The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person, not a force

[SoGrateful]

Some people exclaim …

-- How can they say the Trinity is one God in 3 “Persons”?

-- The Holy Spirit sure doesn’t sound like a “Person” to me.

-- Of the 3, the Holy Spirit is the least likely to be a “Person”.

The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person

has wisdom,knowledge,understanding Isaiah 11:2

has a mind ----------------------- Romans 8:27; Acts 15:28

has a will ----------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11

has joy -------------------------- 1 Thessalonians 1:6

bears witness -------------------- Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:6

comforts ------------------------- Acts 9:31; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7 (KJV)

commissions ---------------------- Acts 20:28

declares ------------------------- John 16:14

devises plans -------------------- Isaiah 30:1

distributes ---------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11

fellowships ---------------------- Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14

forbids -------------------------- Acts 16:6-7

guides --------------------------- John 16:13

hears ---------------------------- John 16:13

helps ---------------------------- Romans 8:26; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7 (NKJV)

intercedes ----------------------- Romans 8:26-27

justifies (declares righteous) --- 1 Corinthians 6:11

knows things --------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:11

leads ---------------------------- Romans 8:14

loves ---------------------------- Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22

reveals things ------------------- Luke 2:26, Ephesians 3:5

sends ---------------------------- Acts 13:4

sets people apart (separates) ---- 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2

speaks --------------------------- John 16:13; Acts 8:29,10:19,13:2; Rev 2:7,2:17

teaches -------------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:13

testifies ------------------------ John 15:26; Acts 20:23

warns ---------------------------- Acts 20:23

can be lied to ------------------- Acts 5:3-4

can be tested -------------------- Acts 5:9

can be insulted ------------------ Hebrews 10:29

can be grieved (saddened) -------- Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30

can be quenched (hindered) ------- 1 Thessalonians 5:19

My very own personal contribution to "Ripley's Believe it or not" is the incredible fact that

some church leaders have been deceived into believing that the Holy Spirit is only "a force".

Witness the former Moderator (for 8 years?) of the large (Protestant) United Church of Canada.

Edited August 26, 2011 by SoGrateful

[SoGrateful]

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.KJV

Dearest Faithful One from Lakeside ...

This verse is recognized by almost everyone to be an addition by some over-zealous monk or scribe,

so I wouldn't use it for any kind of proof of anything.

[Guest shiloh357]

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.KJV

Dearest Faithful One from Lakeside ...

This verse is recognized by almost everyone to be an addition by some over-zealous monk or scribe,

so I wouldn't use it for any kind of proof of anything.

That is not exactly true. What many scholars believe may have happened is a scribe made an honest mistake. There were times when scribes would add words in a margin as commentary on a particular verse and in some cases, they would suggest a correction to a verse in the margins as well. What may have happened is that an scribe mistook commentary for a correction and mistakenly added it to the text. It made its way to the Textus Receptus, but the overwhelming testimony of the manuscripts demonstrate that it was not part of the originals. However, this is not a problem as it does not diminish or undercut the doctrine of the Trinity or any other major doctrine of Scripture. It is a simple scribal error.

It is not likely that the mistake was a product of malicious intent to change the Bible or insert a personal idea or view into the Scriptures. On the whole the scribes throughout the centuries have been very competent and have taken their duties very seriously and would not consciously or purposely distort the Scriptures.

[Dragoon]

Some people exclaim …

-- How can they say the Trinity is one God in 3 “Persons”?

-- The Holy Spirit sure doesn’t sound like a “Person” to me.

-- Of the 3, the Holy Spirit is the least likely to be a “Person”.

The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person

has wisdom,knowledge,understanding Isaiah 11:2

has a mind ----------------------- Romans 8:27; Acts 15:28

has a will ----------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11

has joy -------------------------- 1 Thessalonians 1:6

bears witness -------------------- Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:6

comforts ------------------------- Acts 9:31; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7 (KJV)

commissions ---------------------- Acts 20:28

declares ------------------------- John 16:14

devises plans -------------------- Isaiah 30:1

distributes ---------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11

fellowships ---------------------- Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14

forbids -------------------------- Acts 16:6-7

guides --------------------------- John 16:13

hears ---------------------------- John 16:13

helps ---------------------------- Romans 8:26; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7 (NKJV)

intercedes ----------------------- Romans 8:26-27

justifies (declares righteous) --- 1 Corinthians 6:11

knows things --------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:11

leads ---------------------------- Romans 8:14

loves ---------------------------- Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22

