdom,” “the spirit of glory,” “the spirit of counsel,” “the spirit of grace,” “the Spirit of adoption” and “the spirit of prophecy.” These various titles, repeated many times and used interchangeably, give us the full, proper assurance that they all relate to the same holy spirit of God.
Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1325: “Does God’s Holy Spirit Speak to Us?”
Unfolding how the holy spirit does and does not function in our lives
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
PDF: “The Holy Spirit” – describes the operation of God’s holy spirit in the lives of His people
Online Reference Book: Wilson Diaglott (Greek translation of the New Testament)
For children, parents and Bible class teachers:
Animated video: What is the holy spirit?
Animated video: What does the holy spirit do?
Animated video: How do Christians receive the holy spirit?
