One of the greatest false doctrines of Protestantism and Catholicism is that of the Trinity. Many biblical scholars have weighed in on the concept only to find it impossible to reconcile their ideas with Scripture. The major obstacle is attribution of the Holy Spirit to a position in the Elohim[1] Godhead, which is contrary to passages that plainly state the Holy Spirit is the power of God[2].

In order to establish the Trinity, it is necessary to ascribe the divine character of God the Father and Jesus Christ to the Holy Spirit; that is, giving it the equal standing of the living God. The problem is that this is no where supported in the Bible. In fact, the Holy Spirit is never recognized as having the characteristics of a spiritual being capable of independent existence and thought. Perhaps most distressing to Trinitarians is the fact that neither Jesus Christ nor the apostles ever acknowledged the Holy Spirit as worthy of attention or worship. Every mention in the scriptures establishes it as the projection of God’s power, inspiration, and aide.

The Trinity is an old idea; however, it is not as old as the teachings of Jesus Christ when He was flesh. Neither does it arise during the lifetimes of the apostles who never thought the Holy Spirit worthy of praise or worship. In fact, the Holy Spirit is first mentioned in Genesis; so the idea that it is a third being in the Elohim Godhead that was conceived about the third century A.D. makes it a very recent idea and one that significantly strayed from ancient understanding and writings, especially in the Bible.

The Trinity is, in fact, never objectively or anecdotally mentioned by the authors of the New Testament. This is completely aligned with the writings of the Old Testament, given the complete absence of any personification, worship, or deification of the Holy Spirit. Since all Jews were taught the Old Testament Scriptures from their youth[3], the status of the Holy Spirit as the power of God did not change with the New Testament writings. This should come as no surprise since “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The One who inspired the entirety of the Bible was consistent throughout, including concerning the Holy Spirit strictly as the power of God.

One must also ask why is there a need for a Trinity in the first place? The Bible clearly says that only God the Father is to be worshipped (Matthew 4:1) and all things, living and not, were created by Jesus Christ (John 1). What need is there for a third being of similar divine character? There is no capacity left unfulfilled by God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Moreover, the many formulations that define a Trinity must, as a matter of course, redefine God the Father and Jesus Christ. For example, one of the earliest teachings proffered that God was a “changeable creature”[4], which completely ignores the claims of God who stated, “I change not” (Malachi 3:6) and “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Another embarrassing problem deals with how the Holy Spirit can be within someone while not obfuscating their identity and freedom of choice. This is especially vivid in the confusion that must arise surrounding the birth and death of Jesus Christ—who was His father and who was sacrificed if the Holy Spirit is a living being?

DEFINITION: A living being, whether spirit or flesh, is one that possesses independent thought and emotion, an ability to communicate, a capacity for reasoning, the wherewithal to make choices, and moral and ethical discernment. (The phrase “living being” is used throughout according to this definition.)

Beyond the struggling intellectual arguments, however, are biblical truths that absolutely condemn any claim that the Holy Spirit has separate divine life as a third being in a Trinity. As a result, there is no foundation for the Trinity. These facts are vitally important to publish because the Trinity is never built upon Scripture but on the musings of intellectuals and philosophers[5] who are incapable of presenting legitimate arguments for their claims that address the inconsistencies of their doctrines. In fact, they make their case strictly upon human reasoning and ignore the plainly spoken Word of God.

It is even more astounding that scholars believe that knowledge about God is more valid in the historical extra-biblical writings than God’s own Word. If the early Trinitarian ideas had been developed during the days of the apostle Paul, he surely would have reminded them of the Bereans[6], much to their shame.

Biblical doctrines are “here a little, there a little”[7], but it is equally important to understand that the Bible is completely consistent throughout—from Genesis to Revelation—and always increases the reader’s understanding. It never confuses or refutes that which God established in earlier times. Any doctrine that cannot be overlaid with the entirety of the Bible is clearly contrary to God’s Truth.

In fact, the subject of the Holy Spirit is ubiquitous in the Bible. The abundance of references, applications, and descriptions overwhelm the feeble attempts to define the Holy Spirit as anything other than it is—the power of God—even though they might exploit Scripture erroneously or twist grammatical rules of language[8].

In essence and in fact, the Trinity is nothing but a false doctrine. To that end, presented herein are refutations of many of the Trinitarian arguments and scriptural proof that the Holy Spirit is not a divine being but, rather, the power of God.

CHAPTER 1

Gender—Spirit

The New Testament Greek word for spirit is pneuma. It is a singular neuter noun that means, literally interpreted, wind or breath. Importantly, it is gender neuter. On the other hand, the Old Testament word for spirit is translated from the Hebrew word ruwach but it means exactly the same thing—wind or breath. What is most interesting is that ruwach is both gender masculine and feminine. In other words, it can be either one. The primary reason for this is that biblical Hebrew has no gender neuter—all nouns must be either masculine or feminine. While this may seem confusing and at odds with the NT, it is perfectly fitting that the Hebrew noun is not one or the other because it establishes that ruwach is in fact gender neuter, which is in complete agreement with the Greek.

What is most telling is that no living being in the Bible, whether flesh or spirit (such as angels and demons), is ever anything except specifically masculine or feminine. God, David, and Paul are always masculine whereas Sarah, Ruth, and Mary are unquestionably feminine. Masculine pronouns are also used in reference to Michael the archangel and Satan[9]. On the other hand, if the Holy Spirit were a living being, it is indeed confusing as it is at times masculine and feminine in the Hebrew. In the Greek it is only gender neuter.

One especially grievous mistake made by many translators of the New Testament is misapplication of pronouns, especially those pertaining to the gender neuter Greek word pneuma (spirit). Every pronoun (he, she, it) must agree with the gender of the referenced noun. Language requires this for obvious reasons. Since the Greek word pneuma is gender neuter, it is a violation of grammar to use “he” or “she” when referring to spirit. Correct grammar allows only the personal pronoun “it” (and, because pneuma is singular, “they” is also disallowed).

In the case of spirit, both the Hebrew and Greek establish it as neuter; therefore, it is impossible that it is a living being. Correcting this widespread error alone would eliminate much confusion about the Holy Spirit and establish it as simply the power of God.

Simple Verbs

One key to understanding the meaning of a never-before-seen word is by examining the context, including any defining nouns, adjectives and verbs. These describe characteristics or attribute capabilities that aid in understanding the word meaning. Here is a list of actions (verbs) ascribed to the Holy Spirit. Notice that none of them describe those of a living being.

· “Breathed” by God (John 20:22),

· Is a “gift” of God (Luke 11:13),

· Is “poured out” upon a person (Joel 2:28; Titus 3:6),

· “Fills” a person (Acts 2:4),

· “Rests upon” a person (Acts 2:17; 1 Peter 4:14),

· "Seals" a person (Ephesians 1:13),

· “Proceeds” from (properly, out of) God (John 15:26).

While one might argue to the contrary, these verbs are, at best, difficult to attribute to a living being and are indeed impossible in the literal sense. The real question here is why are these verbs associated with the Holy Spirit? If it has inherent life as a separate being, why did the New Testament authors attribute such unusual verbs to the Holy Spirit that they rarely ascribe to a person, living spirit, angel, or demon? It is certain that the writers of the New Testament, in many cases, intentionally used verbs befitting of pneuma as gender neuter because they understood it is not a living being.

The Verb—Speaking

However, there are scriptures in which the Holy Spirit is described as performing in ways that are usually reserved for living beings. For example:

JOHN 16:13 However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the truth, it will lead you into all truth because it [the Holy Spirit] shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come.

MATTHEW 10:20 For it is not you who speak, but the [Holy] Spirit of your Father that speaks in you.

Does speaking establish the Holy Spirit as a living being? Aside from the fact that spirit is neuter, it is not enough to make such an assertion any more than claiming Balaam’s donkey was capable of rational thought when God “opened the mouth of the donkey [to speak]” (Numbers 22:28). Looking to Scripture for the answer one finds that speaking is a metaphor for the revelations of God:

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-10 But according as it is written, “The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things—even the deep things of God.

EPHESIANS 3:5 Which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Flesh and blood cannot see, hear, touch, taste, or smell the spiritual. This is especially problematic when it comes to a relationship with God the Father because “You have neither heard His voice nor seen His form at any time” (John 5:37). Humans are obviously limited to physical means of communication and interaction. Believers talk to God through prayer but relationships are never one-sided. The above scriptures clearly point out that God completes the communication with people using His Holy Spirit to reveal His mind and Word.

Reveal is quite an interesting choice in Scripture when describing the function and purpose of the Holy Spirit. It means to “take off the cover” in the Greek. Until the Holy Spirit is involved in a person’s life, there is a veil of mental blindness when it comes to God’s Word:

2 CORINTHIANS 3:14 But their minds were blinded; for to the present hour the same veil has not been removed, but remains at the reading of the Old Covenant; which veil is removed in Christ.