reveals things ------------------- Luke 2:26, Ephesians 3:5

sends ---------------------------- Acts 13:4

sets people apart (separates) ---- 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2

speaks --------------------------- John 16:13; Acts 8:29,10:19,13:2; Rev 2:7,2:17

teaches -------------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:13

testifies ------------------------ John 15:26; Acts 20:23

warns ---------------------------- Acts 20:23

can be lied to ------------------- Acts 5:3-4

can be tested -------------------- Acts 5:9

can be insulted ------------------ Hebrews 10:29

can be grieved (saddened) -------- Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30

can be quenched (hindered) ------- 1 Thessalonians 5:19

My very own personal contribution to "Ripley's Believe it or not" is the incredible fact that

some church leaders have been deceived into believing that the Holy Spirit is only "a force".

Witness the former Moderator (for 8 years?) of the large (Protestant) United Church of Canada.

Thank You SoGrateful.

I think there are many things that God has not revealed to us about the nature of the Trinity, and these we do not need to know. Depending upon our church traditions we can over-emphasize any one of the Three. Thank you for this reminder of the personhood of the Holy Spirit. May we never grieve Him.

re: the United Church of Canada

I'm not sure there's much from the United Church that is very scriptural these days. I do know of one faithful congregation though... they've instructed their pastor to ignore the pronouncements of the United Church and to teach solely from scripture.

[Guest]

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. KJV

Dearest Faithful One from Lakeside ...

This verse is recognized by almost everyone to be an addition by some over-zealous monk or scribe,

so I wouldn't use it for any kind of proof of anything.

That is not exactly true. What many scholars believe may have happened is a scribe made an honest mistake. There were times when scribes would add words in a margin as commentary on a particular verse and in some cases, they would suggest a correction to a verse in the margins as well. What may have happened is that an scribe mistook commentary for a correction and mistakenly added it to the text. It made its way to the Textus Receptus, but the overwhelming testimony of the manuscripts demonstrate that it was not part of the originals. However, this is not a problem as it does not diminish or undercut the doctrine of the Trinity or any other major doctrine of Scripture. It is a simple scribal error.

It is not likely that the mistake was a product of malicious intent to change the Bible or insert a personal idea or view into the Scriptures. On the whole the scribes throughout the centuries have been very competent and have taken their duties very seriously and would not consciously or purposely distort the Scriptures.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17

[Oneaccords]

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. KJV

Dearest Faithful One from Lakeside ...

This verse is recognized by almost everyone to be an addition by some over-zealous monk or scribe, so I wouldn't use it for any kind of proof of anything.

Prove it.

You cant.

[SoGrateful]

Oneaccords,

You are asking me to prove this statement ...

This verse is recognized by almost everyone to be an addition by some over-zealous monk or scribe

Just Google 1 John 5:7 and read about its' reputation.

Edited September 8, 2011 by SoGrateful

[glf]

The Holy Spirit is a person rather than a force and this is evident in the Trinity. I would have started my response with a quote, but it has already been used by FresnoJoe. In it Mt3:16,17 we see our Father speaking from heaven, while the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, alights upon Jesus, and Jesus himself is present being baptized. All three persons of the Lord making a physical manifestation in the same place and the same time!

When Jesus cried, "My God. My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" we see both the Father and the Holy Spirit had cut Jesus off, forsaking him because of our sin. The idea in the Hebrew at the garden of Eden, when the Lord commanded Adam not to eat for *in dying thou shalt surely die.* This inner death or separation of God's Spirit at the moment Adam did eat, led to his body's death later on. So too for Jesus. His dying a mere physical death that each of us must also do, would have accomplished nothing for the Lord of glory, who was, is, and will always be the First and the Last, the Alpha and the Omega. The judgment Jesus received on our behalf would have to satisfy the Lord's sense of justice in order to cancel out torment day and night forever and ever. Jesus was himself an infinite being and able to suffer infinitely for us; but since we are finite beings, we cannot suffer infinitely so we must suffer for infinity. 2Cor5:21 "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." This is the greatest miracle in all of eternity and not only was Jesus cut off from the Lord by our sin, but he, in himself remained holy as he was judged in our place. Jesus shows us his choice in the matter in; Jn10:18 "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father." And we see Jesus' heart in Heb12:10 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." His joy was in making all of us to be one with the Lord forever. Jesus come quickly! Btw... the second greatest miracle in eternity will also be done by the Lord upon himself when he will remember our sin no more.

