Is The Holy Spirit A Person?
Trinitarians have used some scriptures out of context to assert “proof” of their dogma that the holy Spirit is a person. Is the holy Spirit a person? This article analyzes some of the assertions Trinitarians have made about certain scriptures, claiming the holy Spirit is a person. These so-called “proofs of the personhood of the holy Spirit” are each debunked, one by one, as follows. The Trinitarian “proofs” of “the personhood of the holy Spirit” are shown in italics, and the Biblical explanations of truth follow each one.
But having a ‘mind’ does. Romans 8:27 — ‘interceeding’ for us does. Romans 8:26
Romans 8:16,26,27 – “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God . . . the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will” (NAB). These verses use the pronouns “itself” and “it” to describe the holy Spirit. The pronouns “it” and “itself” do not describe a person, proving that the holy Spirit is not a person. Without the holy Spirit being a person, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
having the ability to ‘speak’ does. Acts 8:29 Acts 10:19 Acts 11:12 Romans 8:16 1 Timothy 4:1 1 John 5:6 Revelation 2:7 Revelation 14:13 Revelation 22:17
‘agreeing’ does. 1 John 5:8
Acts 8:29 – “The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go and join up with that chariot'” (NAB). Trinitarians claim that here, when the scripture refers to the Spirit speaking, that means the holy Spirit is a person. We notice, however, that three verses earlier, it is reported that “the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip” (Acts 8:26), but that doesn’t mean the angels is God. In fact, the Bible is replete with examples of God speaking through angels (Genesis 16:7,9,11). The angel, representing God, apparently spoke by means of the holy Spirit.
Acts 10:19,20 – “As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], ‘There are three men here looking for you. So get up, go downstairs, and accompany the without hesitation, because I have sent them” (NAB).
Acts 11:12 – “The Spirit told me to accompany them” (NAB).
Because the Spirit is said to speak, Trinitarians claim that makes it a person. However, Jesus had foretold that, “the Helper, the holy Spirit which the Father will send in my place, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I have told you” (John 14:26 AAT). The Father used his holy Spirit to teach Peter about the new covenant and the change of how God was dealing with people. The Spirit was used as God’s instrument, but that doesn’t make it a person. God spoke to Peter through it.
Acts 11:15-17 – “As I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?” (NAB) – The holy Spirit originated with God, and was given by God, who is the one shown to be in control. The holy Spirit is described as a “gift”, which is indicative of it not being a person.
Acts 13:2 – “The holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabus and Saul for the work in which I have called them'” (NAB). Trinitarians claim this proves the holy Spirit is a person. However, God speaks “through the holy Spirit,” just as he had the virgin Mary to conceive, “through the holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18,20 NAB). “The impulse for the first missionary effort in Asia Minor is ascribed to the prophets of the Antiochene community, under the inspiration of the holy Spirit” (NAB footnote on Acts 13:1-3). Acts 13:2 does not provide any evidence that the holy Spirit is a person.
“The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful Spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NASB). Because the Spirit is said to speak, Trinitarians claim that makes it a person. However, Jesus had foretold that, “the Helper, the holy Spirit which the Father will send in my place, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I have told you” (John 14:26 AAT). The Father used his holy Spirit to teach Peter about the new covenant and the change of how God was dealing with people. The Spirit was used as God’s instrument, but that doesn’t make it a person. “Human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God” (2 Peter 1:21 NAB). This is how the Bible was written, and why 1 Timothy 4:1 reads, ‘the spirit says”.
1 John 5:6-8—“This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord” (NAB). “The Spirit” is personified in this text, along with “water and blood”. “Water” stands for baptism, and “blood” stands for death. God didn’t get baptized, and didn’t die either (Habakkuk 1:12 NIV), therefore Jesus could not be God. “The Spirit” is obviously not a person because persons are not referenced as “the,” or “that.”