The veil over a person’s mind must be lifted to understand spiritual matters. Exactly what prevents the physical mind from grasping the spiritual realm cannot be visualized or comprehended through physical senses, which is why God uses the metaphor of a veil. When that veil is removed by God through the Holy Spirit, it is, in a real sense, being lifted from one’s mind. Hence, the word reveal or “take off the cover.”

In this it is also quite appropriate that the Holy Spirit is described as speaking because everyone thinks in their primary language. Language is the means by which thoughts and ideas are conceived; so God communicates by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the form of words that are manifested in our minds as expressions of one’s primary language. This was exactly what occurred when Peter and the apostles were speaking to the crowds on Pentecost:

ACTS 2:4-11 And they [the apostles] were all filled with the Holy Spirit; and they began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words to proclaim. 5 Now there were many Jews who were sojourning in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And when word of this went out, the multitude came together and were confounded, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed, and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that we hear each one in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who inhabit Mesopotamia, and Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Both Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya which are near Cyrene, and the Romans who are sojourning here, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretes and Arabians; we hear them speaking in our own languages the great things of God.”

There were at least seventeen different nations represented; yet, every person heard the apostles speaking and understood them in their own language! This was a work of the Holy Spirit as noted in verse four. All the people wondered how this was possible and the answer is in the Bible as described by one simple word:

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;

God-breathed is translated from the Greek compound word theopneustos. Theo, meaning God, and pneustos, a grammatical form of the verb pneo from which is derived the noun pneuma (breath). God-breathed portrays God the Father using the Holy Spirit to breathe His Word into our minds.

This is a beautiful narrative of the Holy Spirit being the mechanism by which God communicates with us. The fact that it is the instrument of God’s revelation to mankind implies the Holy Spirit is utilitarian rather than a living being in spite of the speaking metaphor. On the other hand, as the vehicle of God’s communication with people, it in no way establishes the Holy Spirit as a living being. One example of this is in Acts 13:

Acts 13:2 And as they were ministering and fasting to the Lord, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate both Barnabas and Saul to Me for the work to which I have called them.”

This was Jesus Christ speaking through the Holy Spirit and using the phrases “to Me” and “I have called them.” This is confirmed in the next verses (5-7) where Saul (Paul) and Barnabas carried out the “work” of preaching the Gospel of Christ. At one point they ran into resistance from a sorcerer and Saul told him, “will you not cease to pervert the straight ways of the Lord?” They were teaching the ways of the Lord and, in so doing, fulfilled the work of the Lord. It was not the work of the Holy Spirit as some might wrongly understand in verse 2.

Now look at a case where the Holy Spirit is speaking “for” us:

MARK 13:11 But whenever they lead you away and deliver you up, do not be anxious beforehand nor meditate on what you should say; but whatever shall be given to you in that hour, that speak. For you are not the ones who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

So, who will be actually speaking—us or the Holy Spirit? Obviously, it will be us because “whatever shall be given to you in that hour, that [you shall] speak.” We will be speaking that which is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit. It is not the Holy Spirit speaking its own words but God’s own words revealed to us.

The Verb—Teaching

The Bible is the textbook for all things spiritual; however, understanding it, as with the schooling of children, requires a teacher. This capacity falls to God the Father because, as a spirit being, He is the most qualified to teach of the spiritual. In fact, the Bible clearly tells us that all shall be taught by God:

JOHN 6:45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore, everyone who has heard from the Father, and has learned, comes to Me [Jesus Christ].

The question then becomes, how does God teach physical beings? Is the Holy Spirit also a teacher?

1 CORINTHIANS 2:9-16 But according as it is written [in the Bible], “The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things—even the deep things of God. 11 For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man which is in him? In the same way also, the things of God no one understands except by the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is of God, so that we might know the things graciously given to us by God; 13 Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit in order to communicate [literally, combine ideas between people] spiritual things by spiritual means. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 However, the one who is spiritual [having the Holy Spirit] discerns all things, but he himself is discerned by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord? Who shall instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The Holy Spirit is simply the mechanism that God employs to instruct a physical student of spiritual matters that cannot otherwise be learned (v. 9). This scripture establishes that the Holy Spirit is not the teacher—God is. Without God, we cannot understand the textbook (vv. 10-11) and without the Holy Spirit we cannot understand the Teacher.

Notice that words was added in verse 13. As touched upon previously, everyone thinks in their primary language. Any teacher must, therefore, communicate using a language of words, even if it comes in the form of thoughts formed in our minds, because everyone not only talks but thinks in their fundamental language. Without language, thoughts and ideas cannot be defined—even with a vivid imagination. In verse 13, the translator chose words but could have used ideas; however, words reinforces the notion of instruction or teaching through the use of understandable language.

Since God the Father does not directly speak with mankind[10], the Holy Spirit is the “spiritual means” by which He communicates “spiritual things” (v. 13). In modern terms, the Holy Spirit is the interface between God’s spiritual mind and our physical mind. It is the translator that allows the “natural man” to “receive the things” of God (v. 14). God uses the Holy Spirit to breathe[11] His thoughts into the minds of people as understandable words.

Verses 15 and 16 also express the idea that a person with the Holy Spirit has “the mind of Christ” and, as a result, “discerns all [spiritual] things.” No one literally has a piece of Christ’s mind. So this simply means that the Holy Spirit allows us to think and reason as He does. In the vernacular, we are of the same mind. Obviously no one can literally have the same mind; so the metaphor is fitting in the Scriptures as well as the modern vernacular.

Similarly, Philippians 2:5 says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” In a literal sense, it depicts Jesus Christ distributing parts of His brain; however, it is obviously referring to having the same thinking and reasoning, which is precisely the meaning behind the word mind. This theme is also expressed in 1 John:

1 JOHN 2:20, 27 But you have the anointing [of the Holy Spirit] from the Holy One, and you have knowledge of all things pertaining to salvation. … 27 But you yourselves have dwelling in you the anointing [of the Holy Spirit] that you received from Him [God the Father]; and you do not have need of anyone to indoctrinate [teach] you; for the same anointing [of the Holy Spirit] instructs you in all spiritual things, and is true, and is not a lie; and if you do exactly as it has taught you, you will be dwelling in Him.

John 4:24 says, “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” How do we worship God in spirit? No one can transform into a spirit at will, so this is obviously referring to a physical person having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Flesh cannot interact with God without the Holy Spirit because “God is spirit.” A loose analogy would be a person who tries to communicate with an animal. There is a mental gulf separating them that requires something more in order for an animal to comprehend.

Imagine explaining a rainbow to someone who was blind from birth. After describing the bands of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, the blind person might rationally ask, “What are colors?” Part of knowing something requires experiencing it with our senses. A blind man lacks the sense of sight and cannot understand color. Without the Holy Spirit, we do not have the sense necessary to comprehend spiritual things.

Understanding begins with filling our minds with His Word by reading the Bible because it is the textbook of God’s spiritual plan of salvation:

2 TIMOTHY 3:15 And that from a child you have known the Holy Writings, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.*

As we read the Holy Writings, which now includes the New Testament, God opens our understanding of spiritual matters through His Holy Spirit. In other words, knowledge comes first through reading the Bible. This is followed by understanding as revealed by God through the Holy Spirit. Knowledge is the accumulation of information whereas understanding is the ability to make use of knowledge. Together, knowledge and understanding lead to wisdom, which is the ability to make right choices—this is how we have the mind of God and Christ. This is especially clear in this scripture:

JOHN 14:26 But when the Comforter comes, even the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in My name, that one shall teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I [Jesus Christ] have told you.

Although it may seem that the Holy Spirit is doing the teaching, it is not personified as a teacher. If that were the case, the Greek word would have been the noun didaskalos, meaning teacher. Instead, the word used is the verb didasko, meaning to teach. However, this no more implies the Holy Spirit is doing the actual teaching than when a professor gives us a textbook to read. Jesus Christ assured the apostles that they will not forget His teachings because the Holy Spirit will enable them to recall, not just some, but all the instruction they received over the course of more than three years.

SIDEBAR: God recorded His word in the Bible and has preserved it for all mankind. Why? Should God personally instruct every single person that has lived over thousands of years? No. In modern times people do not even school their children in that manner. Most attend a classroom-style setting consisting of a teacher with multiple students. In ancient times, God’s Word was maintained by the priests and scribes who not only copied the scrolls but also studied and learned them. They, in turn, taught the people and the people then taught their children[12]. In modern times, a teacher instructs the class from textbooks that are made available to the students.

Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the means by which the Teacher—God the Father—confers spiritual understanding to the student. It in no way implies it is a living being.

The Verb—Bearing Witness

1 John 5:7 needs to be addressed because it is a source of confusion unless it is understood that it was added to the KJV; that is, it is not supported by any legitimate Greek manuscripts. Here is the rendering of the KJV:

[KJV] 1 JOHN 5:6-8 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. ~~7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.~~ 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.

The correct rendering eliminates the KJV text of verse 7 because it is not found in the source manuscripts. Notice the text as rendered in A Faithful Version:

1 JOHN 5:6-8 This is He Who came by water and blood—Jesus the Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. 7 And it is the Spirit that bears witness because the Spirit is the truth. 8 For there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three witness unto the one truth.

