[Marc]

Hey!

The passage I employ to demonstrate the deity of the Holy Spirit is 1 Corinthians 2:10, 11 where it states that He has an omniscient mind (God).

The Jehovah's Witnesses state that the Holy Spirit is simply a force and not a personal being. They will point out that He is referred to as an "it" in Romans 8:26 (KJV). However, they are not really being consistent for they readily accept the personality of the demonic spirits but refuse to accept the personality of the Holy Spirit.

1. The Spirit the Holy (to pneuma to hagion) Acts 28:25
The spirit the unclean (tw pneumati tw akathartw) Mark 9:25
The spirit the evil (ta pneuma ta poneron) Acts 19:12, 13, 15-16

Just as the wicked spirits are real personal beings so too the Holy Spirit is a real personal being. If they are going to deny the personality of the Holy Spirit then why don't they deny the personality of the evil spirits. Likewise since they affirm the personality of the evil spirits they should do the same with the Holy Spirit.

2. In terms of the word "it" even the unclean spirits are referred to as an "it" in Luke 8:29 and Acts 16:18. Does that mean they are nonpersonal beings as well? In fact, even in the New World's Translation the Lord Jesus is referred to as an "it" in Matthew 2:13. Would they affirm that the Lord Jesus is a nonpersonal being?

Thank you
- Marc

[m273p15c]

Here are a few more verses that associate both personal and divine characteristics with the Holy Spirit:

1. He is equal with the Father and the Son
   1. He is spoken of as an equal by Jesus (Matthew 28:18)
      
   2. Jesus labels Him as a comforter equal to Himself ("another" - John 14:6)
      
   3. His name is used interchangeably with the name of God (compare Acts 5:3 with Acts 5:4 and Matthew 12:28 with Luke 11:20).
2. He posses all of the qualities attributes of deity, or Godhead
   1. Eternal - transcends or exists beyond space and time (Hebrews 9:14)
      
   2. Omnipresent - everywhere at the same time (Psalm 139:7-12; I Corinthians 6:19)
      
   3. Omniscient - knows everything (I Corinthians 2:10-11; John 16:13-14)
      
   4. Omnipotent - all powerful; works only what God can do
      1. Creates - Genesis 1:1; Job 26:13; Psalm 104:30
         
      2. Works miracles - Matthew 12:28; I Corinthians 12:8-11
         
      3. Through Him Christ offered Himself - Hebrews 9:14
         
      4. The Father by the Holy Spirit raised Christ from the dead - Romans 8:11
3. He is a an equal but separate being to and from the Father and Son
   1. Spoken by Jesus as equal but yet distinct (Matthew 28:18)
      
   2. Separate presence at the baptism of Jesus (as dove, but not voice or Jesus - Matthew 3:16)
      
   3. Mentioned distinctly apart from other members of the Godhead (Isaiah 48:16; Romans 15:30)
4. He manifests many attributes of a individual being, personality
   1. Has divine qualities of character
      1. Holiness (Hebrews 10:29)
         
      2. Grace (Hebrews 10:29)
         
      3. Goodness (Nehemiah 9:20)
         
      4. Truthful (John 16:13)
   2. Has attributes and actions of an individual personality
      1. Makes choices (Acts 16:7)
         
      2. Knows (I Corinthians 2:10-11)
         
      3. Wills (I Corinthians 12:11)
         
      4. Loves (Romans 15:30)
         
      5. Thinks (Acts 15:28)
         
      6. Speaks (I Timothy 4:1; Acts 13:2)
         
      7. Hears (John 16:13)
         
      8. Reproves or convicts (John 16:7-11)
         
      9. Leads (Matthew 4:1; Romans 8:14)
         
      10. Transports (Acts 8:39; Ezekiel 43:5)
          
      11. Teaches and reminds (John 14:26)
          
      12. Comforts (John 14:16; Acts 9:31)
          
      13. Strives with man (Genesis 6:3)
          
      14. Strengthens (Ephesians 3:16)
          
      15. Forbids (Acts 16:7)
          
      16. Consummates spiritual birth and gives life (John 3:6; Galatians 6:8)
          
      17. Testifies (John 15:26)
          
      18. Bears witness (Romans 8:16)
          
      19. Guides (John 16:12-13)
          
      20. Searches (I Corinthians 2:10)
          
      21. Bears fruit (Galatians 5:22)
          
      22. Gave 9 miraculous gifts (I Corinthians 12:4-11)
          
      23. Fills and dwells in men (Luke 1:15; Acts 2:4; John 14:17)
          
      24. Gives life (II Corinthians 3:6)
          
      25. Communes (II Corinthians 13:14)
          
      26. Can be received (Acts 19:2) and resisted (Acts 7:51)
   3. Has emotional qualities
      1. Grief (Ephesians 4:30)
         
      2. Vexation (Isaiah 63:10)
         
      3. Able to be quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19)
         
      4. Able to be lied to (Acts 5:3)
         
      5. Able to be blasphemed (Matthew 12:31)

If the Holy Spirit manifests all the characteristics of deith and personality, then He is divine, and He is a person. If not, why not?

I believe the above points are applicable to the doctrine taught by Holinists and other Pentecostal groups, who likewise believe the Holy Spirit is nothing more than an impersonal force, emanating from the Father - neither a person nor divine.