Which is greater - God, Jesus or The Holy Ghost?

[William]

Which is greater - God, Jesus or The Holy Ghost? Can anyone answer that honestly, with supporting evidence?

[1213]

The Bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all equally God. ..."

What do you think it means when Jesus tells God is greater than him?

...the Father is greater than I.
John 14:28

[William]

The Bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all equally God. ..."

What do you think it means when Jesus tells God is greater than him?

...the Father is greater than I.
John 14:28

In mythological terms it may mean that the crux of humanities problem is that they always default to imagery and mediums/priesthoods and following men...and thus if The Creator entered the creation through the body of Jesus, then The Creator through Jesus is pointing at The Creator rather than Jesus as the medium, priest one to follow after et al...and the Holy Ghost is that which allows for individuals to connect with The Father...

[bjs1]

Which is greater - God, Jesus or The Holy Ghost? Can anyone answer that honestly, with supporting evidence?

The Bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are all equally God.

If that were true, then one would have to examine why everyone isn't learning the same, bjs.

Virtually everyone is learning the same. A tiny but vocal minority (less than 2%) of Christian groups hold a different view on this.

I do recall reading that The Son regarded himself lesser than The Father

Christian doctrine has always held that Jesus "emptied" himself to "take on the very nature of a servant" while on earth. He was a genuine servant, placing himself beneath the father. According to the Bible, he regained "all authority in heaven and on earth" after his resurrection.

also some biblical character claiming that one could not speak sacrilegiously about the Holy Spirit and ever be forgiven of such offence,

In context, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously") is to call evil good and therefore refuse to repent of it. God can forgive anything except the desire not to be forgiven. Forgiveness cannot be forced, even by the Almighty.

Asking which is greater is like asking, "Which is greater - me, myself or I?"

Do you go around referring to yourself as 3 persons? Which of you is the "me"? The "myself", or the "I"?

Perhaps the "me" is the one who sees themselves as just the flesh. Perhaps the "myself'" is the one who sees themselves as the soul and perhaps the "I" is the one who understands themselves as a child of The Creator?

Using those terms, which is "greater"?

Me, myself and I are all first-person personal pronouns. Suggesting one is greater than another is nonsense. That would be the point. Suggesting that one person of a triune God is greater than another is nonsense.

[Avoice]

[Replying to bjs1 in post #39]

The God of Israel. None can compare

[William]

[Replying to bjs1 in post #43]

If that were true, then one would have to examine why everyone isn't learning the same, bjs.

Virtually everyone is learning the same. A tiny but vocal minority (less than 2%) of Christian groups hold a different view on this.

Then we have the additional problem of whom to believe are telling the truth. If it is about majority, then we can take from that Roman Catholicism teaching as the one to follow.

AI Overview
By sheer numbers, the Catholic Church is the largest Christian body, followed by the broad Protestant traditions, then Eastern Orthodoxy, with major Protestant groups like Baptists, Lutherans, and Reformed churches making up significant portions of the Protestant total, though exact rankings shift with data sources. Major groupings are Catholic, Protestant (Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.), Orthodox (Eastern & Oriental), and Nontrinitarian (Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.).
Top Denominations/Families (Approximate Order)
Roman Catholic Church: Over 1.2 billion members.
Protestantism (Broad Category): Around 800-900 million, encompassing many groups.
Eastern Orthodox Church: Around 270-290 million.
Oriental Orthodoxy: Roughly 86 million.
Major Protestant Denominations (Within Protestantism)
Baptists: 75-105 million (diverse streams).
Lutherans: 65-90 million.
Anglican/Episcopal: Around 85 million (sometimes grouped differently).
Reformed/Presbyterians: 40-50 million.
Pentecostals/Holiness/Evangelicals: Large numbers, often counted within broader Protestantism.
Nontrinitarian Groups
Includes groups like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses, with tens of millions globally.
Note: Figures vary by source and year, with some counting independent churches separately and others grouping them under broader traditions like "Independent Christianity," but the Catholic Church consistently leads.

I do recall reading that The Son regarded himself lesser than The Father

Christian doctrine has always held that Jesus "emptied" himself to "take on the very nature of a servant" while on earth. He was a genuine servant, placing himself beneath the father. According to the Bible, he regained "all authority in heaven and on earth" after his resurrection.

Thus it can be argued that it is Jesus, not the Christian devil who has the authority on earth since then and that how things have unfolded since that time is directly related to that being the case.

also some biblical character claiming that one could not speak sacrilegiously about the Holy Spirit and ever be forgiven of such offence,

In context, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously") is to call evil good and therefore refuse to repent of it. God can forgive anything except the desire not to be forgiven. Forgiveness cannot be forced, even by the Almighty.

This actually fits well with the previous idea. While the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously" that is the meaning of blasphemy.
Also to note, the "refusing to repent of evil" could be another way of saying "calling God - or acts of Jesus in his new position as having all authority on earth" as "evil" and remaining in that belief, is unforgivable.

Asking which is greater is like asking, "Which is greater - me, myself or I?"