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’” (Revelation 22:17 NJB). Both the holy Spirit and the Bride are personified in this verse. Trinitarians often claim that when the Bible refers to the holy Spirit speaking, it does so in a literal way, thus “proving” the personhood of the holy Spirit. But they usually don’t do that with this verse, because “the Bride,” which is the church, is also said to speak. Obviously, the church is not a literal person, and neither is the holy Spirit.
All the above principles apply to why the holy Spirit is not a person in Revelation 2:7 and 14:13.
having a ‘will’ does. Acts 16:7
Acts 16:6,7 – “They had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on in to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” (NAB). Trinitarians claim that this gives evidence the holy Spirit is a person. This is similar to Acts 5:32, which says, “We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him” (NAB). God operates through the holy Spirit and Jesus. By saying “that God has given,” it is evident the holy Spirit is not a person.
‘interceeding’ for us does. Romans 8:26
‘insulted’ does. Hebrews 10:29
Hebrews 10:29 – “Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one . . . insults the spirit of grace” (NAB). While most of the Bible is written literally, some of it is written figuratively, so there are many word pictures and figures of speech used in the scriptures. One of these is personification, which has been defined as “the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman”.The holy Spirit is sometimes described in the Bible by using personification. Because people are pre-conditioned to think the holy Spirit is a person, the personification of the holy Spirit is often construed, misrepresented, and misunderstood in a way that causes believers in the Trinity doctrine to believe the holy Spirit is a person, “third person of the Trinity”. The holy Spirit is not a person any more than other personified non-persons, such as sin, blood, death, water, etc., are persons. Thus, a key component of the Trinity doctrine is exposed as scripturally false.
searching’ does. 1 Corinthians 2:10
‘knowing’ the thoughts of God does.1 Corinthians 2:11
‘teaching’ does.1 Corinthians 2:13
1 Corinthians 2:10 – “This God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God” (NAB). Trinitarians have claimed “scrutinizes” means the holy Spirit is a person. However, the holy Spirit is personified here, as it sometimes is in other scriptures. In this very first mention of the holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians, it is called “the Spirit,” or “his spirit” (NIV). God reveals things through the Spirit, because he operates by using the holy Spirit to accomplish his purposes. The language in this verse (“the Spirit) is indicative of the fact that the holy Spirit is not a person. Without that, there is no Trinity.
1 Corinthians 2:11 – “Among human beings, who knows what pertains a person except the spirit of the person that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God” (NAB). The Spirit of God is compared with the spirit of humans. The activity of this “spirit” is compared with the “spirit” of the self-consciousness of humans. The spirit of humans is to their own individual thoughts as the Spirit of God is to his own thoughts. Holy Spirit is therefore “holy intelligence,” a revelation of the actual mind of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13 – “Words taught by the Spirit”. Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person, because it is said to ‘teach’. However, the holy Spirit is personified here, as it sometimes is in other scriptures. Notice that, once again, it is called “the Spirit. God reveals things through the Spirit, because he operates by using the holy Spirit to accomplish his purposes. The language in this verse (“the Spirit) is indicative of the fact that there is no personhood of the holy Spirit. Without the spirit being a person, there is no Trinity.
‘leading’ does. Galatians 5:18
Galatians 5:18 – “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (ESV). Trinitarians have claimed that being “led by the Spirit” is “proof” the holy Spirit is a person. However, “The Spirit’s guidance is a hallmark of the New Covenant, as prophesied in Ezekiel 36:27, where God promises to put His Spirit within His people to enable them to follow His decrees” (Bible Hub Study Bible). “I will put my spirit within you so that you will walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them” (Ezekiel 36:27 NAB). God’s putting his Spirit in Christians who live by the New Covenant is proof the holy Spirit is not a person.
‘fellowship’ does. Philippians 2:1
“Participation in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1 ESV). Since some versions render this as “fellowship of the Spirit”, Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person. However, the rendering “participation in the Spirit” is more accurate. We can’t participate in a person. But we can “have a share in his Spirit” (1 John 4:13 NJB).
