The Holy Spirit:
THE HOLY SPIRIT:
The Witness will agree that the Father and Son are persons, but not the Holy Spirit. They understand the "holy spirit" as an active force, which is an extension of the Father.
The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:26-27,34 NWT In like manner, the spirit also joins in with help for our weakness; for the problem is that we do not know what we should pray for as we need to, but the spirit itself pleads for us with unuttered groanings. 27 But the one who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in harmony with God for the holy ones.
The Spirit is pleading with God between us and God. He cannot be the Father or an extension of Him, for He is not pleading with Himself. The Spirit must be a separate person like Jesus Christ who “also pleads” (V.34)
Reinforce this point with: John 16:13. NWT. However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come.
NOTE: The Spirit hears what the Father tells Him. He then in turn “will guide YOU into all the truth”. Once again this is not the Father talking to Himself! The Spirit is a separate person.
Note the personal pronouns:
John 16:13. NWT. mentions the Spirit not speaking “of his own impulse”. The K.I.T. says “from himself”.
Acts 13:2 NWT. As they were ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: “Set aside for me Barʹna·bas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 10: 19-20. NWT. As Peter was still pondering over the vision, the spirit said: “Look! Three men are asking for you. 20 So get up, go downstairs and go with them, not doubting at all, because I have sent them.”
PERSONALITY OF THE SPIRIT:
A personality must have: • Emotion • Intellect • A Will
The Personality of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:26-27,34 NWT In like manner, the spirit also joins in with help for our weakness; for the problem is that we do not know what we should pray for as we need to, but the spirit itself pleads for us with unuttered groanings. 27 But the one who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in harmony with God for the holy ones.
The Spirit is pleading with God between us and God. He cannot be the Father or an extension of Him, for He is not pleading with Himself. The Spirit must be a separate person like Jesus Christ who “also pleads” (V.34)
Reinforce this point with: John 16:13. NWT. However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come.
NOTE: The Spirit hears what the Father tells Him. He then in turn “will guide YOU into all the truth”. Once again this is not the Father talking to Himself! The Spirit is a separate person.
Note the personal pronouns:
John 16:13. NWT. mentions the Spirit not speaking “of his own impulse”. The K.I.T. says “from himself”.
Acts 13:2 NWT. As they were ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: “Set aside for me Barʹna·bas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 10: 19-20. NWT. As Peter was still pondering over the vision, the spirit said: “Look! Three men are asking for you. 20 So get up, go downstairs and go with them, not doubting at all, because I have sent them.”
PERSONALITY OF THE SPIRIT:
A personality must have: • Emotion • Intellect • A Will
The Holy Spirit has all these:
1. A will: 1 Cor 12:11. NWT. But all these operations are performed by the very same spirit, distributing to each one respectively just as it wills.
2. Mind and Thoughts. Rom 8:27. NWT. But the one who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in harmony with God for the holy ones.
3. Intellect. 1 Cor.2:11. NWT. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God.
4. Love. Rom. 15:30. NWT. Now I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit, that you exert yourselves with me in prayers to God for me,
5. Fellowship. 2 Cor.13:14. NWT. The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the sharing in the holy spirit be with all of you.
6. Feelings. Eph. 4:30. NWT. Also, do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.
7. Talk and direct. Acts 8:29, 10:19. 13:2,4. So the spirit said to Philip: “Go over and approach this chariot.”
1. A will: 1 Cor 12:11. NWT. But all these operations are performed by the very same spirit, distributing to each one respectively just as it wills.
2. Mind and Thoughts. Rom 8:27. NWT. But the one who searches the hearts knows what the meaning of the spirit is, because it is pleading in harmony with God for the holy ones.
3. Intellect. 1 Cor.2:11. NWT. For who among men knows the things of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God.
4. Love. Rom. 15:30. NWT. Now I urge you, brothers, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the spirit, that you exert yourselves with me in prayers to God for me,
5. Fellowship. 2 Cor.13:14. NWT. The undeserved kindness of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the sharing in the holy spirit be with all of you.
6. Feelings. Eph. 4:30. NWT. Also, do not be grieving God’s holy spirit, with which you have been sealed for a day of releasing by ransom.
7. Talk and direct. Acts 8:29, 10:19. 13:2,4. So the spirit said to Philip: “Go over and approach this chariot.”
8. Forbid. Acts 16:6,7. NWT. Moreover, they travelled through Phrygʹi·a and the country of Ga·laʹti·a, because they were forbidden by the holy spirit to speak the word in the province of Asia. 7 Further, when they came down to Mysʹi·a, they made efforts to go into Bi·thynʹi·a, but the spirit of Jesus did not permit them.
