The Holy Spirit – Personality & Deity
Any common evangelical confession of faith makes a statement about God’s nature and being that goes something like this.
There is only one true God who exists in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are equal in divine perfection, coeternal, and execute distinct but harmonious offices. God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is Holy, sovereign, and personal. God knows all things, is everywhere present, and is all-powerful. God is love, gracious and merciful, and in everyway good. God is spirit, self-existent, and transcendent. Being the Creator of all things, it is in Him that we live and move and exist.
On this basis when we say that the Holy Spirit is equal in divine perfection and co-eternal, we mean to say that the Holy Spirit is fully God. When we say that He is one of the persons of the Godhead, we mean to say that He is personal and subsists in Himself as His own being, being fully self-aware and having His own personality. It is these two fundamentals truths that we will examine here, that is, the Deity and Personality of the Holy Spirit.
The Deity of the Holy Spirit
In speaking about the Deity of the Holy Spirit, it is important to affirm how in Bible language the Holy Spirit is affirmed again and again as God. Since He is equal in divine perfection, and exists as one with the Father and the Son, being coeternal, it is therefore right to assign to Him all the characteristics of God, existing as His own person, God Himself. This can be seen by examining;
- His name
- His attributes
- His work.
Name
In examining His name, it becomes evident that He is God because of His formal title, “the Holy Spirit of God.” In Genesis and Exodus, He is called the Spirit “of God.”
Genesis 1:2 – 2 And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. NAS
Exodus 31:3-4 – 3 And I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, NAS
In Acts and Ephesians He is called “the Holy” Spirit.
Acts 7:51 – 51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. NASB
Ephesians 4:30 – 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NAS
Learn here, there is only ONE who is “holy.” Therefore if the Spirit is Holy, He must be God.
He is referred to as God in many places in Scripture.
For example, in Acts the Bible says that Ananias and Saphira have “lied to the Holy Spirit,” and then it says that they have “lied to God.”
Acts 5:3-4 – 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.” NASB
It is plain from this text alone, that the Holy Spirit is God.
Another example would be in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and also in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Paul speaks about believers being “the temple of the Holy Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are. NASB
If you are “a temple of God” because the “Spirit of God dwells in you,” this means that the Spirit is God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. NASB
Here specifically Paul mentions that we are temples of God, but this time uses the formal title “the Holy Spirit of God” to refer to God the Holy Spirit living inside of us. These references clearly speak of the divine nature of the Holy Spirit.
In several passages, the Holy Spirit is listed with the Father and the Son, in tri-unity. In these passages notice that no particular order is given to each of the three members of the Godhead. There is one God existing in three distinct persons.
Matthew 28:19 – 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, NASB
1 Corinthians 12:4-6 – 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. NASB
Ephesians 4:4-6 – 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. NASB
It is clear from these references alone that the Holy Spirit is listed in Scripture as a member of God’s triune being.
In 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 the Holy Spirit is actually called by the title Lord, in the Greek kurios, the common title for the Lord Jesus Christ. In this passage the Bible explicitly says that the “Lord IS the Spirit,” and also He is referred to as “the Spirit of the Lord.” It would be difficult to say more clearly that the Spirit is God.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 – 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. NASB
In verse 18, the Spirit’s deity is affirmed in yet another expression saying, “from the Lord, the Spirit.” The point here is that the transforming work in the life of the believer is being done by a work which comes from “the Spirit,” who IS “the Lord.” These three references clearly show that the Spirit is God.
In Acts chapter 7, Steven accuses the Jews of resisting the Holy Spirit.
Acts 7:51 – 51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. NASB
In examining the Old Testament it is clear that the Jews were actually resisting God, therefore is they resisted the Holy Spirit, they were resisting God. This is a clear witness to the deity of the Holy Spirit.
There are places in Scripture where the Holy Spirit is identified as the One who speaks the words of God. For example in Hebrews 3:7, the Scriptures speak of what the Holy Spirit says;
Hebrews 3:7-8 – 7 Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “Today if you hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, NASB
This is actually a quote from Psalm 95:7-8. Here the Word of God is attributed to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God. This also happens in the following passages.
- Acts 28:25-27 – Isaiah 6:1-13
- Hebrews 10:15-17 – Jeremiah 31:31-34
Attributes
In examining His attributes, it becomes evident that He is God because only God could possess the attributes that are assigned to the Holy Spirit, therefore the Holy Spirit is God.