Referring to the KJV, in order to keep scripture numbers synchronized in the FV, verse 7 was replaced by the last sentence from verse 6. Other valid translations replace verse 7 with the first part of the text from verse 8.

Regardless, true Bible translations do not include verse 7 of the KJV. Eliminating it clarifies the whole topic discussed by John—that the Holy Spirit, the water, and the blood “bear witness” that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who was sacrificed for the sins of the world.[13]

Obviously, water and blood are not living beings so how do they “bear witness?” In the manner that they are the evidence of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. The blood and water that came out of His body are proofs that substantiated His death.

But what about the Holy Spirit? God was also a witness of His Son’s sacrifice and the Holy Spirit bears “witness” to us of Jesus Christ’s death by revealing what God Himself witnessed, thereby convicting us of the truth of the matter. Notice:

1 JOHN 5:9-11 If we accept the witness of men, the witness of God is superior. For this is the witness of God, which He has witnessed concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of God has the witness [of the Holy Spirit] in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar because he has not believed in the witness that God has witnessed concerning His Son. 11 And this is the witness: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.

This says that each of God’s children has the “witness in himself” (v. 10). What is the witness in us? The Holy Spirit. Who was the witness? God the Father. What did He witness? The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a critical point because God is the superior witness of that sacrifice and resurrection since He is eternal and cannot lie[14]. This is also recorded in:

JOHN 5:37 And the Father Himself, Who sent Me, has borne witness of Me [Jesus Christ]….

All three—the blood, water, and Holy Spirit—bear witness or are evidence of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice. Importantly, these bear witness “on the earth” (v. 8) because this is where His death occurred. It was not in heaven because the evidence is found only on the earth.

Without verse 7 in the KJV, the Holy Spirit is no longer linked with a confusing and false Trinity but is evidence, along with the water and blood, of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion; that is, Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of the world.

All of this established—by the testimony of God through the Holy Spirit and the evidence of the blood and water at the death of Jesus Christ—the proof of salvation from sin unto eternal life is through that perfect sacrifice.

However, the Holy Spirit also bears witness of other matters:

ROMANS 8:16 The [Holy] Spirit itself bears witness conjointly with our own spirit, testifying that we are the children of God.

The Greek word for witness is the same as used in 1 John 5:7-8, except that it is compounded in the Greek with a prefix that means a joint witness; that is, it is witnessing to us because it is joined with our own human spirit of life. Here, the Holy Spirit is evidence both to us and the world that we are God’s children. How is that evidence? Because it only comes from God the Father[15]—all those in whom the Holy Spirit dwells are begotten by Him alone.

The Verb—Makes Intercession

Along with the verbs speaking, teaching, and bearing witness that are metaphors for God involvement with His physical children is another that needs to be addressed—making intercession.

ROMANS 8:23, 26-27 And not only that, but even we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, also groan within ourselves, awaiting the sonship—the redemption of our bodies. … 26 Now in the same way also, the Spirit is conjointly helping our weaknesses because we do not fully understand what we should pray for, according as it is necessary, but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings that cannot be expressed by us. 27 And the one Who searches the hearts comprehends what the strivings of the Spirit are because it makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

All who have ever lived will, at some point in their life, experience grief, heartache, sorrow, or hardships; this is especially true of God’s children. But above all others, the saints have a hope because God is fully aware of each person’s groanings as He “searches [our] hearts” (v. 27) through the mechanism of the Holy Spirit.

While the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us, it is God that “comprehends … the strivings” of it. The Holy Spirit could be likened to a thermometer that measures the temperature of a sick child. A thermometer is not a living being even though it measures temperature. It still requires the parent to read it and take appropriate steps to help their child. The whole of this scriptural metaphor portrays a merciful God examining our hearts through His Holy Spirit that dwells within us.

The Verb—Led

Another verb used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit that is generally attributed to a living being is the word led. The Bible describes the children of God being led by the Holy Spirit.

ROMANS 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.

Once again, the Bible clarifies the role of the Holy Spirit in leading a person with the powerful words of the Savior Himself:

JOHN 16:12-15 I have yet many things to tell you, but you are not able to bear them now. 13 However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the truth, it will lead you into all truth because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come. 14 That one shall glorify Me because it shall disclose to you the things that it receives from Me. 15 Everything that the Father has is Mine; for this reason, I said that it shall receive from Me and shall disclose these things to you.

In exactly the same manner as “speaking”, the Holy Spirit leads us according to what it receives from Jesus Christ. Simply put, the Holy Spirit is not a living being that forcibly leads us according to its own will, but it is the means by which God the Father and Jesus Christ communicate their will to physical human beings.

The same holds true for Jesus Christ who was “led” into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

MATTHEW 4:1 Then Jesus was led [by the spirit] up into the wilderness by the [Holy] Spirit in order to be tempted by the devil.

However, we know that Jesus Christ only did those things His Father showed or told Him:

JOHN 5:19 Therefore, Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly, truly I say to you, the Son has no power to do anything of Himself, but only what He sees the Father do. For whatever He does, these things the Son also does in the same manner.”

It was such an important point that Jesus made, He reiterated in John 5:30 and 8:28. Jesus never said anything about doing the will of the Holy Spirit, only that of His Father. If the Holy Spirit were a living being, there is certainly no mention of its direct involvement in the most important life ever to have lived. It was, as is the case with the saints, the means of communication between God the Father and Jesus Christ in the flesh.

The Adjective—Holy

There is only one spirit that is called holy. While it is also the only adjective applied to the Holy Spirit, holy does not refer only to living beings. Obviously, God the Father and Jesus Christ are holy and, by their declaration, so are the prophets and true saints. However, lifeless objects can also be holy to God. The first instance where a thing was established as holy is in Exodus 3:5 when God warned Moses to take off his sandals because he stood on holy ground. Other examples include holy convocations (gatherings), the Zion mountain of God’s residence, God’s holy days (His Sabbath and festivals), the tabernacle and temple as well as their furnishings, and the clothing of the priests.

The word holy is qodesh in Hebrew and hagios in Greek. They simply refer to anyone that is morally clean (as determined by God) or an object that He set apart for a specific purpose. Interestingly, both people and objects can become defiled, rendering them unclean. Therefore, one cannot assume that the Holy Spirit is a life form because it has the status of being holy to God.

The Nouns—Dove, Wind, Fire

There are a number of cases where the Holy Spirit is likened to something physical. It is described as looking like a dove, sounding as a mighty wind, and having the appearance of fire:

MATTHEW 3:16 And after He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately out of the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon Him.

ACTS 2:2-3 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like the rushing of a powerful wind, and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and sat upon each one of them.

It is impossible to argue that any of these impart a sense of life to the Holy Spirit. They are simply symbols or figures of speech. God allowed a perceptible manifestation of the Holy Spirit to establish proof of the events. The next verse of Acts 2 confirms this:

ACTS 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit; and they began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the words to proclaim.

The Bible is replete with symbols comparing lifeless things to living beings such as the personification of wisdom in Proverbs 1 and 6 and the instance of the Church being likened to a woman in Revelation 12.

The Noun—Oil

Of all the metaphors used for the Holy Spirit, none is more symbolic than oil. This is quite apparent throughout the Bible with ceremonial anointings. The word itself, anoint, means to smear or rub with oil. Among other things, anointings were used to consecrate holy places[16], set apart someone for service to God[17], and heal[18].

Anointings are mentioned throughout both the Old and New Testaments. While the connection between oil and the Holy Spirit is generally accepted by most people, the evidence is not quite as clear as in the case of dove, wind, or fire. Still, the Bible establishes this in the use and purpose of anointing, as is evident in the following scriptures:

1 SAMUEL 6:13 And Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

David was anointed with oil, at which time he received and was empowered by God’s Holy Spirit. Unlike Saul, who was so corrupt that God withdrew the Holy Spirit from him, David was one of the most dedicated and beloved servants of God. The connection between the anointing oil and the Holy Spirit is unambiguous.

Of all the symbols used for the Holy Spirit, only the dove is a living creature. But even the dove was not an exact shape. Notice the corollary to Matthew 3:16:

LUKE 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily form like a dove; …

Luke was much more descriptive of what he saw than Matthew. Although they both thought a dove was the best explanation, Luke clarifies that it only vaguely resembled a dove.

It is important to note that all the symbols used for the Holy Spirit—dove, wind, fire, and oil—are formless and, as a consequence, they are also lifeless. The important point here is that the Holy Spirit is always represented by a lifeless and formless metaphor. While living beings are sometimes represented by non-living symbols, they are elsewhere properly described as living beings. This is not true of the Holy Spirit.

For example, no one can claim from the Bible that Jesus Christ is anything except a living being even though He said that He was “the way, and the truth, and the life” (John 14:6)—formless and lifeless metaphors. The Bible proves He was a living human being so these are characteristics, not symbols. The Bible uses symbols to describe the Holy Spirit because it is never portrayed as a living being.

