THE HOLY SPIRIT

Raphael Oye Taiwo

(Part Two)

PERSONALITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

'Personality' means 'the quality or state of being  a person. 

The Holy Spirit is a Person – not a human person, but a divine, spiritual Person. When we say the Holy Spirit is a person, we mean that He is a separate Being, apart from all others, who is named, identified, acknowledged and positioned – a separate Being whose place cannot be filled by another.

He is a living Person; not an object, a blind power, force or influence, such as storm, fire and electricity, which are very powerful but completely devoid of intelligence,  knowledge, will power and feeling - things that do not qualify as living human beings, much less God.

The Bible uses personal pronouns, He, in referring to the Holy Spirit.  In John 15:26; John 16:7,8,13,14,  Jesus used the Greek masculine pronoun ‘He’ (skeinos) in referring to the Holy Spirit. In John 14:16,17,26; John 16:7,8,13,14,15, Jesus used the masculine personal pronoun ‘he’, ‘him’, ‘whom’, and  ‘himself’  at least twenty times. In the Greek language the pronoun for 'spirit' is ordinarily in the neuter gender.  But Jesus chose masculine personal noun in referring to the Holy Spirit.

In Rom. 8:16,26, the Spirit is referred to as 'itself' in the KJV. This is clearly a translator's mistake which has been corrected in other  important translations like RSV, NAS, NIV, NKJV, Williams etc, where 'himself' is used.

Personal characters are ascribed to the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a person because He has knowledge, Intelligence,  feelings or emotions, and will-power.

Knowledge

1Cor. 2:10-12 

10. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 

11.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 

12.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The Holy Spirit knows things the most intelligent and knowledgeable man are ignorant of.  He knows all that is contained in most secret place of the mind of God.

Intelligence

Neh 9:20 

Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst.

John 14:26 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

An un-intelligent thing cannot instruct or teach intelligent human beings. For the Holy Spirit to instruct and teach the intelligent man, He must Himself be more intelligent that man.

Power

Act 1:8 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Rom 15:19  

Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

The Holy Spirit possesses perfect power that is intelligently used by Him.  A bomb, for example, have within it great power, but the bomb cannot intelligently employ the power or control the power.

Self-Determination

1Co 12:11 

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

The Holy Spirit determines and makes decisions. He has free choice of His own acts without external pressure.

Capacity for love

Rom 15:30 

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

‘For the love of the Spirit’. The Holy Spirit is capable of loving. He loves those who loves God the Father and God the Son and the people of God.  An object or influence cannot love.

Capacity for vexation and grief

Isa 63:10 

But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

Eph 4:30 

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

An object or influence cannot be vexed or grieved, however great the  provocation.

Capacity for temptation

Act 5:9 

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

You cannot tempt electricity, for example.  It is a personal intelligent being who is capable of being tempted.

Personal acts are ascribed to the Holy Spirit

He speaks

John 16:13

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Gal 4:6 

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

1Tim 4:1 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

Speech is most certainly an attribute of personality.  We recognize the Holy Spirit as a personal Being because He speaks.

He spoke to Philip

Act 8:29 

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

He spoke to Peter

Act 10:19 

While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

He spoke to some Christians in Antioch

Act 13:2 

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

He spoke to Paul

1Tim 4:1 

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

The Holy Spirit speaks to Christians today, through various means, like prophecy, tongues plus interpretation of tongues, vision, audible voice, still small voice, etc.

He teaches

John 14:26

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

To teach involves characteristics and abilities that could only be possessed by a personality - like intelligence, knowledge, and ability to communicate.

He intercedes

Rom 8:26 

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

The Holy Spirit helps  us to pray in the will of God the Father.  He takes our desire and expresses it to God in suitable words. An inanimate force cannot do this.

He testifies about Christ

Joh 15:26 

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Children of God do testify about their Saviour.  But nobody can testify about  Jesus Christ in the way the Holy Spirit does.

He leads and directs

Rom 8:14 

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Act 8:29 

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Only a conscious, mighty, omniscient personality could lead the way the Holy Spirit leads.

He appoints God's ministers and workers

Act 13:2 

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Act 20:28 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The Holy Spirit searches for suitable persons to appoint to specific positions in the Lord’s kingdom. He prepares the chosen people, train them, equip them for the work He has for them and helps them to do the work.

Dumb, unintelligent power could not do this.