Of God’s attributes, the Holy Spirit is ascribed of having them. In Hebrews 9:14 He is said to be the Eternal Spirit.
Hebrews 9:14 – 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? NASB
Only God is Eternal, therefore, the Holy Spirit is God. No other being besides God has existed from eternity past. In Romans 15, Paul attributes the power of signs and wonders to the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:18-19 – 18 For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, 19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. NASB
Could any created being have the power to bring healing to physical sickness or raise people from the dead? Certainly one could not. But Paul, by the Omnipotent “power of the Spirit” could. Even the incommunicable attributes of Omnipresence and Omniscience are assigned to the Holy Spirit in Psalm 139 and in 1 Corinthians 2.
Psalm 139:7-8 – 7 Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, Thou art there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, Thou art there. NASB
1 Corinthians 2:11 – 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. NASB
Only God Himself can know the thoughts of God, because in God’s thoughts He possesses exhaustive knowledge of all things. God is Omniscient, He knows everything, past, present and future. Only the Father, Son and Spirit have this knowledge according to Scripture. In Acts 1:8 He is called the Holy Spirit. Can any created being possess God’s attribute of Holiness? Surely one could not.
Acts 1:8-9 – 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. ” NASB
In 1 John 5:7, the Holy Spirit is actually called “the truth.”
1 John 5:7 – 7 And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is the truth. NASB
Only God Himself is the truth, and here the Holy Spirit is clearly seen as God. Since no other created being possesses divine characteristics such as these, it is clear that we are speaking of the person of God. The attributes and characteristics that only God possesses are ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the Holy Spirit is God.
Work
In examining His work, it becomes evident that He is God because only God could do the things that are attributed to the Holy Spirit, therefore the Holy Spirit is God.
The Holy Spirit is the One who applies Christ’s redemption to believers in the New Birth. We are said to be “born of the Spirit,” and that regeneration comes by the washing and renewal of the Spirit. The Spirit performs regeneration, which is a supernatural act of God.
John 3:7-8 – 7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” NASB
Titus 3:5 – 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, NASB
The Holy Spirit is also the One who sanctifies the believer throughout his earthly life. The New Testament specifically assigns the work of sanctification to the Holy Spirit.
1 Peter 1:2 – 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure. NASB
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 – 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. NASB
The Holy Spirit is also said to be the One who reveals the truth to Biblical writers as they were writing Holy Scripture. Not only this, but, the ministry of teaching and revelation to every believer, is said to be carried out by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21 – 20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. NASB
John 14:26 – 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. NASB
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 – 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. NASB
The Holy Spirit is the One in Scripture seen to distribute spiritual gifts the body of Christ for His own sovereign purpose and will.
1 Corinthians 12:11 – 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. NASB
The Holy Spirit is the One who is described as “baptizing believers into the body.”
1 Corinthians 12:13-14 – 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. NASB
This happened first on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 1:5, 2:4) and then subsequently happens each time someone is “born again.” They receive the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit at salvation (regeneration), being therefore “born of the Spirit.”
Romans 8:11 – 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you , He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you. NASB
1 Corinthians 6:19 – 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? NASB
He is also the One said to empower the believer for service by the imparting of divine grace and strength to fulfill God’s will.
Acts 1:8– 8 but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. ” NASB
Acts 6:8 – 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. NASB
2 Timothy 1:7 – 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. NASB
Further, the Holy Spirit is said to convict the entire world of sin.
John 16:8 – 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; NASB
When men reject the testimony of the Holy Spirit, it is called blasphemy by our Lord. Not only this, but this is in fact the only sin in the Bible which cannot be forgiven.
Matthew 12:31-32 – 31 “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. 32 “And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come. NASB
All of these great works of the Holy Spirit, clearly point to His divine nature. Who but God can reveal supernatural truth? Who but God can convict the world of sin? Who but God can be blasphemed against? Who but God can sanctify and regenerate the souls of mankind? Of course the answer is God alone can do these things, all which are attributed to the Holy Spirit in Scripture. On this basis, we have clear attestation to the fact that the Holy Spirit is God Himself.
The Personality of the Holy Spirit
It is important to recognize that the Holy Spirit is His own unique person or member of the Godhead and independently acts. The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force or power. He is God Himself, the third member of the Holy Trinity.
Matthew 28:19 – 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, NASB
This truth about the Person of the Holy Spirit is most clear in Scripture concerning three elements.
That He is mentioned in Scripture having First person perspective and Self awareness.
That He is seen in Scripture having the Dynamics of interpersonal relations with others.