The Noun—Power

There are two Greek words that are sometimes confused in the KJV—exousia and dunamis. The former means authority while the latter is power. The KJV at times incorrectly translates exousia as power (ability or capacity), instead of authority (the right to make decisions and enforce them). The reason this is important is that only living beings can have authority whereas power can also pertain to objects as well (think about a jet engine or explosives).

The Bible clearly mentions God the Father[19], Jesus Christ[20], angels[21], demons[22], and humans[23] as all having authority and all are living beings. Critically, nowhere in the Bible is the Holy Spirit ever noted as possessing authority. If it were a principle member of the Elohim Godhead, would not such a position infer authority as a fact of status? It does not make any sense that it is simply not worthy of mention or omitted given that the Holy Spirit is named hundreds of times in the NT alone. This must be especially disappointing to those who believe in a Trinity wherein the Holy Spirit is so completely disrespected. The fact is that the Holy Spirit is a source of power without personal, separate authority. It is completely contrary to the position or standing of a living being to have power but no ability or authority to use it. That is futility in the greatest sense.

However, if the Holy Spirit is viewed not as a living being but as the power of God, we not only have a proper view of the Elohim Godhead but also have consistency of Scripture. The Holy Spirit then fits as the instrument of power by which God creates and sustains the universe, establishes and maintains His authority as the Great King[24], performs miracles, and teaches and reveals things to mankind. It establishes the picture of an Almighty God who loves us enough to beget us as children.

That the Holy Spirit is the power of God is firmly established in the OT as well:

ZECHARIAH 4:6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is the Word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power [of men], but by [the power of] My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”

This verse ascribes power to men but God says His strength is the Holy Spirit. This is interesting because God did not use the word power; instead, He said, “by My Spirit.” Embedded here is the idea that His power is so vastly superior that God, in order to contrast it with any human concept of power, gives the extension of His power a different name—the Holy Spirit—to differentiate it from any earthly concept of power and establish it as a force that is utterly impossible to be imagined by the feeble mind of a human.

The Noun—Comforter

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a “Comforter”[25] in the book of John:

JOHN 14:16-17 And I will ask the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that it may be with you throughout the age: 17 Even the Spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive because it perceives it not, nor knows it; but you know it because it dwells with you, and shall be within you.

The Greek word parakleetos is a masculine gender descriptive noun. Grammatically, the gender of the descriptive noun never modifies or changes the gender of the principle noun. In this case, the principle noun is “spirit” from the Greek pneuma, which is neuter gender. Therefore, the five personal pronouns “it” are translated from the Greek neuter gender personal pronoun auto. They should never be translated in the masculine gender as “him” or “whom.”

Unlike the previous noun symbols (oil, dove, wind, and fire) described in this chapter, the Holy Spirit, as a “Comforter,” is instead a function or purpose. However, as a Comforter, it in no way implies the Holy Spirit is a living being any more than a thick blanket, commonly called a comforter, is a living being. The function or purpose of the blanket comforter is simply to provide warmth during cold winter nights.

CHAPTER 2

Greek Translational Errors

The more advanced skeptic will sometimes refer to five particular verses in John 14, 15, and 16 when attempting to prove the concept of the Trinity. All of them share one common problem: theological bias resulting in Greek translational errors that cause several verses to be misinterpreted.

The following will present the erroneous, but typical, translation from the KJV and the correct reading from A Faithful Version (indicated FV). The mistranslations will only be briefly mentioned since an in-depth familiarity with Greek is not assumed herein[26]. Errors are highlighted and error numbering proceeds from the first occurrence with each error briefly described.

John 14:17

[KJV] JOHN 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

[FV] JOHN 14:17 Even the Spirit of the truth, which the world cannot receive because it perceives it not, nor knows it; but you know it because it dwells with you, and shall be within you.

ERROR #1: The pronoun “whom” is erroneously translated from the Greek neuter gender relative pronoun ho that is properly translated “which.” If the Greek text were expressing the masculine gender, the Greek masculine gender relative pronoun hos would have been used instead.

ERRORS #2, 3, 4: The three personal pronouns translated “him” are erroneously translated into the masculine gender from the Greek neuter gender personal pronoun auto, which is properly translated “it.” If Greek text were expressing the masculine gender, the Greek masculine gender pronoun autos would have been used instead.

ERROR #5: The pronoun “he” is erroneously inferred from the verb “dwelleth” (KJV). The subject of any verb governs the gender. Since “spirit” (Greek pneuma) is neuter gender, the Greek verb memei is properly translated “it dwells.”

John 14:26

[KJV] 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.

[FV] JOHN 14:26 But when the Comforter comes, even the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in My name, that one shall teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you.

ERROR #1: The pronoun “whom” is erroneously translated from the Greek neuter gender relative pronoun ho that is properly translated “which”. If the Greek text were expressing the masculine gender, the masculine gender relative pronoun hos would have been used instead.

ERROR #2: The pronoun “he” is erroneously translated from the Greek ekeinos, which is properly translated “that one.”

John 15:26

[KJV] JOHN 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:

[FV] JOHN 15:26 But when the Comforter has come, which I will send to you from the Father, even the Spirit of the truth, which proceeds from the Father, that one shall bear witness of Me.

ERROR #1: The pronoun “whom” is erroneously translated from the Greek neuter gender relative pronoun ho that is properly translated “which.” If the Greek text were expressing the masculine gender, the masculine gender relative pronoun hos would have been used instead.

ERROR #2: The pronoun “he” is erroneously translated from the Greek ekeinos, which is properly translated “that one.”

John 16:13

[KJV] 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.

[FV] JOHN 16:13 However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the truth, it will lead you into all truth because it shall not speak from itself, but whatever it shall hear, it shall speak. And it shall disclose to you the things to come.

ERROR #1: The pronoun “he” is erroneously translated from the Greek ekeinos, which is properly translated “that one.”

ERRORS #2, 3, 4, 5, 6: Pronouns are governed by the gender of the subject noun. The remaining five occurrences of “he” are implied from verbs (“guide,” “speak,” “hear,” etc.), which are governed by the Greek neuter gender noun pneuma (“spirit”). Therefore, they are all properly translated “it.”

John 16:14

[KJV] JOHN 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

[FV] JOHN 16:14 That one shall glorify Me because it shall disclose to you the things that it receives from Me.

ERROR #1: The pronoun “he” is erroneously translated from the Greek ekeinos, which is properly translated “that one.”

ERROR #2: Pronouns are governed by the gender of the subject noun. The occurrence of “he” is implied from the verb “shall receive” (KJV), which is governed by the Greek neuter gender noun pneuma (“spirit”) in verse 13. Therefore, the proper translation is “it.”

CHAPTER 3

Angels & Demons

Aside from the Holy Spirit, all other spirits mentioned in the Bible have one thing in common—they are independent, living, thinking beings. Again:

DEFINITION: A living being is one that possesses independent thought and emotion, an ability to communicate, a capacity for reasoning, the wherewithal to make choices, and discernment between right and wrong.

An important point regarding the Holy Spirit that contrasts it from any living being is that it is always controlled and directed by God or Jesus Christ with an emphasis on giving mankind an understanding of the spiritual. This differs from angelic spirits who are, at times, participants in God’s plan of salvation but do not have a mental and emotional connection with people as is the case with God through the Holy Spirit. Demons, on the other hand, can have mental and emotional influence on people, but it is for selfish motives or to pull people away from God.

Here is a list of many characteristics and capabilities attributed to angelic or demonic spirits that are never ascribed to the Holy Spirit:

· They were created (Hebrews 1:4; 2:7)—the Bible never says the Holy Spirit was created.

· They are subjects of God and Christ (1 Peter 3:22).

· They have individual names (1 Chronicles 21:1; Daniel 8:16; 10:13).

· They have distinct features (Daniel 10:5-6; Ezekiel 1:5-20).

· They have assigned roles and exercise authority (Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14; 9:11; 12:7; 14:18).

· They worship, bless, and praise God (Hebrews 1:6; Psalm 103:20; 148:2; Revelation 5:11-12).

· The can experience joy (Job 38:7; Luke 15:10).

· They have desires and curiosity (1 Peter 1:12).

· They can sing (JOB 38:7; Revelation 5:9).

· They can play instruments (Revelation 5:8; 8:2).

· They can protect people (Psalm 91:11).

· They can perceive and understand (Matthew 24:36).

· They can deliver messages (Daniel 10:12-14).

· They can have disputes (Jude 1:9).

· They can preach the Gospel (Galatians 1:8; Revelation 14:6).

· They can perform tasks (Matthew 13:41, 49; Acts 12:11).

· They are witnesses of God’s judgment (Luke 12:8-9).

· They can be soldiers (Isaiah 37:36; Revelation 12:7).

· They can appear as humans beings (Hebrews 13:2).

· They can eat food (Psalm 78:25; Hebrews 13:2).

· They can sin (2 Peter 2:4).

· They can be judged (1 Corinthians 6:3).

