Is the holy spirit a living being?

[kjw47]

Is the holy spirit a living being with equality to the Father and son? Lets look at bible facts.

1) The Father has a name-YHWH(Jehovah) the son has a name Jesus-Holy spirit-0
2) The Father seen on a throne, the son seen on a throne-Holy spirit-0
3)The Father shares certain things with the son-Holy spirit-0
4)Many very important passages in NT where only the Father and son are spoken of-holy spirit-2
The most important one being John 17:3--This means eternal life, their knowing you( Father) THE ONLY TRUE GOD and the one whom you sent forth Christ Jesus. Holy spirit-0

No is the answer i see. How about you?

The new Catholic encyclopedia 1967 Vol XIII Page 575-- The majority of NT texts reveal Gods spirit as something not someone.

[2timothy316]

It means gender neutral. Nothing more.

That is correct. Just like if someone asks me where my phone is and I say, "It is over there." That doesn't make my phone a person.

[MissKate13]

Do you believe what is written at Genesis 2:7? That we are made of dust?
I do.

“then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

I sure do.

This is in harmony with Gen 2:7. The breath of life, that God gives man returns to the One who gave it. The Hebrew word ru'ach can also be used for the word wind or air. Like in Ex 10:13 and Zec 2:6 the word ru'ach is translated wind. So, which way should we view Ecc 12:7? As there is a spirit person that is in us or the air that fills our lungs and makes us live that leaves us? Let's let the same writer of Ecclesiastes tell us.

I’m no Hebrew language expert. and I seriously doubt you are either. If you are, then I suggest you post your credentials.

“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all." Ecc 9:5
Clearly Solomon wasn't saying that a person continues to live after death in some spirit form, but just simply that the breath from God that makes us live returns to God.

Do you actually think that the breath of God is simply air?

Look at what Jesus said.

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22)

The Greek word “pneuma” means breath, wind and spirit also.

Was Jesus just blowing air on them?

“While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
"Then, kneeling down, he cried out with a strong voice: “LORD, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep in death." (Acts 7:60)

So, did some spirit creature did fly to Heaven? No. It says, 'he fell asleep in death'. Being asleep is to be unconscious. Now we have even more harmony with Genesis 2:7 and Ecclesiastes 9:5. That Stephen's breath of life left him and he died, conscious of nothing afterward.

You assume breath of life means air.

Yes Stephen died, but as Solomon wrote, “the spirit returns to God.” Therefore, it was Stephen’s spirit which returned to heaven.

The Greek language experts unanimously chose to translate pneuma as spirit in this verse rather than breath or wind. Your own NWT translates pneuma in this verse as spirit.

Post your Greek language credentials please.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Here we have a separation of spirit and soul. Certainly it's not saying may your 'spirit and spirit' be preserved complete. Why the separation? Because they are not the same thing. Here spirit is the same as in 1 Cor 2:11 that a person's attitude and mental inclination be preserved complete.

The word used is 1 Cor 2:11 is pneuma, which is defined as wind, breath, spirit. There is nothing in the definition that says spirit is a person’s attitude or mental inclination

You don’t get to make up definitions!

In 1 Thess 5:23, pneuma is translated spirit. Again, it is defined as breath, wind, spirit. Please tell me how air can be found with or without blame when Jesus comes again.

The Hebrew and Greek language experts considered context when translating Scriptures. You seem to think you know more than they do.

[Miles]

[Replying to Miles in post #25]

Mark 13:11
Even when you are arrested and put on trial, don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever God tells you at the time. It will not really be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit.

Even when you, Miles, are arrested and put on trial, don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever your lawyer tells you at the time. It will not really be you, Miles, speaking. It will be your lawyer.

Is the lawyer in the above sentence an IT? The sentence structure is exactly the same

Don't know which sentence you're referring to, but you said: "The Holy Spirit is not referred to as an IT in Scripture." It says nothing about who is/must be speaking or any other referent, only that the Holy Spirit is NOT referred to as "it." BUT it is!!