Do you go around referring to yourself as 3 persons? Which of you is the "me"? The "myself", or the "I"?

Perhaps the "me" is the one who sees themselves as just the flesh. Perhaps the "myself'" is the one who sees themselves as the soul and perhaps the "I" is the one who understands themselves as a child of The Creator?

Using those terms, which is "greater"?

Me, myself and I are all first-person personal pronouns. Suggesting one is greater than another is nonsense. That would be the point. Suggesting that one person of a triune God is greater than another is nonsense.

You missed the finer points of my asking.

As someone calling themselves a "Christian", which do you identify with being.

1: The human flesh and blood?
2: The human Soul?
3: The Child of The Creator?

And of the three, which is greater?

[bjs1]

[Replying to bjs1 in post #43]

If that were true, then one would have to examine why everyone isn't learning the same, bjs.

Virtually everyone is learning the same. A tiny but vocal minority (less than 2%) of Christian groups hold a different view on this.

Then we have the additional problem of whom to believe are telling the truth. If it is about majority, then we can take from that Roman Catholicism teaching as the one to follow.

AI Overview
By sheer numbers, the Catholic Church is the largest Christian body, followed by the broad Protestant traditions, then Eastern Orthodoxy, with major Protestant groups like Baptists, Lutherans, and Reformed churches making up significant portions of the Protestant total, though exact rankings shift with data sources. Major groupings are Catholic, Protestant (Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, etc.), Orthodox (Eastern & Oriental), and Nontrinitarian (Latter Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc.).
Top Denominations/Families (Approximate Order)
Roman Catholic Church: Over 1.2 billion members.
Protestantism (Broad Category): Around 800-900 million, encompassing many groups.
Eastern Orthodox Church: Around 270-290 million.
Oriental Orthodoxy: Roughly 86 million.
Major Protestant Denominations (Within Protestantism)
Baptists: 75-105 million (diverse streams).
Lutherans: 65-90 million.
Anglican/Episcopal: Around 85 million (sometimes grouped differently).
Reformed/Presbyterians: 40-50 million.
Pentecostals/Holiness/Evangelicals: Large numbers, often counted within broader Protestantism.
Nontrinitarian Groups
Includes groups like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Jehovah's Witnesses, with tens of millions globally.
Note: Figures vary by source and year, with some counting independent churches separately and others grouping them under broader traditions like "Independent Christianity," but the Catholic Church consistently leads.

I responded to the statement “everyone isn't learning the same,” by saying that virtually everyone is learning the same. You seem to have provided evidence for my claim. Of the groups you mentioned, the only group that outright denies that the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit are equal is Jehovah’s Witnesses.*

Jehovah’s Witnesses make up less than one-half of one percent of self-described Christians, so the claim that virtually everyone is learning the same is supported.


*And maybe Mormons. They say that Jesus is subordinate to the Father, but that Jesus is God. His subordination maybe an issue roll, not nature.

I do recall reading that The Son regarded himself lesser than The Father

Christian doctrine has always held that Jesus "emptied" himself to "take on the very nature of a servant" while on earth. He was a genuine servant, placing himself beneath the father. According to the Bible, he regained "all authority in heaven and on earth" after his resurrection.

Thus it can be argued that it is Jesus, not the Christian devil who has the authority on earth since then and that how things have unfolded since that time is directly related to that being the case.

Lots of things can be argued, but I am not sure what point you are tying to get to in this one.

also some biblical character claiming that one could not speak sacrilegiously about the Holy Spirit and ever be forgiven of such offence,

In context, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously") is to call evil good and therefore refuse to repent of it. God can forgive anything except the desire not to be forgiven. Forgiveness cannot be forced, even by the Almighty.

This actually fits well with the previous idea. While the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously" that is the meaning of blasphemy.
Also to note, the "refusing to repent of evil" could be another way of saying "calling God - or acts of Jesus in his new position as having all authority on earth" as "evil" and remaining in that belief, is unforgivable.

You will have to explain your meaning. Nothing in this paragraph seems to support the claim in the opening post.

Asking which is greater is like asking, "Which is greater - me, myself or I?"

Do you go around referring to yourself as 3 persons? Which of you is the "me"? The "myself", or the "I"?

Perhaps the "me" is the one who sees themselves as just the flesh. Perhaps the "myself'" is the one who sees themselves as the soul and perhaps the "I" is the one who understands themselves as a child of The Creator?

Using those terms, which is "greater"?

Me, myself and I are all first-person personal pronouns. Suggesting one is greater than another is nonsense. That would be the point. Suggesting that one person of a triune God is greater than another is nonsense.

You missed the finer points of my asking.

As someone calling themselves a "Christian", which do you identify with being.

1: The human flesh and blood?
2: The human Soul?
3: The Child of The Creator?

And of the three, which is greater?

Christians believe that we are both physical and spiritual (body and soul), and that our position is that of a child of God. Those all describe me. Suggesting that I am greater than I am is nonsense.