· They can be cast into prison (2 Peter 2:4).

The list is quite extensive but none of these are ever attributed to the Holy Spirit. Most important, there is no scriptural claim that the Holy Spirit was ever created. It has always existed, unlike the angels and demons, because its existence is concurrent with that of God the Father and Jesus Christ. However, if the Holy Spirit is equivalent to God the Father and Jesus Christ as proposed in Trinitarianism, it is remarkable indeed that the Bible never mentions it having the capabilities or attributes common to all other living beings, much less those of the Elohim Godhead. The more rational explanation, as well as being the true biblical teaching, is that it is simply the power of God.

Demons Possess—The Holy Spirit Guides

While God influences a person with the Holy Spirit, it is vastly different from both the purpose and impact of a demon.

MATTHEW 8:16 Now when evening had come, they brought to Him many possessed with demons ….

Demons possess people. The phrase “possessed with demons” is the single Greek word daimonizomai that means to be exercised by, or under the power of, a demon. As powerful living beings, demons can literally overpower and control those that they influence or possess. They are capable of supplanting an individual’s thoughts and completely subjugating a person. Notice the examples in Luke 8:29, Luke 9:42, And Acts 19:13-16.

Contrasting demons with the Holy Spirit, it becomes clear that the Holy Spirit is quite different, both in purpose and impact:

JOHN 16:13 However, when that one has come, even the Spirit of the truth, it will lead [or guide] you into all truth ….

The Holy Spirit does not control people. If that were true, then no one who has it would ever be at risk of losing salvation. The Holy Spirit would simply force them to obey God. However, even those with the Holy Spirit can fall away:

HEBREWS 6:4-6 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and who personally obtained the heavenly gift, and became partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 And who have tasted the good Word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they have fallen away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing that they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves, and are publicly holding Him in contempt.

The Holy Spirit also never subverts the thoughts and actions of a person. People with the Holy Spirit are able to independently make choices and determine their own course of action, which is contrary to demonic possession.

If that were not the case, then why does every believer desire to have the Holy Spirit within them? If the Holy Spirit were a living being, then its presence within a person means they are possessed by it, not guided, because it would subjugate the person’s thoughts in the same way as demons. This would also have been the case with Jesus Christ who had the spirit without measure[27].

God leads or guides a person through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. People with it are aware of righteousness and lawlessness because the mind is opened to spiritual, godly knowledge. Regardless, the choice to do so resides with the person; it is not forced upon them by the Holy Spirit, which contrasts demonic possession.

Spirits in Revelation

In addition to angels and demons, there are other spirits that are living beings. In Revelation, John witnessed seven spirits that play an important role in the world:

REVELATION 4:5 And proceeding from the throne were lightnings and thunders and voices; and seven lamps of fire, which are the seven Spirits of God, were burning before the throne.

These seven spirits, referred to as “lamps of fire,” occupy a place before the throne of God. They are spirits as confirmed in chapter 1:

REVELATION 1:4 JOHN to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne.

These seven spirits, referred to as eyes, are sent to search out the whole earth:

REVELATION 5:6 Then I saw, and behold, before the throne and the four living creatures, and before the elders, was standing a Lamb as having been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God that are sent into all the earth.

Where it says “a Lamb … having,” it means hold, own, possess, or be closely joined with someone or something. It does not suggest that Jesus Christ Himself is composed of “seven horns and seven eyes”—so it is a description of the spirits that are with, or subject to, Jesus Christ and reflect that He is head of the seven churches of Revelation chapters two and three. Sent means ordered to go to a place appointed, which is the earth in this case. They are, obviously, spirits that are extensions of the power of Christ. The Bible is not clear whether they are living beings or not.

Besides the seven spirits, the Bible also mentions strange looking frog-like demons:

REVELATION 16:13-14 Then I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet; 14 For they [the frogs] are spirits of demons working miracles, going forth to the kings of the earth, even of the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of that great day of the Almighty God.

This phrase “spirits of demons” (v. 14) does not mean these demons control or exercise a separate spirit, but it clarifies that the demons themselves are “unclean spirits” (v. 13). In other words, they are spirits of the demonic type, not of the angelic kind. These unclean spirits do things (“working miracles,” etc.) that only apply to living beings.

There is one last spirit mentioned in Revelation:

REVELATION 11:11 Then after the three and a half days, the spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood on their feet; and great fear fell upon those who were watching them.

The phrase “spirit of life” denotes a function and purpose; that is, it is not specifically a title. It should not be capitalized as it is in the KJV. It is from God who utilizes it to restore life to the two dead witnesses. It is, in fact, a reference to the Holy Spirit as exercised by God. This is clear in the following scripture:

2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 Who also made us competent as ministers of the New Covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the [Holy] Spirit gives life.

The Spirit of Life will be discussed in depth in another section.

The Holy Spirit Slighted By the Apostles?

If the Holy Spirit were a living being and member of the Elohim Godhead as suggested by Trinitarianism, it is entirely without authority while possessing great power as discussed previously. However, nothing compares to the utter disrespect that arises when considering that NONE of the NT authors—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, James, Jude, and Paul—acknowledge the Holy Spirit when conveying greetings to their audience from God the Father and Jesus Christ. If the Holy Spirit is a living being, it is outright disrespected in at least 17 places where protocol dictates it should otherwise be recognized:

1) Romans 1:7-8

2) 1 Corinthians 1:3

3) 2 Corinthians 1:2

4) Galatians 1:3

5) Ephesians 1:2

6) Philippians 1:2

7) Colossians 1:2

8) 1 Thessalonians 1:1

9) 1 Thessalonians 1:2

10) 1 Timothy 1:2

11) 2 Timothy 1:2

12) Titus 1:2

13) Philemon 1:3

14) James 1:1

15) 1 Peter 1:3

16) 2 Peter 1:1-2

17) 2 John 1:3

This might happen in one or two instances, but how is it possible that all greetings written by every author of the NT writings omit any recognition of the Holy Spirit? This is only conscionable if the Holy Spirit is not a living being deserving of honor and respect.

The Genesis Creation

Another indication that the Holy Spirit is the power of God is established in Genesis 1:

GENESIS 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The phrase “Spirit of God” is a moniker for the Holy Spirit as established in Genesis 41:38 et al. The Holy Spirit was clearly involved during the reformation of the earth (v. 2)—it obviously had a part in creating light, darkness, stars, sky, land, plants, fish, animals, birds, insects, and, of course, man. In fact, Psalms confirms that the Holy Spirit was used to create all that is:

PSALM 33:6 By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath [i.e., Holy Spirit] of His mouth.

PSALM 104:30 You send forth Your [Holy] Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the earth.

If the Holy Spirit were other than the power of God—that is, it is a living being that helped establish everything on the earth—then God, at best, never recognizes the work of the Holy Spirit. At the worst, it makes God a liar because Scripture clearly states that the entirety of the heavens and earth was created solely by Jesus Christ:

JOHN 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him [Jesus Christ], and not even one thing that was created came into being without Him.

If it were a living being, the Bible fails to attribute any part of the creation to the Holy Spirit; so God lied when claiming Jesus Christ alone was accountable. If that is true, then the Bible is clearly fraudulent.

However, God is incapable of lying[28]; therefore, the only conclusion is that the Holy Spirit cannot be a living being. If it is instead the power of God by which He accomplished all that was created in Genesis, then there is no reason to recognize the involvement of the Holy Spirit. Attributing any part of the creation to the Holy Spirit would be silly at best; rather like saying, “John and his truck went to the store.” The truck had no purpose or desire to go to the store because it is not a living being. The truck was merely the means of getting there. It is, therefore, entirely appropriate and correct that the Bible omits the involvement of the Holy Spirit in the creation, only giving credit to Jesus Christ, because it is not a living being any more than a truck.

CHAPTER 4

The Spirit of the Breath of Life & Spirit of Man

Two spirits in the Bible that are generally not understood are the spirit of the breath of life and the Spirit of Man. Solomon mentions them in Ecclesiastes:

ECCLESIASTES 3:18-21 I said in my heart, “Concerning the matter of the sons of men, may God reveal to them, that they might see, that they themselves are but beasts.” 19 For that which happens to the sons of men also happens to beasts—even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so dies the other; yea, they all have one breath [of life]; so that a man has no advantage over a beast; for all is vanity. 20 All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all return to dust again. 21 Who knows the spirit of man whether it goes upward, and the spirit of the beast whether it goes downward to the earth?

Breath and spirit are both rendered from the same Hebrew word ruwach, but scriptural context is required for the correct translation. Verse 19 says both man and beast breathe (intake) air. At the time of death, the breathing ceases and the physical body turns to “dust”; that is, decomposes. This is what Solomon meant when he said that the spirit of the breath of life goes “downward to the earth.” Here, ruwach is obviously the breath of life because it is common to all physical creatures.