That He is seen Possessing the unique mind, will and emotions of a person with a personality.
With that in mind, let us examine these elements in Scripture.
First person perspective and Self awareness
It is clear that the Holy Spirit speaks about Himself in the first person and therefore recognizes Himself as a unique person.
Acts 13:2 – 2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” NASB
Notice here, Barnabas and Saul have been set apart “for me,” and also it is to a work that “I” have called them to. In these statements the Holy Spirit is aware of Himself and His own calling and gifting of these men. He is seen in Scripture speaking to others as an independent being.
Acts 10:19 – 19 And while Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. NASB
Dynamics of interpersonal relations
But He also is seen in Scripture having the Dynamics of interpersonal relations with others. For example turn with me to John 16:7-15. Notice in this text how He will personally relate to the disciples as His own unique person, after Christ leaves the disciples.
John 16:7-15 – 7 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 “And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin, and righteousness, and judgment; 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you no longer behold Me; 11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. 12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 “He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. 15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and will disclose it to you. NASB
In verse 7, He is One who will come and who will be sent by Jesus. And in verse 8, He personally does the work of convicting persons in the world of sin, and righteousness, and judgment. He is called by His own personal titlte, “the Spirit of truth,” in verse 13 and there He carries out several things. He guides, He speaks, He hears, and He discloses. Also, notice this, “He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak.” Here He can be seen having interpersonal relations between God the Father, and repeating what God the Father has said to the disciples. The dynamics of His relationships are personal, as He acts as His own being, performing His role in the work of redemption. In verse 14 and 15, He is seen glorifying God by disclosing God’s will to His disciples. These kinds of characteristics are also seen in John 15:26-27.
John 15:26-27 – 26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, 27 and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning. NASB
Here the Holy Spirit is seen being sent by the Father, as the Fathers agent to bear witness of Christ in verse 27. In Romans 8:14-16 the Spirit is seen leading believers, and bearing witness with the spirits of believers that they are God’s children.
Romans 8:14-16 – 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, NASB
This activity shows that the Holy Spirit is NO some impersonal force, but a being who is personally interacting with people.
It is clear from these passages that the Holy Spirit does relate in an interpersonal way to both other members of the Godhead as well as with people. He is a unique person with His own personality.
Possessing the unique mind, will and emotions of a person
The Holy Spirit is seen in Scripture Possessing the unique mind, will and emotions of a person with a personality.
The Holy Spirit is said to possess His own mind. In Romans 8:26-27, He is interacting with believers in His intercessory role. In verse 26 He is seen helping us and interceding for us.
Romans 8:26-27 – 26 And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. NASB
Notice in verse 27, Paul writes of the mind of the Spirit. Surely here the Scripture describes the Spirit as having His own mind.
But He also, has His own will. In 1 Corinthians 12, the Spirit is seen as the agent possessing the gifts and apportioning them to believers.
1 Corinthians 12:11 – 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. NASB
Notice here, that the Spirit is working these things, and distributing these gifts to “individuals,” just as “He wills.” It is clear from this text that the Holy Spirit possesses His own will. This can be seen in others texts as well.
Acts 16:6-7 – 6 And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia; 7 and when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them; NASB
Acts 13:2 – 2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” NASB
It is clear from these texts that the Holy Spirit exercises His own will in regard to His guidance sometimes in Scripture.
But the Holy Spirit is also seen as possessing His own emotions. In Ephesians 4:30, the Spirit is seen as being grieved.
Ephesians 4:30 – And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NASB
This is an emotional response that the Spirit can have as He interacts with people. Notice how, in Isaiah 63:10, He is grieved in response to how the Israelites rebelled against Him.
Isaiah 63:10 – 10 But they rebelled And grieved His Holy Spirit; Therefore, He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them. NASB
The Holy Spirit can be “quenched” according to 1 Thessalonians 5:19.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – 19 Do not quench the Spirit; NASB
He can be “resisted” according to Acts 7:51.
Acts 7:51 – 51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. NASB
And in Genesis 6:3, the Spirit is seen as “striving” with men.
Genesis 6:3 – 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” NASB
All of these texts clearly show an emotional and personal interaction with others.
It is clear from these passages that the Holy Spirit is a unique person with His own personality, Possessing His own unique mind, will and emotions.
Therefore we see clearly that the Holy Spirit is not just some impersonal force of power, but is in fact His own unique and independent person. He is to be personally related to by us as an individual member of the Godhead.
