The Personhood of the Holy Spirit

Is it proper to speak of the personhood of the Holy Spirit?

The personhood of the Holy Spirit is clearly affirmed in the Fourth Gospel where Jesus says, "The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things" (John 14:26CloseJohn 14:26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), and thereafter adds that "the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness to Me" (15:26). Note that personal pronouns are used in regard to the Holy Spirit.

There are many other references in the New Testament that depict the Holy Spirit functioning as a person. A few may be mentioned: "The Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them'" (Acts 13:2CloseActs 13:2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them." OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ); "the Spirit Himself intercedes for us" (Romans 8:26CloseRomans 8:26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ); "do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God" (Ephesians 4:30CloseEphesians 4:30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own,* guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ); and "the Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come'" (Revelation 22:17CloseRevelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." Let anyone who hears this say, "Come." Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). There are many other similar references portray the Holy Spirit as a person.

Hence it is important not to think of the Holy Spirit as merely an attribute of God, such as power. There are passages that might suggest the Spirit to be God's power in creation (e.g., Genesis 1:2CloseGenesis 1:2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), or in regeneration (e.g., John 3:5CloseJohn 3:5 Jesus replied, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit.* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ), or at Pentecost where the Holy Spirit is promised and the disciples receive power for their witness and ministry (Acts 1-2). The fact that they were "filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4CloseActs 2:4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,* as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ; cf. 4:31) might sound more like being filled with energy than with a person. However, in all these instances the important thing to recognize is not that the Spirit equals power, but that where the Spirit of God is there is power. Moreover, we are to understand that to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" is not simply to be filled with a substance or force but to be fully possessed by the Holy Spirit, the personal Spirit of God.

In the spiritual (or "charismatic") renewal of our time, one of the most outstanding testimonies is that of how real and personal the Holy Spirit has become to many individuals. Thus, deepening Christian experience marvelously confirms the biblical record.