So we see that if Jesus and the Father are a single individual working in different roles, then according to Jn17, we will loose our own individual identities as we are joined with the Lord in eternity. Jn17:21-23 "that they may all be one: even as Thou, Father, art in Me and I in thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me. And the glory which Thou hast given Me, I have given to them; that they may be one as

We are one. I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me and didst love them, even as Thou didst loved Me." So, either the Lord is three persons and we will be individuals when we're one with the Lord in eternity or we'll have our personalities merged into his oneness if the Lord is Jesus only. Either way one believes though, in 1Jn2:23 "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: but he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also."

[Massorite]

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.KJV

Dearest Faithful One from Lakeside ...

This verse is recognized by almost everyone to be an addition by some over-zealous monk or scribe,

so I wouldn't use it for any kind of proof of anything.

So your saying that the word of God is Fallible. Because by saying that one scripture/verse is corrupted you are saying that all of the word of God could be corrupted. You should re-think your position on Christ because to say that God is not powerful enough to keep his word intact, with integrety shows your lack of the belief that God is all powerful. And for you to teach that any part of the word of God is corrupted is a sin. Because the word of God is perfect with no corrupted additions and it doesn't matter what is "recognized by almost everyone" to be corrupted because whom ever says that is wrong.

So Faithfulone you got it right. There was nothing wrong with useing that verse at all. God is One with three entities or distinct personalities

A true Christian who trully loves God would never teach that any verse is corrupted in any way shape or form. I do agree that in this day and time that there are some versions of the bible that are corrupted but to teach that any verse is corrupted with no corresponding verse to show the difference or proof of that corruption is to say that God allowed that verse to be corrupted from the gitgo and that my friends is corrupted teaching. That is apostacy at it's best. It is all or none.

[Joshua-777]

Some people exclaim …

-- How can they say the Trinity is one God in 3 “Persons”?

-- The Holy Spirit sure doesn’t sound like a “Person” to me.

-- Of the 3, the Holy Spirit is the least likely to be a “Person”.

The Holy Spirit has the attributes of a person

has wisdom,knowledge,understanding Isaiah 11:2

has a mind ----------------------- Romans 8:27; Acts 15:28

has a will ----------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11

has joy -------------------------- 1 Thessalonians 1:6

bears witness -------------------- Romans 8:16; 1 John 5:6

comforts ------------------------- Acts 9:31; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7 (KJV)

commissions ---------------------- Acts 20:28

declares ------------------------- John 16:14

devises plans -------------------- Isaiah 30:1

distributes ---------------------- 1 Corinthians 12:11

fellowships ---------------------- Philippians 2:1; 2 Corinthians 13:14

forbids -------------------------- Acts 16:6-7

guides --------------------------- John 16:13

hears ---------------------------- John 16:13

helps ---------------------------- Romans 8:26; John 14:16,14;26,15:26,16:7 (NKJV)

intercedes ----------------------- Romans 8:26-27

justifies (declares righteous) --- 1 Corinthians 6:11

knows things --------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:11

leads ---------------------------- Romans 8:14

loves ---------------------------- Romans 15:30; Galatians 5:22

reveals things ------------------- Luke 2:26, Ephesians 3:5

sends ---------------------------- Acts 13:4

sets people apart (separates) ---- 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2

speaks --------------------------- John 16:13; Acts 8:29,10:19,13:2; Rev 2:7,2:17

teaches -------------------------- 1 Corinthians 2:13

testifies ------------------------ John 15:26; Acts 20:23

warns ---------------------------- Acts 20:23

can be lied to ------------------- Acts 5:3-4

can be tested -------------------- Acts 5:9

can be insulted ------------------ Hebrews 10:29

can be grieved (saddened) -------- Isaiah 63:10, Ephesians 4:30

can be quenched (hindered) ------- 1 Thessalonians 5:19

My very own personal contribution to "Ripley's Believe it or not" is the incredible fact that

some church leaders have been deceived into believing that the Holy Spirit is only "a force".

Witness the former Moderator (for 8 years?) of the large (Protestant) United Church of Canada.

Pours love on our hearts ------- Romans 5:5

Convicts of sin --------------------John 16:8

Teach all things -------------------John 14:26