Personhood of the Spirit
The personhood of the Spirit is the biblical truth that the Holy Spirit is not merely a force or influence, but a divine person. Scripture speaks of the Spirit as one who teaches, speaks, wills, and can be grieved.
At a Glance
The personhood of the Spirit is the biblical truth that the Holy Spirit is not merely a force or influence, but a divine person. Scripture speaks of the Spirit as one who teaches, speaks, wills, and can be grieved.
Description
The personhood of the Spirit is the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is a personal divine agent, not an impersonal force, energy, or mere expression of God’s power. The Bible presents the Spirit as speaking, teaching, bearing witness, guiding, interceding, distributing gifts according to his will, and being grieved by sin. These personal works, together with passages that place the Spirit alongside the Father and the Son, support the orthodox Christian understanding that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. Scripture does not encourage speculation beyond what is revealed, but it does clearly require believers to confess the Spirit’s true personhood and deity.