9. Teach. John 14:16,18 16:13. NWT. However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come.
10. Comfort. John 14:16,18. NWT. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever,
11. Author Prophecy. 2 Pet. 1:21. NWT. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.
12. Give gifts. 1 Cor 12:1 -11. NWT. Wisdom through the spirit - knowledge according to the same spirit - faith by the same spirit - gifts of healing by that one spirit - to another prophesying - to another discernment - to another different tongues - to another interpretation of tongues.
The Holy Spirit can also be:
13. Tempted. Acts 5:9. NWT. So Peter said to her: “Why did you two agree to make a test of the spirit of Jehovah? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
9. Teach. John 14:16,18 16:13. NWT. However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come.
10. Comfort. John 14:16,18. NWT. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever,
11. Author Prophecy. 2 Pet. 1:21. NWT. For prophecy was at no time brought by man’s will, but men spoke from God as they were moved by holy spirit.
12. Give gifts. 1 Cor 12:1 -11. NWT. Wisdom through the spirit - knowledge according to the same spirit - faith by the same spirit - gifts of healing by that one spirit - to another prophesying - to another discernment - to another different tongues - to another interpretation of tongues.
The Holy Spirit can also be:
13. Tempted. Acts 5:9. NWT. So Peter said to her: “Why did you two agree to make a test of the spirit of Jehovah? Look! The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
14. Lied to. Acts 5:3,4. NWT. But Peter said: “An·a·niʹas, why has Satan emboldened you to lie to the holy spirit and secretly hold back some of the price of the field? 4 As long as it remained with you, did it not remain yours? And after it was sold, was it not in your control? Why have you thought up such a deed as this in your heart? You have lied, not to men, but to God.”
15. Grieved. lsa 63:10. NWT. NWT. But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit. He then turned into their enemy, And he fought against them.
16. Despised. Heb. 10:29. NWT. How much greater punishment do you think a person will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God and who has regarded as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt?
Having established that the Holy Spirit is a separate person proceed to the Deity of the Holy Spirit.
DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is God. Acts 5:3,4. NWT “..to play false to the holy spirit...? ...You have played false, not to men but to God.”
Acts 5:3,4.KJV ...lie to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men but to God.”
2. As Creator. Job 33:4:
(KJV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
(ASV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
(NWT) “God’s own spirit made me”
3. Is Eternal. Heb. 9:14
(KJV) “the eternal Spirit”
(ASV) “the eternal Spirit”
(NWT) “everlasting spirit”
4. Is Jehovah. 2Cor.3:17 (NWT) “Now Jehovah is the Spirit,..”
Matt.28:19(NWT) “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy spirit.”
The three share the same name! If the Father’s name is Jehovah then the Holy Spirit also shares this name.
15. Grieved. lsa 63:10. NWT. NWT. But they rebelled and grieved his holy spirit. He then turned into their enemy, And he fought against them.
16. Despised. Heb. 10:29. NWT. How much greater punishment do you think a person will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God and who has regarded as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and who has outraged the spirit of undeserved kindness with contempt?
Having established that the Holy Spirit is a separate person proceed to the Deity of the Holy Spirit.
DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
1. Is God. Acts 5:3,4. NWT “..to play false to the holy spirit...? ...You have played false, not to men but to God.”
Acts 5:3,4.KJV ...lie to the Holy Spirit... You have not lied to men but to God.”
2. As Creator. Job 33:4:
(KJV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
(ASV) “Spirit of God hath made me”
(NWT) “God’s own spirit made me”
3. Is Eternal. Heb. 9:14
(KJV) “the eternal Spirit”
(ASV) “the eternal Spirit”
(NWT) “everlasting spirit”
4. Is Jehovah. 2Cor.3:17 (NWT) “Now Jehovah is the Spirit,..”
Matt.28:19(NWT) “baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy spirit.”
The three share the same name! If the Father’s name is Jehovah then the Holy Spirit also shares this name.
5. Can Be Blasphemed Against.
Matt.12:31(NWT) “On this account I say to YOU, Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.”
This last text alone proves the Deity of the Holy Spirit, for one can only blaspheme against a person Who is Divine or God!
1 Cor.12:3 (NW) “... nobody can say: “Jesus is Lord!” except by holy spirit.”
The Watchtower believed the Holy Spirit and the Active Force are the same.
Interesting quotes below:
Matt.12:31(NWT) “On this account I say to YOU, Every sort of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the spirit will not be forgiven.”
This last text alone proves the Deity of the Holy Spirit, for one can only blaspheme against a person Who is Divine or God!
1 Cor.12:3 (NW) “... nobody can say: “Jesus is Lord!” except by holy spirit.”
The Watchtower believed the Holy Spirit and the Active Force are the same.
Interesting quotes below:
Note: In 1926 the Watchtower acknowledged the Holy Spirit as above but in 1993 they do not believe in the Holy Spirit as below.