‘sanctifying’ does. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth”—2 Thessalonians 2:13. Trinitarians claim this verse as a “proof” text of their doctrine. If “Lord” in this verse is Jesus, then the three are named. But does that make them a Trinity? Not one aspect of the doctrine is mentioned – No Almightiness, no equality, no eternity, no three-in-one “Godhead,” etc. In this verse, God uses his holy Spirit to save Christians. The holy Spirit is referred to as “the,” so it is obvious that there is no personhood of the holy Spirit, and therefore, cannot be, God.
‘vindicating’ does. 1 Timothy 3:16
“Vindicated in the Spirit” (1 Timothy 3:16 NAB). Since many versions render this as “vindication by the Spirit”, Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person, however, the NAB rendering is more accurate. The phraseology is similar to, “participation in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1 ESV). There is no literally being in another person.
5 thoughts on “Is The Holy Spirit A Person?”
BA1: Trinitarians have used some scriptures out of context to assert “proof” of their dogma that the holy Spirit is a person. Is the holy Spirit a person?
GW1: Yes, according to those Christians who believe in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit is a person. But is this belief supported by or proven by the Bible? Even if it is not, could it still be true?
GW1: Of course I know that God does not exist, and therefore there is no reason for me to believe that the other two persons of the Trinity exist.
BA1: This article analyzes some of the assertions Trinitarians have made about certain scriptures, claiming the holy Spirit is a person. These so-called “proofs of the personhood of the holy Spirit” are each debunked, one by one, as follows:
GW1: We shall see.
BA1: Romans 8:16,26,27 – “The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God . . . the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will” (NAB). These verses use the pronouns “itself” and “it” to describe the holy Spirit. The pronouns “it” and “itself” do not describe a person, proving that the holy Spirit is not a person. Without the holy Spirit being a person, the Trinity doctrine collapses.
GW1: This is a very poor argument. In this case the pronouns “it” and “itself” probably describe a person who is without sex or gender. These words support the idea that the Holy Spirit is a person: “bears witness, intercedes, groanings, intention.” These are all words which are typically used to describe persons.
BA1: having the ability to ‘speak’ does. Acts 8:29 Acts 10:19 Acts 11:12 Romans 8:16 1 Timothy 4:1 1 John 5:6 Revelation 2:7 Revelation 14:13 Revelation 22:17
GW1: Yes, it implies personhood.
BA1: ‘agreeing’ does. 1 John 5:8
GW1: Yes, it implies personhood.
BA1: Acts 8:29 – “The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go and join up with that chariot'” (NAB). Trinitarians claim that here, when the scripture refers to the Spirit speaking, that means the holy Spirit is a person. We notice, however, that three verses earlier, it is reported that “the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip” (Acts 8:26), but that doesn’t mean the angels is God. In fact, the Bible is replete with examples of God speaking through angels (Genesis 16:7,9,11). The angel, representing God, apparently spoke by means of the holy Spirit.
GW1: The best explanation here is that the Holy Spirit and all angels are persons. They just aren’t human persons. God would be a person too.
BA1: Acts 10:19,20 – “As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], ‘There are three men here looking for you. So get up, go downstairs, and accompany the without hesitation, because I have sent them” (NAB).
GW1: Support for personhood.
BA1: Acts 11:12 – “The Spirit told me to accompany them” (NAB).
GW1: Support for personhood.
BA1: Because the Spirit is said to speak, Trinitarians claim that makes it a person. However, Jesus had foretold that, “the Helper, the holy Spirit which the Father will send in my place, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I have told you” (John 14:26 AAT).
GW1: More support for personhood.
BA1: The Father used his holy Spirit to teach Peter about the new covenant and the change of how God was dealing with people. The Spirit was used as God’s instrument, but that doesn’t make it a person. God spoke to Peter through it.
GW1: But God could use persons as his instruments, so this does not undermine the personhood of the Holy Spirit.
BA1: Acts 11:15-17 – “As I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning, and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.’ If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?” (NAB) – The holy Spirit originated with God, and was given by God, who is the one shown to be in control. The holy Spirit is described as a “gift”, which is indicative of it not being a person.
