Who or what is the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit, according to orthodox Trinitarianism, is a third person of the eternal Godhead, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son. However, nowhere in the Bible is the Holy Spirit described as a separate being or as the third person of a triune Godhead. While in the Holy Scripture GOD's name (Yahweh) and that of His Son (Jesus or Jeshua or Jashuah, depending on the language and spelling), and even some angels (e.g. Michael or Gabriel) are mentioned by name, the Holy Spirit has no name .

The Holy Spirit is generally understood as the active power of GOD through whom GOD's presence manifests itself. The terms spirit and power are used interchangeably (Luke 1,35 / Acts 1,8). The Hebrew word ruach can be translated in English as spirit or breath. Wherever the Spirit is at work, we can recognize the active presence of GOD. The Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of GOD or the Spirit of the Most High. It is a descriptive name for GOD, the Father, who is Spirit and who works through His Spirit in Jesus and all believers. The Holy Spirit is essentially a part of GOD that He allows to dwell in us. The Spirit of GOD emanates from the Father and was poured out by Jesus on the first Christians. He is the channel through which GOD reveals His will to us. This has nothing to do with esotericism or spiritualism. Through the Spirit, GOD the Father can work both from without and from within. When Jesus walked the earth, he as person taught and instructed people in GOD'S will. Since Christ has been with the Father, the Holy Spirit has taken his role and is now active in the hearts of the believer.

In some places the Holy Spirit is described in personal terms. He speaks, guides, convicts, reminds, sends, falls on people or is poured out on people. He is called the Comforter or Helper because GOD, the Father, helps and comforts through him. In addition, he is also called the Spirit of Truth because the primary task of the Holy Spirit is to guide believers into all truth. People were baptized with him, filled with him, or anointed with him. Although the Holy Spirit dwells in many people, one spirit is spoken of rather than “many spirits”. The term Holy Spirit refers to GOD's holiness. When a person has received GOD'S Spirit, it enables him to live a holy life that is pleasing to GOD. Nowhere in the Bible did people talk or pray to the Holy Spirit. The addressees were always GOD, the Father or, in some cases, Jesus. In addition, there is no word of greeting from the Holy Spirit in any of the apostolic letters. Nor do we read anywhere that the Holy Spirit sits and reigns on a throne in heaven. In other places the Holy Spirit is also referred to as the Spirit of Jesus or the Spirit of Christ. This is on the one hand due to the fact that it was Jesus who poured out the Holy Spirit on the believers in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2,33). On the other hand, it is the same spirit that also lived in Christ or with which Jesus was anointed and in whose power he performed the signs and wonders that GOD told him to do (Acts 10,38). This does not mean that Jesus is the Holy Spirit, as some mistakenly believe.

That the Holy Spirit can be grieved is not evidence that He is another divine person besides the Father. Whoever grieves the Holy Spirit grieves the Father, who allows His Spirit to dwell in believers. The same applies to the fact that the so-called sin against the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. If a person uses words to blaspheme GOD, the Father, whom he has not yet recognized and experienced, this represents a serious sin, but one that is forgivable. However, when a person sees GOD in action - as the Pharisees did - when Jesus healed a sick person of his illness through the spiritual action of GOD, and deliberately and despite better knowledge attributes this to the devil or evil forces, there is a particular severity of guilt, because in this way one declares GOD to be the devil (Isaiah 5,20).

It was not until the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD that the Holy Spirit was included as the third person of the Godhead, equal to the Father and the Son. Up to this point there was no formal Trinitarian definition of the Holy Spirit. Church historical documents also make it clear that this teaching regarding the Holy Spirit - like the teachings on the Son - was not necessarily universally or generally accepted for a long time. In addition, it took decades for the doctrine of the Trinity to become established through pressure from the church. The centuries-long debates about who or what the Holy Spirit is are also useless because they do not help our relationship with GOD in any way. What is important is what GOD gave us His Spirit for and that it fulfills its task in us, namely to teach us GOD's will and to produce the spiritual fruits in us mentioned in the Bible.

see:

Ps 143,10 / Isa 32,15 / Isa 61,1 / Hes 36,27 / Lk 3,21 f. / Joh 4,24 / Joh 14,26 / Acts 1,8 / Rom 5,5 / Rom 8,1 + 27 / 1st Kor 2,10 f. / 1st Kor 3,16 / 1st Kor 6,19 f. / Gal 5,22 f. / Eph 3,20 f. / 2nd Tim 1,7 / 2nd Pet 1,21 / 1st Joh 3,24 / 1st Joh 4,13

see commentary on...

Genesis 1,2:

and the Spirit of GOD was hovering over the waters

Job 33,4:

The Spirit of GOD has made me

Isaiah 48,16:

And now the Lord and His Spirit have sent me

Matthew 28,18 f.:

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

John 14,23:

and we will come to them and make our home with them

John 16,13-15: