The Person of the Holy Spirit
Posted: Sat Jul 01, 2023 12:17 pm
Often the argument on the person of the Holy Spirit revolves around the use of personal pronouns. It would seem the use of these pronouns would be strong enough evidence; after considerable study I have concluded that one little Greek word allon is convincing.
John 14:16:
New American Standard Bible 1995
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another (allon) Helper (paracleton), that He may be with you forever
That little Greek word allon, Strongs #243, means another of the same kind, the difference being numerical. If the Holy Spirit was of a different kind John should have used the Greek word heteron which refers to a difference in quality. The NT writers used allon some 160 times and in all cases the word refers to another of the same kind.
Additionally the Christ and Spirit are functionally similar. The following list is adapted from an article on Christology by Ben Witherington lll in the "Dictionary of Paul":
(All scriptures from NASB)
Our righteousness is in Christ:
Philippians 3:8-9
8. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
And in the Holy Spirit:
Romans 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Christ is our life:
Colossians 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
And life comes through 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 dwells in you.
We have hope in Christ:
1 Corinthians 15:19
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
And hope from the Spirit:
Galatians 6:8
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
And we have Joy in the Spirit:
Romans 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
And Rejoicing in the Lord:
Philippians 4:4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
And we have truth in Christ:
Romans 9:1
9 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
And by the Spirit we speak truth:
1 Corinthians 12:3-6
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
We have fellowship with Christ:
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
And in the Spirit:
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Sanctified in Christ
1 Corinthians 1:2
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Sanctified by the Holy Spirit
Romans 15:16
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Sealed in Christ
Ephesians 1:13
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
By the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Interestingly in 1John 2:1 Jesus is also referred to as paracleton:
1 John 2:1
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
John 14:16:
New American Standard Bible 1995
16 I will ask the Father, and He will give you another (allon) Helper (paracleton), that He may be with you forever
That little Greek word allon, Strongs #243, means another of the same kind, the difference being numerical. If the Holy Spirit was of a different kind John should have used the Greek word heteron which refers to a difference in quality. The NT writers used allon some 160 times and in all cases the word refers to another of the same kind.
Additionally the Christ and Spirit are functionally similar. The following list is adapted from an article on Christology by Ben Witherington lll in the "Dictionary of Paul":
(All scriptures from NASB)
Our righteousness is in Christ:
Philippians 3:8-9
8. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
And in the Holy Spirit:
Romans 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Christ is our life:
Colossians 3:4
4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.
And life comes through 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 dwells in you.
We have hope in Christ:
1 Corinthians 15:19
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
And hope from the Spirit:
Galatians 6:8
8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
And we have Joy in the Spirit:
Romans 14:17
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
And Rejoicing in the Lord:
Philippians 4:4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
And we have truth in Christ:
Romans 9:1
9 I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit,
And by the Spirit we speak truth:
1 Corinthians 12:3-6
3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
We have fellowship with Christ:
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
And in the Spirit:
2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
Sanctified in Christ
1 Corinthians 1:2
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
Sanctified by the Holy Spirit
Romans 15:16
16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Sealed in Christ
Ephesians 1:13
13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
By the Holy Spirit
Ephesians 4:30
30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Interestingly in 1John 2:1 Jesus is also referred to as paracleton:
1 John 2:1
2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;