GW1: Persons could be gifts from God.
BA1: Acts 13:2 – “The holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabus and Saul for the work in which I have called them'” (NAB). Trinitarians claim this proves the holy Spirit is a person.
GW1: It doesn’t prove it, but it supports the hypothesis.
BA1: However, God speaks “through the holy Spirit,” just as he had the virgin Mary to conceive, “through the holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18,20 NAB).
GW1: If God spoke through Jesus, then he might speak through the Holy Spirit, and both of them would be persons. This just means that God would use persons as intermediaries for himself.
BA1: “The impulse for the first missionary effort in Asia Minor is ascribed to the prophets of the Antiochene community, under the inspiration of the holy Spirit” (NAB footnote on Acts 13:1-3). Acts 13:2 does not provide any evidence that the holy Spirit is a person.
GW1: We can’t tell since you didn’t provide the quotes.
BA1: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful Spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NASB). Because the Spirit is said to speak, Trinitarians claim that makes it a person.
GW1: “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck.” If something speaks, then it is probably a person.
BA1: However, Jesus had foretold that, “the Helper, the holy Spirit which the Father will send in my place, will teach you everything and remind you of everything that I have told you” (John 14:26 AAT). The Father used his holy Spirit to teach Peter about the new covenant and the change of how God was dealing with people. The Spirit was used as God’s instrument, but that doesn’t make it a person.
GW1: God used Jesus, a person, to act on his behalf on Earth. Jesus is saying that God is sending a new person to Earth to act on his behalf in place of Jesus whom God has taken up the Heaven, and this new person is the Holy Spirit. The verse goes against your hypothesis.
BA1: “Human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God” (2 Peter 1:21 NAB). This is how the Bible was written, and why 1 Timothy 4:1 reads, ‘the spirit says”.
GW1: Yes, human beings who are persons were influenced by the Holy Spirit and God, two other persons.
BA1: 1 John 5:6-8—“This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord” (NAB).
GW1: Jesus Christ was a person. The Holy Spirit is a person. Water and blood are not persons. Sometimes the term “testify” does not mean “spoke” but means “this is evidence for.”
BA1: “The Spirit” is personified in this text, along with “water and blood”. “Water” stands for baptism, and “blood” stands for death. God didn’t get baptized, and didn’t die either (Habakkuk 1:12 NIV), therefore Jesus could not be God. “The Spirit” is obviously not a person because persons are not referenced as “the,” or “that.”
GW1: Of course, Jesus could not be God. Duh. They are two separate persons. Persons could be referenced as “the” or “that.” “The deity who rules the world is the person God.”
BA1: “The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’” (Revelation 22:17 NJB). Both the holy Spirit and the Bride are personified in this verse. Trinitarians often claim that when the Bible refers to the holy Spirit speaking, it does so in a literal way, thus “proving” the personhood of the holy Spirit. But they usually don’t do that with this verse, because “the Bride,” which is the church, is also said to speak. Obviously, the church is not a literal person, and neither is the holy Spirit.
GW1: The Holy Spirit is probably a person, but the Bride is just a person metaphor.
GW1: What has been proven to exist that “speaks” and is not a person? This is an important question. Please answer it, but you probably won’t.
BA1: All the above principles apply to why the holy Spirit is not a person in Revelation 2:7 and 14:13.
GW1: You have not proven your point.
BA1: having a ‘will’ does. Acts 16:7
GW1: Yes, that is a feature of persons, but I think animals also have a will.
BA1: Acts 16:6,7 – “They had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on in to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” (NAB). Trinitarians claim that this gives evidence the holy Spirit is a person.
GW1: Yes, I agree with the Trinitarians on this point.
BA1: This is similar to Acts 5:32, which says, “We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him” (NAB). God operates through the holy Spirit and Jesus. By saying “that God has given,” it is evident the holy Spirit is not a person.
GW1: False. God could give persons to persons. The verse says the Holy Spirit is a WITNESS. This is support for the personhood hypothesis.