On the other hand, the Spirit of Man “goes upward” upon death. What did he mean? Upon death, the spirit of the breath of life ceases to exist; however, the Spirit of Man does not perish but returns to God, something also understood by Solomon:

ECCLESIASTES 12:7 And the dust [of our bodies] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit [of man] returns to God who gave it.

Animals obviously do not have this spirit; otherwise, it would not be called the “spirit of man.” If animals do not have this spirit and it is something every human receives from God, it cannot be the same as the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit is not given to everyone; only true believers[29]. What animals do have is the Breath of Life—also called the Spirit of the Beast—that instills them with primitive thought and awareness.

What is the purpose of the Spirit of Man? While some animals have some capacity to think or reason, they do not possess the ability to discern moral right and wrong. They also cannot contemplate eternity nor have a desire to “find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) as is true with mankind. While they have physical brains, animals are incapable of spiritual awareness, moral discrimination, or any concept of physical death and spiritual eternity. Basically, animals do not have a “soul.” This capacity is the result of the Spirit in Man, which is what differentiates man from beast. 1 Corinthians 2:11 makes this plain: “For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man which is in him?.” Where does this spirit come from?

ZECHARIAH 12:1 … Thus says the LORD, who stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.

The Spirit of Man is not the same as the Holy Spirit—they are completely different. The full text of 1 Corinthians 2:11 makes this clear by defining the purpose of both spirits: “For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man which is in him? In the same way also, the things of God no one understands except by the [Holy] Spirit of God.”

The Spirit of Man, while it is unique to each of us, only gives us a physical and mental perception that sets us apart from animals. In contrast, the Holy Spirit takes us beyond the physical to a spiritual awareness.

Another difference with the Holy Spirit is that the Spirit of Man is not eternal. Notice what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no work, nor plan, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave where you go.” Solomon makes it clear that death is a state of oblivion; so the spirit of man, though it returns to God from whence it came, cannot be eternal. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit is the power of God and is also eternal[30] because it comes from God who is eternal.

The Spirit of Life

Sometimes the Bible uses more than one name for someone or something. God the Father and Jesus Christ are known by many names and, likewise, the Holy Spirit is variously called the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ, Spirit of Truth, and a Comforter. But when it is referred to as the Spirit of Life, does that mean it has life within itself? Paul explains perfectly why it is called the Spirit of Life in these scriptures:

ROMANS 8:2, 6, 10 Because the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has delivered me from the law of sin and death. … 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, … 10 But if Christ be within you, the body is indeed dead because of sin; however, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

First of all, note that the Spirit of Life was in Jesus Christ; so it is referring to the Holy Spirit since He had it without measure[31]. Paul also calls it the “Spirit of life” because it is in those who are righteous (v. 10). Who are the righteous? Those who keep the commandments of God[32]. Obviously, Jesus Christ was the premier example of righteousness because He led a completely sinless life!

So why is the Holy Spirit (eternal) life for those who are righteous? Because God not only resurrected Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, but He will also resurrect the mortal saints the same way:

ROMANS 8:11 Now if the Spirit of Him [God] Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies because of His Spirit that dwells within you.

Still, the question of whether the phrase “Spirit of life” presupposes that the Holy Spirit is a living entity needs to be addressed. Consider this scripture:

2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 Who also made us competent as ministers of the New Covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Is the phrase “the Spirit gives life” an indication that the Holy Spirit consciously imparts life or is it the means of doing so? In other words, one might say “I am flying to Los Angeles” or “I am traveling by jet to Los Angeles.” The former implies the person is capable of flight while the latter specifically identifies an aircraft as the vehicle. The answer to whether the spirit gives life of its own accord lies in this scripture:

JOHN 5:21 For even as the Father raises the dead and gives life, in the same way also, the Son gives life to whom He will.

John records that it is God the Father and Jesus Christ who are the sources of eternal life—with no mention of the Holy Spirit having a decision in the matter. In fact, Jesus unequivocally states that no one will have eternal life who does not go through Him:

JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

If God the Father and Jesus Christ are exclusive authors of eternal life, then the Holy Spirit is simply the means by which it is given. This is no different than when the Bible says the Holy Spirit teaches or reveals things. As with those situations, it is still God the Father and Jesus Christ who are the source of life.

The Holy Spirit is God’s power. It was the means of begetting the physical life of Jesus Christ within Mary and it was the power by which Jesus Christ was resurrected to eternal life again. In the same manner, it is the power by which God will resurrect people to eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is Power

Many scriptures have been rationally and truthfully examined that refute the idea of the Holy Spirit being a living entity; however, God clearly tells us what the Holy Spirit is in very simple terms:

2 TIMOTHY 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound-mindedness.

Paul is very direct and to the point without his usual poetic style. Simply stated, the Holy Spirit is the power of God, not a living being. Power is the Greek word dunamis, which means force, strength, ability. The OT confirms this as well:

MICAH 3:8 But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.

The Holy Spirit is never personified anywhere in the Bible except figuratively or in a metaphor. While other spiritual living beings are described as powerful (especially as compared to humans) the Holy Spirit is distinct in that it is called a spirit of power—for the simple reason that it is the power of God and not a life form.

One Holy Spirit

As the link between God the Father and Jesus Christ and all of the saints, the Holy Spirit is simultaneously in many at once, even though it is the one spirit that is common among all to whom it is given:

EPHESIANS 2:18 For through Him we both have direct access by one Spirit to the Father.

By this we also know that the Holy Spirit is not a reference to multiple, independent spirit entities because “one spirit” means, unsurprisingly, that the Holy Spirit is a singular quantity; i.e., one. Again:

EPHESIANS 4:4 There is one body [the Church] and one Spirit, even as you were also called in one hope of your calling.

Unlike living beings, the Holy Spirit exists within many people simultaneously. The importance of this point cannot be overlooked because no living being, physical or spiritual, ever exists except as a singular entity. Stated another way, no living being is ever distributed or dispersed outside of a specific and unique body (whether physical or spiritual). There is no question that the Holy Spirit is concurrently in many saints, thus confirming it cannot be a living being.

The Holy Spirit Is Not God

To be a part of the Elohim Godhead consisting of God the Father and Jesus Christ requires a title and position equal with God. Speaking of Jesus Christ who was called the Word (Gk. Logos), John said, “the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). There is no similar biblical statement that the Holy Spirit is God. This is, perhaps, one of the great proofs against Trinitarianism. The Bible is quite clear that the Elohim Godhead includes God the Father and Jesus Christ; but it nowhere includes the Holy Spirit in that Godhead.

If the Holy Spirit is a part of the Elohim Godhead, then it would have to be God. Then, failure of the Bible to disclose the membership of the Holy Spirit would be a blasphemous omission. Those who believe in a triune Godhead must surely admit this; if not, they have no other recourse than to consider that the Bible is a corrupt manuscript.

The fact that the Holy Spirit is never a confirmed member of the Elohim Godhead is a condemnation of a Trinity and conclusive proof that it is simply the power of God.

The Spirit of the World

There is one last spirit discussed in the Bible:

1 CORINTHIANS 2:12 Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is of God, so that we might know the things graciously given to us by God;

The spirit of the world is not a living being; but it is, in some regards, similar to the Holy Spirit—it is an influence on the world, but the source of it is Satan and the demons.

EPHESIANS 2:2 In which you walked in times past according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now working within the children of disobedience.

1 TIMOTHY 4:1 Now the [Holy] Spirit tells us explicitly that in the latter times some shall apostatize from the faith, and shall follow deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

As spirit beings, Satan and the demons have the power to influence physical humans with their own thoughts and emotions. They can play upon the lusts, greed, and covetousness of carnal human minds through temptations, music, physical pleasures, and the influences of wicked people. By the means of the prince of the power of the air, they can project their thoughts into human beings either through our physical senses or by direct spiritual intervention. Those without the Holy Spirit are especially susceptible to their persuasions because the carnal mind is blinded:

2 CORINTHIANS 4:4 In whom the god of this age [Satan] has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The Spirit of the World is none other than the influence, pressure, and manipulation of the people of this world by Satan and the demons who hate God and His plan for the salvation of mankind.

CHAPTER 5

Prayer Is to God, Not the Holy Spirit

Prayers of the saints are kept in golden bowls mixed with sweet smelling incense and tended to by those who are before the throne of the Most High God[33]. Supplications to our Father in heaven are, above all else we do in this life, precious to Him. They are a reflection of our heart and mind—whether we offer worship, thanksgiving, praise, joy; or we are enduring sorrows, neediness, sufferings, trials, temptations; or when in need of forgiveness, fellowship, comfort, strength, understanding, wisdom.

While Jesus Christ was on the earth, the disciples could ask whatsoever they required of Him directly; but all that changed after His resurrection. Paul said that “we should come with boldness to the [God’s] throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). So now our prayers are directed to God Himself.

Even so, it is most interesting to note that prayer is never directed to the Holy Spirit or asked in the authority of its name (as is the case with the name of Jesus Christ[34]). Thus, if it were a living being, it is once again excluded from all that pertains to the Elohim Godhead. We pray in (Gk. en = in, with, by) the spirit[35]; as explained earlier, this is describing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the means by which God examines our hearts[36]. It is not a living being but merely the power of God that spiritually links us together.