In Mark 13:11 what is the subject of the last "it" in the verse? Is it not the holy spirit? Of course it is. What Else Could It Be?

Consider: If instead Mark 13:11 said "the cat is not called IT in the book," what do you think IT is in reference to? The book? Nope. How about the C A T? .. BINGO! The cat is referred to as IT, just as the Holy spirit is referred to as IT in Mark 13:11.

.

[PolytheistWitch]

[Replying to 2timothy316 in post #31]

The holy spirit is sent to do things for the God of Abraham like an angel would, but it's not referred to as an angel with a spirit. Spirit is a word usually associated with a dead person. I have no idea why it was elevated to be part of the Trinity when it doesn't seem to even be equal with angels. Unless it's the force the God of Abraham uses to create things which means to God of Abraham is not a creator. He uses another beings power to do that.

I don't see me calling the Holy Spirit a person at all so perhaps you can clarify why your directing that comment at me.

[kjw47]

[Replying to kjw47 in post #27]

You wrote: “Many might think they get holy spirit, but only the righteous do. That is FEW according to Jesus.”

Me: That’s a topic for another thread and has nothing to do with your comment about the Holy Spirit not being a living being. I just proved that the Holy Spirit is LIVING and dwells in true followers of Christ, but you refused to acknowledge that point. It was you who said the Holy Spirit is not a living being. You cannot prove your statement with the Scriptures. Instead the Scriptures proved you wrong.

The Catholic encyclopedia says in most instances in the NT the Holy spirit is not as a living being.) That is truth. It is Gods active force, the most powerful force in existence. Other things are made to look like a living being in the bible but are not.

[MissKate13]

[Replying to Miles in post #33]

Mark 13:11
Even when you are arrested and put on trial, don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever God tells you at the time. It will not really be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit.

Even when you, Miles, are arrested and put on trial, don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever your lawyer tells you at the time. It will not really be you, Miles, speaking. It will be your lawyer.

Is the lawyer in the above sentence an IT? The sentence structure is exactly the same

You did not answer my question! . IS THE LAWYER AN IT? YES OR NO? The sentence structure is EXACTLY THE SAME.

[Miles]

[Replying to Miles in post #33]

Mark 13:11
Even when you are arrested and put on trial, don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever God tells you at the time. It will not really be you speaking. It will be the Holy Spirit.

Even when you, Miles, are arrested and put on trial, don’t worry about what you will say. Say whatever your lawyer tells you at the time. It will not really be you, Miles, speaking. It will be your lawyer.

Is the lawyer in the above sentence an IT? The sentence structure is exactly the same

You did not answer my question! . IS THE LAWYER AN IT? YES OR NO? The sentence structure is EXACTLY THE SAME.

I'm sorry. I thought my answer would suffice. But in answer:

YES. Who or what else could IT be?

I await your answer to my question.


FYI

it
pronoun, nominative it,possessive its or (Obsolete or Dialect) it,objective it;plural nominative they,possessive their or theirs,objective them.

used to represent a person or animal understood, previously mentioned, or about to be mentioned whose gender is unknown or disregarded): It was the largest ever caught off the Florida coast. Who was it? It was John. The horse had its saddle on.
source: Dictionary.com

So the Holy Spirit is referred to as an IT in Scripture "It will be the Holy Spirit."


.

[2timothy316]

Do you believe what is written at Genesis 2:7? That we are made of dust?
I do.

“then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

I sure do.

This is in harmony with Gen 2:7. The breath of life, that God gives man returns to the One who gave it. The Hebrew word ru'ach can also be used for the word wind or air. Like in Ex 10:13 and Zec 2:6 the word ru'ach is translated wind. So, which way should we view Ecc 12:7? As there is a spirit person that is in us or the air that fills our lungs and makes us live that leaves us? Let's let the same writer of Ecclesiastes tell us.

I’m no Hebrew language expert. and I seriously doubt you are either. If you are, then I suggest you post your credentials.