BA1: ‘interceeding’ for us does. Romans 8:26 ‘insulted’ does. Hebrews 10:29
GW1: Yes, both support personhood.
BA1: Hebrews 10:29 – “Do you mot [not] think that a much worse punishment is due the one . . . insults the spirit of grace” (NAB).
GW1: It is not clear that the Holy Spirit was intended in this quote.
BA1: While most of the Bible is written literally, some of it is written figuratively, so there are many word pictures and figures of speech used in the scriptures. One of these is personification, which has been defined as “the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman”.The holy Spirit is sometimes described in the Bible by using personification.
GW1: The Holy Spirit could be a nonperson personified, but it could also be a person. So far, the verses support the latter.
BA1: Because people are pre-conditioned to think the holy Spirit is a person, the personification of the holy Spirit is often construed, misrepresented, and misunderstood in a way that causes believers in the Trinity doctrine to believe the holy Spirit is a person, “third person of the Trinity”.
GW1: Or they are conditioned to correctly think the Holy Spirit is indeed a person.
BA1: The holy Spirit is not a person any more than other personified non-persons, such as sin, blood, death, water, etc., are persons. Thus, a key component of the Trinity doctrine is exposed as scripturally false.
GW1: You have hardly proven your case. Not even close.
BA1: searching’ does. 1 Corinthians 2:10
‘knowing’ the thoughts of God does.1 Corinthians 2:11
‘teaching’ does.1 Corinthians 2:13
GW1: Yes, all supportive of personhood.
BA1: 1 Corinthians 2:10 – “This God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God” (NAB). Trinitarians have claimed “scrutinizes” means the holy Spirit is a person.
GW1: Yep, more support for personhood.
BA1: However, the holy Spirit is personified here, as it sometimes is in other scriptures.
GW1: More likely, it is a person! Or the authors mean it to be taken as a person.
BA1: In this very first mention of the holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians, it is called “the Spirit,” or “his spirit” (NIV). God reveals things through the Spirit, because he operates by using the holy Spirit to accomplish his purposes. The language in this verse (“the Spirit) is indicative of the fact that the holy Spirit is not a person. Without that, there is no Trinity.
GW1: No. God may create and use persons to achieve his goals. Angels are good examples. There is debate about whether God created Jesus or Jesus always existed. Either way, Jesus was a person used by God. The Holy Spirit is specifically mentioned after God takes Jesus to Heaven. So, it is a person who is taking over the job that Jesus had.
BA1: 1 Corinthians 2:11 – “Among human beings, who knows what pertains a person except the spirit of the person that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God” (NAB). The Spirit of God is compared with the spirit of humans. The activity of this “spirit” is compared with the “spirit” of the self-consciousness of humans. The spirit of humans is to their own individual thoughts as the Spirit of God is to his own thoughts. Holy Spirit is therefore “holy intelligence,” a revelation of the actual mind of God.
GW1: I see this differently. God is a person who is spiritual most of the time, in the default state. Humans are persons who are in the physical state before death, but then in the spiritual state after death. Angels are persons who are like God, usually in the spiritual state but occasionally in the physical state. The Holy Spirit is a person always in the spiritual state. At least we have no good evidence in the Bible that the HS manifested itself as a physical person. All persons are conscious intelligent agents.
BA1: 1 Corinthians 2:13 – “Words taught by the Spirit”. Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person, because it is said to ‘teach’. However, the holy Spirit is personified here, as it sometimes is in other scriptures.
GW1: Persons do teach. I think you interpretation is mistaken.
BA1: Notice that, once again, it is called “the Spirit. God reveals things through the Spirit, because he operates by using the holy Spirit to accomplish his purposes. The language in this verse (“the Spirit) is indicative of the fact that there is no personhood of the holy Spirit. Without the spirit being a person, there is no Trinity.
GW1: False. God uses persons to accomplish his purposes – angels, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Even Satan is a person.