Father of Jesus Christ

LUKE 1:31, 34-35 And behold, you shall conceive in your womb and give birth to a son; and you shall call His name Jesus. … 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” 35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; and for this reason, the Holy One being begotten in you shall be called the Son of God.”

Mary was impregnated by God the Father using His Holy Spirit of power to accomplish it. If the Holy Spirit were a living being, God could plainly not be the legitimate father of Jesus. However, Jesus Christ Himself proclaimed God to be His father, as is recorded over fifty times in the Bible.

Jesus also plainly said “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30), but nowhere in the Bible did He acknowledge the Holy Spirit as being His father—or Him being “one” with it. In a similar manner, God calls Jesus Christ His son:

LUKE 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in a bodily form like a dove; and there came a voice from heaven, saying, "You [Jesus Christ] are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."

Furthermore, Jesus Christ only ever prayed to God His Father—never to the Holy Spirit. While the Holy Spirit was the power by which Mary came to be with child, it is never acknowledged by Jesus Christ as a living being—much less equal with God, both of which would have to be true to support a Trinity.

If the Holy Spirit is a living being equal to God who impregnated Mary, Jesus Christ would by all rights have to be the Son of the Holy Spirit. While God could have adopted Jesus as His Son after His birth, this is refuted by Scripture, which says Jesus was “begotten of the Father”[37] and “the only begotten son” of God[38]. Importantly, if God was the adoptive father of Jesus, the Bible could not say Jesus Christ was begotten by God. For God to have begotten Jesus Christ through Mary, the Holy Spirit cannot be a living being, leaving the only possible explanation that it is the power of God as clearly proclaimed by the angel Gabriel:

LUKE 1:35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you; and for this reason, the Holy One [Jesus] being begotten in you shall be called the Son of God.

In particular, notice that the angel refers to the Holy Spirit as the “power of the Highest.” Moreover, for Jesus to be called the son of God, the Highest must be God the Father. There can be no question that the Holy Spirit is the power of God. This scripture absolutely refutes the idea of the Holy Spirit as a living being and, hence, the existence of a Trinity.

Saints Begotten by God Using the Holy Spirit

The saints are called the children of God[39] because they are begotten by Him. Obviously, any man who begets a child is the father, so God is the father of all those He has begotten and He is named as such over 200 times in the NT. In fact, God is referred to as our Father more than any other name!

1 JOHN 3:9 Everyone who has been begotten by God does not practice sin because His [God’s] seed of begettal is dwelling within him [the Holy Spirit], and he is not able to practice sin because he has been begotten by God.

Only the Holy Spirit from God is dwelling within us[40] so the seed of our begettal by God is the Holy Spirit. The word seed is the Greek word sperma and sperm, by itself, is not a living being—it must be conjoined with the egg of a woman to become a living being. As was the case with the begettal of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit cannot be a living being because God could not then be our Father.

Jesus Christ Is the ONLY Savior

Jesus’ role as our savior in God’s plan of salvation is unique in all the world because He was eternal God before His physical manifestation. This renders his sacrifice as much greater than that of any other being because He created all things. In that regard:

ACTS 4:10, 12 Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean, Whom you crucified, but Whom God has raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole. … 12 And there is no salvation in any other [name], for neither is there another name under heaven which has been given among men, by which we must be saved.

In accordance with His stature as God, Jesus Christ is the only name by “which we must be saved.” However, even though He was physical He was filled with the Holy Spirit:

JOHN 3:34 For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God; and God gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him [Jesus Christ].

If the Holy Spirit is a living being, then how can it be that Jesus Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit and yet is the only name given for salvation? The Holy Spirit was in Jesus Christ without measure. Measure means a portion, so the fullness of the Holy Spirit was in Him. This is important because Jesus had the full measure of the Holy Spirit throughout His life, suffering, and death. If the Holy Spirit is a living being, should not there be two names by which men are saved? Obviously, that contradicts plain scripture; therefore, the Holy Spirit is clearly not a living being.

This is further substantiated by the fact that God Himself resurrected Jesus using His Holy Spirit:

ROMANS 8:11 Now if the Spirit of Him [God the Father] Who raised Jesus from the dead is dwelling within you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also quicken your mortal bodies because of His Spirit that dwells within you.

If the Holy Spirit is a living being and Jesus Christ was filled with it, then why was God involved in raising Jesus from the dead? Why did the Holy Spirit not just perform the task after three days and three nights? If it were a member of the Elohim Godhead, was it waiting for God’s command? Clearly, Jesus Christ was not raised by the Holy Spirit, but by God the Father, using His power called the Holy Spirit.

God, Christ, & Living Spirits Are Indivisible Beings—The Holy Spirit Is Not

God the Father and Jesus Christ are singular beings. In other words, they exist in only one place at a given moment in time. We never read of Jesus being in heaven and on the earth at the same time. This is true even when Jesus Christ was on the cross.

MATTHEW 27:46 And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” That is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

God separated Himself from Jesus Christ just before His death when the sins of the world were put upon Him. God could not be touched with sin, so Jesus Christ had to singlehandedly bear the sins of the world in order to be the sacrifice for our sins. This establishes that Jesus Christ was fully human and separated from God from that time until His resurrection—there was not a part of Him in heaven and a part on earth.

Additional proof lies in the fact that Jesus prayed solely to His Father. If a part of Him were in heaven during His life on this earth, He could speak directly with the Father without prayer. Praying only makes sense if Jesus was on the earth and not in the very presence of God the Father in heaven.

There is only “one God the Father … and one Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 8:6) and Jesus clearly stated that His life was independent of God the Father:

JOHN 10:17-18 On account of this, the Father loves Me: because I lay down My life, that I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have authority to lay it down and authority to receive it back again. This commandment I received from My Father.

Jesus did not say “I lay down our life,” which would have been required if He was part of a so-called Trinity consciousness. Understanding that all living beings have independent life forms and singular consciousnesses is crucial to recognizing that the Holy Spirit is not a living being.

DEFINITION: A living being is an individual and singular life form with unique consciousness and independent thoughts.

God, Jesus Christ, living spirits, and demons are all spirit and all living beings; as such, each exists as a singular life form (“body”) with unique and independent awareness that is separate from all other beings.

The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, is the only spirit that is simultaneously in God and in Jesus Christ and in all those to whom it has been given. If it was a living being, its consciousness would be dispersed and divided, which violates the very definition of a singular life form.

Demons can only possess a single person at a time because they are distinct, solitary beings. Whether physical or spiritual, any conscious living being is a singular entity. The fact that the Holy Spirit exists in numerous saints at the same time means it cannot be anything other than the power of God. Just as electricity is distributed to many homes, the power of God in the form of the Holy Spirit is given to multiple people.

Elohim Is Two—God the Father & Jesus Christ

If the Holy Spirit is a living being, then it is clearly disparaged in the Bible, which only mentions two members of the Elohim Godhead:

PSALMS 110:1 The LORD [Jehovah = God the Father] said unto my Lord [Adon = Jesus Christ], “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies as Your footstool.”

DANIEL 7:13 I saw visions in the night and, behold, One like the Son of man [Jesus Christ] came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days [God the Father], and they brought Him near before Him.

JOHN 1:1-2, 14 In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. … 14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we ourselves beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten with the Father), full of grace and truth.

JOHN 17:21-22 That they all may be one, even as [we are one as] You, Father, are in Me [Jesus Christ], and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, in order that the world may believe that You did send Me. 22 And I have given them the glory that You gave to Me, in order that they may be one, in the same way that We are one.

If the Holy Spirit is a member of the Elohim Godhead, then why are there absolutely no scriptures that mention it having a divine position along with God the Father and Jesus Christ? Failure to acknowledge the Holy Spirit, if that were the case, would be blasphemous or profane. Throughout the Bible, God the Father fully recognizes the Word of God as the incarnate Jesus Christ—His existence, His divine nature, His purpose, and His work. Likewise, Jesus Christ acknowledges God the Father as the Supreme Deity and the Great King who is establishing His Kingdom over all life and throughout the universe. Nothing is ever attributed to the Holy Spirit—not divinity, position, responsibility, or authority.

While John 17:21-22 confirms that there will be many members of God’s family, it never mentions the Holy Spirit. It is never called God nor included with the family of God. It is entirely absent as a part of the Elohim Godhead, as the children of God, or as having any position or title as a living being. In that regard, earthly kings are at times given more honor by God than the Holy Spirit.

CHAPTER 6

Heirs of God & Jesus Christ

As begotten children of God, the saints are heirs with Jesus Christ of an incredible inheritance:

ROMANS 8:17-19 Now if we are children, we are also heirs—truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer together with Him, so that we may also be glorified together with Him. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation itself is awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God.