One doesn't have to be an expert to learn a word in another language. All you need to is read more of the surrounding verses and other books of the Bible. Plus there are several reference works on Hebrew.

“For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing at all." Ecc 9:5
Clearly Solomon wasn't saying that a person continues to live after death in some spirit form, but just simply that the breath from God that makes us live returns to God.

Do you actually think that the breath of God is simply air?

I think it's a major part as you and I need air to live. Do you think that God installs a spirit being into a person through their nose?

Look at what Jesus said.

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22)

The Greek word “pneuma” means breath, wind and spirit also.

Was Jesus just blowing air on them?

He was blowing air on them and giving them the blessing of God's Holy spirit. Now in the context of this debate, what does this have to with a person having a spirit being in them. I don't understand your point. Where these people with a spirit already in them when Jesus blew on them? How could they just now being getting a spirit at that moment? Shouldn't they already have a spirit in them? Otherwise, they wouldn't be alive right?

“While they were stoning him, Stephen appealed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)
"Then, kneeling down, he cried out with a strong voice: “LORD, do not charge this sin against them.” And after saying this, he fell asleep in death." (Acts 7:60)

So, did some spirit creature did fly to Heaven? No. It says, 'he fell asleep in death'. Being asleep is to be unconscious. Now we have even more harmony with Genesis 2:7 and Ecclesiastes 9:5. That Stephen's breath of life left him and he died, conscious of nothing afterward.

You assume breath of life means air.

Yes. We can't live without it, thus the words 'breath of life'.

Yes Stephen died, but as Solomon wrote, “the spirit returns to God.” Therefore, it was Stephen’s spirit which returned to heaven.

This can't be true because Acts 7:60 clearly says "he fell asleep in death". It doesn't say he went to Heaven. This is your interpretation which is not in harmony with the rest of the Bible.

The Greek language experts unanimously chose to translate pneuma as spirit in this verse rather than breath or wind. Your own NWT translates pneuma in this verse as spirit.

Post your Greek language credentials please.

Post yours. Understanding the Greek and Hebrew is all about context. I'm fine with the use of the word spirit because I understand the context of the scripture. What you do is what is called cherry picking. You make a claim then find exact text to prove your point but ignore the context. This way of reading the Bible is known and accepted as a flawed way to use the Bible. I also believe Ecc 9:5 to be true. Do you?

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

Here we have a separation of spirit and soul. Certainly it's not saying may your 'spirit and spirit' be preserved complete. Why the separation? Because they are not the same thing. Here spirit is the same as in 1 Cor 2:11 that a person's attitude and mental inclination be preserved complete.

The word used is 1 Cor 2:11 is pneuma, which is defined as wind, breath, spirit. There is nothing in the definition that says spirit is a person’s attitude or mental inclination

You don’t get to make up definitions!

Once again you ignore context. I'm not making up definitions at all, I'm just reading more verses than you in chapter 2. 1 Cor 2:12 says, "Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God." Explain to what the spirit of the world is. Read all of 1 Corinthians 2 and tell me how your argument about a spirit in a person fits into what Paul was writing about. Cherry picking is unacceptable to me. It makes no sense that he is talking about a spirit being in a person. Explain verses 15 and 16 and how it relates to a spirit being inside a person?

[2timothy316]

[Replying to 2timothy316 in post #31]

The holy spirit is sent to do things for the God of Abraham like an angel would, but it's not referred to as an angel with a spirit. Spirit is a word usually associated with a dead person. I have no idea why it was elevated to be part of the Trinity when it doesn't seem to even be equal with angels. Unless it's the force the God of Abraham uses to create things which means to God of Abraham is not a creator. He uses another beings power to do that.

I don't see me calling the Holy Spirit a person at all so perhaps you can clarify why your directing that comment at me.

Though my name is tied to this, I didn't type what you quoted here.

[PolytheistWitch]

[Replying to 2timothy316 in post #39]

I typed what was quoted and I told you to point out to me where I said the Holy Spirit was a person. Obviously you've realized I didn't say it and you don't want to just come out and apologize.