BA1: ‘leading’ does. Galatians 5:18
GW1: Yes, supportive of personhood.
BA1: Galatians 5:18 – “If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (ESV). Trinitarians have claimed that being “led by the Spirit” is “proof” the holy Spirit is a person.
GW1: It is not proof, but it is supporting evidence.
BA1: However, “The Spirit’s guidance is a hallmark of the New Covenant, as prophesied in Ezekiel 36:27, where God promises to put His Spirit within His people to enable them to follow His decrees” (Bible Hub Study Bible). “I will put my spirit within you so that you will walk in my statutes, observe my ordinances, and keep them” (Ezekiel 36:27 NAB). God’s putting his Spirit in Christians who live by the New Covenant is proof the holy Spirit is not a person.
GW1: I suspect that the spirit of God in the OT meant something different from the Holy Spirit in the NT. The OT and the NT are different theologically and philosohically.
BA1: ‘fellowship’ does. Philippians 2:1
GW1: Yep, it is supportive of personhood.
BA1: “Participation in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1 ESV). Since some versions render this as “fellowship of the Spirit”, Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person. However, the rendering “participation in the Spirit” is more accurate. We can’t participate in a person. But we can “have a share in his Spirit” (1 John 4:13 NJB).
GW1: “In” or “of”? Which is correct? You are not an expert in Biblical languages, so I will not trust your translation here.
BA1: ‘sanctifying’ does. 2 Thessalonians 2:13
GW1: Support for personhood.
BA1: “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as first fruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth”—2 Thessalonians 2:13. Trinitarians claim this verse as a “proof” text of their doctrine. If “Lord” in this verse is Jesus, then the three are named. But does that make them a Trinity?
GW1: The Trinity is a team of three persons – God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit – working for common goals, under the leadership of the team captain – God himself. That works.
BA1: Not one aspect of the doctrine is mentioned – No Almightiness, no equality, no eternity, no three-in-one “Godhead,” etc.
GW1: You must collect many verses to show how the Trinity is construed.
BA1: In this verse, God uses his holy Spirit to save Christians. The holy Spirit is referred to as “the,” so it is obvious that there is no personhood of the holy Spirit, and therefore, cannot be, God.
GW1: No, it is not obvious at all, and in fact, your view is not supported. God might use both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, both persons, to save people.
BA1: ‘vindicating’ does. 1 Timothy 3:16 “Vindicated in the Spirit” (1 Timothy 3:16 NAB). Since many versions render this as “vindication by the Spirit”, Trinitarians have claimed this means the holy Spirit is a person, however, the NAB rendering is more accurate. The phraseology is similar to, “participation in the Spirit” (Philippians 2:1 ESV). There is no literally being in another person.
GW1: You are not an expert in translation.
GW1: Either the Holy Spirit is a person or it is not, at least in the fictional writings of the Bible. The weight of the evidence from all the verses you presented favors the view that the Holy Spirit was intended to be a person. Therefore, Team Trinity is completed. You have not proven your case, not even close.
The Spirit of the Truth
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me”—John 15:26 NIV
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”—John 16:13 NIV
In these cases, the holy Spirit is personified as “the Spirit of the truth”. Notice how something else is also personified in the next verse:
“We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of falsehood—1 John 4:6 NIV
Not only is “the Spirit of truth” personified, but so is “the Spirit of falsehood” personified. So, we do well to ask, “If ‘the Spirit of truth’ is a person, why isn’t ‘the spirit of falsehood’ a person?”. Let’s notice the pronoun used to describe “the Spirit of truth” in the following verse:
“The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you”—John 14:17 NAB
Three times in the above verse, the holy Spirit is described by the pronoun “it’, which means the holy Spirit is not a person, but is personified. Now, let’s notice how personification is used in the Bible for many other inanimate things:
Sin
“But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it”—Genesis 4:7 NIV
“So then, just as sin ruled by means of death, so also God’s grace rules by means of righteousness, leading us to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”—Romans 5:21 GNB
“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires”—Romans 6:12 NIV
“For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace”—Romans 6:14 NIV
“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”—Romans 6:16 NIV
“I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me”—Romans 7:23 NIV
Blood
“The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground'”—Genesis 4:10 NIV
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ”—Ephesians 2:13 BSB
“You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel”—Hebrews 12:24 NLT
“This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord”—1 John 5:6-8 NAB
“The Spirit” is also personified in this last text, along with “water and blood”.