[William]

In context, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously") is to call evil good and therefore refuse to repent of it. God can forgive anything except the desire not to be forgiven. Forgiveness cannot be forced, even by the Almighty.

This actually fits well with the previous idea. While the text does not say "speaking sacrilegiously" that is the meaning of blasphemy.
Also to note, the "refusing to repent of evil" could be another way of saying "calling God - or acts of Jesus in his new position as having all authority on earth" as "evil" and remaining in that belief, is unforgivable.

You will have to explain your meaning. Nothing in this paragraph seems to support the claim in the opening post.

The opening post has no claim.

My meaning here is that if one is to claim that Jesus "regained all authority in heaven and on earth" after his resurrection, then it can be argued that it is Jesus, not the Christian devil who has the authority on earth since then and that how things have unfolded since that time is directly related to that being the case.

I responded to the statement “everyone isn't learning the same,” by saying that virtually everyone is learning the same.

We can agree that in the case of the beliefs about the parity of the three entities, a majority of folk are taught and thus are leaning the same.

The problem is, this is clearly not the case for all things Christian, so if we are to go along with majority rules, then - on that basis, we must accept Catholicism as "the rule" for all things Christian.

Thus it can be argued that it is Jesus, not the Christian devil who has the authority on earth since then and that how things have unfolded since that time is directly related to that being the case.

Lots of things can be argued, but I am not sure what point you are tying to get to in this one.

The point extends into the old testament. There we have YHVH (presumably "The Father" Jesus referred to) being the overall authority regarding what happens on Earth.

And since you argued that it was Jesus who "regained all authority in heaven and on earth" then Jesus is another name YHVH uses in that role.
Yet, with the advent of the Christian devil (Satan) it is taught by the majority of Christians ...

AI Overview

Catholicism teaches that Satan (also called the Devil) is a fallen angel, originally created good by God, who rebelled out of pride, became evil, and was cast out of Heaven. He is the Prince of Darkness, a spiritual being who tempts humanity into sin, seeking to separate people from God, though his power is limited and ultimately defeated by Christ. He's identified as the serpent in Eden, the accuser in Job, and the tempter of Jesus, representing the source of evil in the world, but the Church emphasizes discernment, as he cannot force anyone to sin against God's grace.

...we see in that, the picture of Jesus having all authority on earth, even despite the temptations of other spirit beings attempting to keep Humanity "Separate from God."

AI Overview
As of 2025, there are more than 2.6 billion Christians worldwide, representing approximately one-third (about 32.3%) of the global population.

As someone calling themselves a "Christian", which do you identify with being.

1: The human flesh and blood?
2: The human Soul?
3: The Child of The Creator?

And of the three, which is greater?

Christians believe that we are both physical and spiritual (body and soul), and that our position is that of a child of God. Those all describe me. Suggesting that I am greater than I am is nonsense.

So, if I am understanding you correctly here, you do not see any difference between these aspects and treat them as equally "who you are" altogether.

Yet, clearly Jesus saw things differently...

AI Overview


The phrase "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" was spoken by Jesus Christ to his disciples in the Bible, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 26:41) and also in Mark (Mark 14:38), as he found them sleeping in the Garden of Gethsemane, highlighting the common human struggle between good intentions and physical limitations. It's a biblical saying meaning people often have the desire to do what's right but their human frailty, fatigue, or temptations get in the way.

...In light of this, can you agree that there is no "nonsense" in understanding that "the spirit" is "greater" that the flesh - meaning these aspects which you define yourself as being, do have greater and lesser attributes when - as Jesus did - they are compared?

[JehovahsWitness]

Jehovah’s Witnesses make up less than one-half of one percent of self-described Christians ...

This is true, we are different from pretty much all nominal Christians. We stand out from pretty much all the rest. To say all Christians believe the same thing is false - Jehovah's Witnesses stand pretty much apart; in modern day Christianity, we are not the only non trinitarians but I think its fair to say either we are right and all the Christian denomination are wrong or we are wrong and all the rest are right. (mormons believe the "holy spirit" is a person (like mainstream Christians), Jehovah's Witnesses do not; they are not trinitarians but they do believe in three entities).

Of course most Christian denominations and the majority of individuals will say it doesn't matter as long as the person is sincere, but there again we stand out as different, for Jehovah's Witnesses it most certainly matters as it boils down to identifying who God and Jesus are - the most fundamental of questions. There is no compromise on this issue.


JEHOVAHS WITNESS



Should You Believe in the Trinity?
https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines ... 8/trinity/

[William]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #48]

We stand out from pretty much all the rest.

we stand out as different

So, perhaps here we can see where the "greatness" idea comes from - the competitive nature of human beings. Is it fair to say that the JWO thinks itself "greater" than any other Christian denomination?

[AquinasForGod]

[Replying to William in post #1]

There is just one God, so none are greater. It is like asking if the thinker is greater than his thoughts.

The Trinity is about distinctions in the one being, one individual that is God, and the relations between them. The only distinction between the Father and the Son is the Father brings forth eternally, and the Son is brought forth and brings forth eternally.