In all cultures a natural child is always an automatic heir of the parents. For that not to happen requires legal intervention by the parents. The saints are called heirs of God because they are His children and the Bible clearly states that this is through the act of spiritual begettal, not adoption or other legal intercession. They are also joint heirs with Jesus because He is the firstborn Son, which establishes the saints as brothers and sisters[41].

What is the inheritance? Eternal life in the Kingdom of God[42]! As the firstborn Son of God, Jesus Christ is the primary inheritor of His Father, but notice the extent of His inheritance:

HEBREWS 1:1-2 God, Who spoke to the fathers at different times in the past and in many ways by the prophets, has spoken to us in these last days by His Son, 2 Whom He has appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the ages.

The saints are co-inheritors with Jesus Christ of all things. The Holy Spirit, however, neither gives an inheritance nor is anywhere included in any inheritance. This means that, according to Trinitarians, the Holy Spirit is excluded from all things in the Kingdom that is yet to come. If the Holy Spirit is a living being, then this is more than a slight—for it excludes it from having any part in the Kingdom of God.

Fellowship With God & Jesus Christ

If the Holy Spirit were a member of the Elohim Godhead, would the saints not have a relationship with it as is the case with God the Father and Jesus Christ?

1 JOHN 1:3 That which we have seen and have heard we are reporting to you in order that you also may have fellowship with us; for the fellowship—indeed, our fellowship—is with the Father and with His own Son, Jesus Christ.

The Bible never mentions having fellowship with the Holy Spirit; only with God the Father and Jesus Christ. It makes no sense whatsoever that there is no fellowship with the Holy Spirit for all of eternity if the Holy Spirit is a living being. Excluding the Holy Spirit for all eternity would be similar to condemning Satan to the abyss forever. Fellowship only occurs between living beings; thus the Holy Spirit is simply the power of God.

Baptism

Many have stumbled with the command of Jesus Christ to make disciples of all nations according to the “formula” for baptism:

MATTHEW 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them into [Gk. eis] the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit;

Notice, first of all, that a person is baptized into the name of God the Father but not into the name of Jesus Christ—as many assume. This distinction is specifically noted in one of the most well-known scriptures in the Bible:

ACTS 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized each one of you in [Gk. epi] the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you yourselves shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

While the difference is subtle in the English, into used in Matthew 28:19 is the Greek word eis, whereas in used in Acts 2:38 is the Greek word epi. These do not have the same meaning: eis means into indicating a destination, whereas epi means in and denotes a state. The phrase “into the name” indicates that a person is given a new name, which, in the case of baptism, would be the name of God the Father[43]. The phrase “in the name of” means something is done in, or by, the authority of another. This is confirmed in the verse prior to Matthew 28:19:

MATTHEW 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples in all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the [authority of the] Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The authority of Jesus Christ is an important matter because “neither is there another name [authority] under heaven which has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). He is only the sacrifice for sins.

This process establishes those who are baptized as begotten children of God through the sealing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, done in the authority of Jesus Christ who was the sacrificial Lamb for our sins. It is also brings the believer into the name of God the Father, whereby they receive His name.

The purpose for including the Holy Spirit in the baptism ceremony is plain, since baptism is required to become a child of God. Carefully take note of this scripture:

2 CORINTHIANS 1:21-22 But He Who establishes us with you in Christ, and Who has anointed us, is God, 22 Who has also sealed us [with the Holy Spirit] and has given the earnest of the [Holy] Spirit in our hearts.

We are sealed by God when we receive the Holy Spirit, but it is also the earnest or down payment of eternal life, which is why it is also called the Spirit of Life (discussed previously). Knowing the purpose of the Holy Spirit in baptism clearly shows that it is not the name of a living being invoked in the ritual.

Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is called the “unpardonable sin.” Read the words of Jesus Christ:

MATTHEW 12:31-32 Because of this, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven to men except the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; that shall not be forgiven to men. 32 And whoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this age nor in the coming age.

This is a scripture that has caused much consternation regarding the Holy Spirit because it says that someone who blasphemes Jesus can be forgiven, but blasphemy directed toward the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. In the minds of many, this establishes the Holy Spirit as a living being; however, this perspective is mainly due to misunderstanding the relationship between Father and Christ, the reason the Holy Spirit is given to a person, and judgment.

First of all, notice who gives the Holy Spirit to someone:

JOHN 14:26 But when the Comforter comes, even the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in My [Jesus Christ’s] name, that one shall teach you all things, and shall bring to your remembrance everything that I have told you.

When someone repents of their sins against God and is baptized, God then gives the Holy Spirit to be within them through the laying on of the hands of a minister. Through this miraculous act, God begets the person with the Holy Spirit to become one of His children. The Holy Spirit is the means by which the saints have the mind of Jesus Christ working in them.

Prior to this, a person’s state of mind is contrary to God. In fact, “the carnal [human] mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God; neither indeed can it be” (Romans 8:7). Enmity simply means hostile. One who is hostile is easily capable of blaspheming God the Father or Jesus Christ; however, once called by God there is a choice to be made—and it is life or death.

If a person repents of sinning, starts keeping the Law of God, is baptized, and receives the Holy Spirit, God is then willing to forgive those sins—including blasphemy against Himself or Jesus Christ because He extends His mercy in light of our blindness and ignorance.

On the other hand, when someone rejects the Holy Spirit, God likewise rejects that person. Refusing the Holy Spirit disallows and prevents any relationship with God, which is only possible if the Holy Spirit dwells within someone. In other words, God forgives the sins of those who accept the Holy Spirit because they were blinded and deceived; but those who refuse the Holy Spirit absolutely reject any relationship with God and eternal life in His family. Therefore, blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin.

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit is essentially refusing to lead a life that is according to the Law of God or to allow God to forgive their sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This is why “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit” is the unpardonable sin; not because the Holy Spirit is a living being, but such an attitude absolutely rejects God as King and Father, and Jesus Christ as Lord and Master.

CHAPTER 7

Conclusion

The Holy Spirit is unique among all the spirits mentioned in the Bible:

· It is the only spirit called the power (not authority) of God.

· It is the only spirit called holy because it comes from God who is holy.

· It is the spiritual seed of our begettal by God.

· It is the only spirit that is divisible among many people.

· It is the only spirit sent by God to abide in people.

· It is the only spirit linked with the mind of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

· It guides our minds but does not possess (like demons).

· It is never acknowledged as a living being by God the Father, Jesus Christ, the angels, or any of the apostles.

Physical mankind exists for one reason—for God to create a family of eternal, spiritual children; and the Holy Spirit is given to us by God to fulfill that purpose:

ROMANS 8:17-19 Now if we are children, we are also heirs—truly, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer together with Him, so that we may also be glorified together with Him. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation itself is awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God.

The Holy Spirit is the spiritual seed by which a human is begotten by God, enabling people to live in the flesh and yet become spiritual children of God. That same spirit working in us gives us the power to overcome temptations and evil. The false belief of the Trinity that the Holy Spirit is a living being is unquestionably contrary to the entirety of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit is simply the mechanism for, and projection of, His power, will, and love. Those who have the Holy Spirit within them have received the greatest gift—it the power by which God will change them so they become the eternal children of God in the resurrection.

[1] Hebrew masculine plural noun usually translated God. It substantiates that the Godhead consists of more than one being. Refer to Genesis 1:1.

[2] Luke 1:35; 2 Timothy 1;7.

[3] 2 Timothy 3:15.

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity.

[5] Colossians 2:8.

[6] Acts 17:10-11.

[7] Isaiah 28:10, 13.

[8] Especially the Koine Greek in which the NT was composed.

[9] Jude 1:9; Mark 3:26.

[10] John 5:37.

[11] 2 Timothy 3:16.

[12] Deuteronomy 6:1-9.

[13] John 1:29; 1 John 2:2.

[14] Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29; Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2

[15] John 15:26.

[16] Genesis 28:16-19; 35:9-15.

[17] Exodus 28:41.

[18] Leviticus 14:15-18; James 5:14

[19] Romans 13:1; Jude 1:25.

[20] Matthew 28:18

[21] Revelation 18:1.

[22] Acts 26:18; Luke 4:6.

[23] Matthew 8:9; Matthew 10:1; Romans 13:1-5.

[24] Matthew 5:35.

[25] Also John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7.

[26] For more information, refer to Appendix K—Exegesis for the Translation of the Phrase “the Holy Spirit” as Antecedent in John 14, 15, and 16, available for download at https://www.cbcg.org.

[27] John 3:4.

[28] John 17:17; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18.

[29] John 7:39; 14:17.

[30] Hebrews 9:14.

[31] John 3:34.

[32] Psalm 119:172; Luke 1:6.

[33] Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4.

[34] John 14:13-14; John 15:16; John 16:23-24, 27.

[35] Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20-21.

[36] John 14:16-17, 26.

[37] John 1:14; Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5, 5:5.

[38] John 1:18, 3:16, 3:18; 1 John 4:9.

[39] 1 John 3:1-2.

[40] John 14:17.

[41] Hebrews 2:11.

[42] Titus 3:7; James 2:5.

[43] Revelation 14:1.

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The Holy Spirit – The Power of God