Water
“When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; the very deep trembled”—Psalm 77:16 NRSV
“Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy”—Psalm 98:8 NIV
“This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord”—1 John 5:6-8 NAB
Creation
“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God”—Romans 8:19 NASB
Flesh/the Body
“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh”—Genesis 2:24 NIV
“We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly, for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies”—Romans 8:23 NAB
Death
“Death reigned from Adam to Moses”—Romans 5:14 NAB
“Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him”—Romans 6:9 NAB
The Spirit of the World
“We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God”—1 Corinthians 2:12 NAB
Conclusion
We have examined the personification of the holy Spirit in the Bible, as well as personification of other inanimate things in the Bible, which reveals the truth that the holy Spirit is not a person any more than other personified non-persons, such as sin, blood, death, water, etc., are persons. Thus, a key component of the Trinity doctrine is exposed as scripturally false.
BA2: The Spirit of the Truth
GW2: You are now equivocating on the word “spirit.”
BA2: “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me”—John 15:26 NIV
GW2: You are assuming that the “Sprit of truth” and the “Holy Spirit” are the same thing. Maybe. These words, “Advocate, whom, testify” all support the personhood hypothesis regarding the Holy Spirit.
BA2: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come”—John 16:13 NIV
GW2: These words, “he, guide, speak, his, hears, tell” all support the personhood hypothesis regarding the Holy Spirit.
BA2: In these cases, the holy Spirit is personified as “the Spirit of the truth”.
GW2: Well, the Holy Spirit, a person representing God, would tell the truth. Duh.
BA2: Notice how something else is also personified in the next verse: “We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of falsehood—1 John 4:6 NIV
GW2: “We” would include all these persons – angels, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. These are not “personifications”! They are persons!
BA2: Not only is “the Spirit of truth” personified, but so is “the Spirit of falsehood” personified. So, we do well to ask, “If ‘the Spirit of truth’ is a person, why isn’t ‘the spirit of falsehood’ a person?”.
GW2: The Holy Spirit, the person, would speak the truth and not falsehood.
BA2: Let’s notice the pronoun used to describe “the Spirit of truth” in the following verse: “The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you”—John 14:17 NAB
GW2: Again, “it” may refer to a person who has no sex or gender. Almost all the pronouns you have cited for the Holy Spirit are male – he, his, him, etc.
BA2: Three times in the above verse, the holy Spirit is described by the pronoun “it’, which means the holy Spirit is not a person, but is personified.
GW2: Already refuted.
BA2: Now, let’s notice how personification is used in the Bible for many other inanimate things:
GW2: No, let’s not. There is no point in that. I agree that the Bible personifies some things, but not the Holy Sprit. We can clearly see that the writers INTENDED the Holy Spirit to be understood as a PERSON. We know this from a plain reading of the text. Instead, you are making a biased reading of the text to conform to your wish that the Holy Spirit is not a person.
GW2: By asserting that the Holy Spirit is not a person, you may be guilty of the unforgivable sin, according to Christianity. Consider this: 28 “Truly I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons and daughters of men, and whatever blasphemies they commit; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28-30 NASB. I think you better reverse your position before it’s too late.
BA2: “This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth. So there are three that testify, the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and the three are of one accord”—1 John 5:6-8 NAB
GW2: The Holy Spirit testifies and tells the truth because he is a person sent by God.
BA2: We have examined the personification of the holy Spirit in the Bible, as well as personification of other inanimate things in the Bible, which reveals the truth that the holy Spirit is not a person any more than other personified non-persons, such as sin, blood, death, water, etc., are persons.
GW2: Absolutely false! You have presented a lot of verses almost ALL of which support the hypothesis that the Holy Spirit was intended as a person by the authors. Your effort here has backfired. You have supported the view of your opponents!
BA2: Thus, a key component of the Trinity doctrine is exposed as scripturally false.
GW2: No. You have done just the opposite. You have shown that the scriptures confirm that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the team later named “Trinity”. This was the intent of the authors and it was put into doctrine by the early church fathers.
GW2: Of course I am a gnostic atheist. God does not exist, and thus Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit do not exist. These three alleged persons are just fictional.
GW2: Disagreements between persons are part of life, and they can be a good thing. People often learn from disagreements and sometimes they change their views as a result. Here are the most common outcomes of disagreements:
1. Person X changes to agree with Person Y.
2. Y changes to agree with X.
3. Both X and Y change to meet in the middle, a compromise.
4. Neither X nor Y changes (a stalemate); they leave amicably. They “agree to disagree.”
5. Neither X nor Y changes; one or both leave hostile towards the other.
In this disagreement about the Holy Spirit, I am invoking option #4. There is no point in further discussion of this issue. I have seen enough to be strongly confident of my position. Next topic.
Actually, there is much more to this issue than you are apparently aware of. Consider the following, for example.
“No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son”—Matthew 11:27 NAB
If the holy Spirit is really a person, then Jesus certainly didn’t know anything about it. If the holy Spirit is a person, the third person of the Trinity, being omniscient and Almighty, then it would have to also be included in exclusively knowing the Father and the Son. Therefore, the Trinity doctrine turns Jesus statement at Matthew 11:27 into a lie. That, of course, is impossible, since Jesus said, “I speak the truth” (John 8:45).
“But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone”—Matthew 24:36 NAB
The same thing is true for Matthew 24:36, that is, that no one knows the exact time of Jesus’ return but the Father. If the Holy Spirit is really a person, the third person of the Trinity, how could it be kept out of the loop about this extremely important prophetic event? Are we to believe that one member of this exclusive Trinitarian “Godhead” could keep a secret from the other two members, while at the same time sharing the same eternal and divine “essence” of being the one true God?
BA1: Actually, there is much more to this issue than you are apparently aware of.
GW1: I doubt that.
BA1: Consider the following, for example. “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son”—Matthew 11:27 NAB
GW1: God does not exist for anyone to know him. Jesus of Nazareth was probably the son of Mary and Joseph, and he was not a deity.
BA1: If the holy Spirit is really a person, then Jesus certainly didn’t know anything about it.
GW1: According to the fictional story, God sent the Holy Spirit to replace Jesus Christ after he took Christ to Heaven. If Jesus were a deity, he would have known about his future replacement and talked about it.
BA1: If the holy Spirit is a person, the third person of the Trinity, being omniscient and Almighty, then it would have to also be included in exclusively knowing the Father and the Son.
GW1: Yes, the Holy Spirit would have known these things, if it existed.
BA1: Therefore, the Trinity doctrine turns Jesus statement at Matthew 11:27 into a lie. That, of course, is impossible, since Jesus said, “I speak the truth” (John 8:45).
“But of that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone”—Matthew 24:36 NAB
GW1: There is no evidence of a lie here.
BA1: The same thing is true for Matthew 24:36, that is, that no one knows the exact time of Jesus’ return but the Father. If the Holy Spirit is really a person, the third person of the Trinity, how could it be kept out of the loop about this extremely important prophetic event?
GW1: Maybe Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit were deities with powers inferior to God’s, if they were to exist. Remember: God was team captain.
BA1: Are we to believe that one member of this exclusive Trinitarian “Godhead” could keep a secret from the other two members, while at the same time sharing the same eternal and divine “essence” of being the one true God?
GW1: Maybe God did not share the secret with his two teammates.
GW1: None of this matters much since Jesus was a real man who lived in the first century, he wasn’t a deity, and God and the Holy Spirit, both alleged deities, never existed at all. So much silliness.