Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit?
How do you prefer to call the Third Person of God?
The church has traditionally used both, and for the most part, I understand that people are talking about the third person of the Godhead either way.
There are a few reasons why Holy Spirit might be better. Compare the following:
The reason that ghost works is that it is a reference to the contrast between something that is physical and something that is not physical. You can see the connection to the German word "geist" which means the non physical aspect of a person. Ironically, the closest synonym for the word ghost is "spirit." So, to say, Holy Ghost, you are talking about the person of the Godhead who is non-physical. (Of course, God the Father is not physical either.) The down side to the word ghost is its close connections with the mentality of Halloween and disembodied apparitions or spectres; people coming back from the dead.
On the other hand, our word Spirit comes from the Latin word "spirare" which means to breathe. The Bible uses two words to describe the Spirit; "ruah" in Hebrew, and "pneumatos" in Greek. Both of these words mean breath and are translated Spirit. The image here is that the Spirit is like the breath of God which gives life. It recalls the creative power of God who speaks and the world is there. You can also connect it to John 3, where Jesus describes the work of the Spirit as wind. The Spirit is mysterious, and because He is invisible, He is like the wind.
I think this is enterchangeable. I have wondered about this but you will find it is enterchangeable.
The reason for both existing is historical.
The 1611 King James Version of the Bible has "Holy Ghost" because that was how people refered to "spirits" then.
Luke: 1:35 "And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee" (KJV)
Later, "ghost" (as Miles said, German-family word, from the Anglo-Saxon) came to refer only to spirits of the dead, and "spirit" (a new, Latinate, word) to spiritual beings of all kinds, but the term "Holy Ghost" stuck around because it was in the only Bible English speakers read before the 20th century, and which is still beloved today.
Personally, I like them both, in different contexts.
I do use both, but never really thought about preference in using one over the other.
by Irfan 13 years ago
I'm interested to know more about the Holy Ghost ... I have nothing against the Holy Ghost but once i know more i may have extra questions... please try to reply with quality not quantity.thanks.
by thirdmillenium 14 years ago
This is not a repetition nor scam.My previous argument on the topic could not be augmented in time and so I am putting it up as a separate topic. Mr. Dave Mathews has misunderstood that I was hiding behind some esoteric argument.So here goes the...
by Arjumand01 14 years ago
WHERE DO THE CHRISTIANS GET TRINITY FROM?The bulk of Christendom believes that God is one but triune, an existence of three in one. They believe that the trinity comprises of the father, son and the holy ghost. These all three aren’t three different Gods but one. Let us...
by thirdmillenium 14 years ago
Nowhere does it say in the Bible that there is an entity with the nomenclature "holy Ghost". There are only the father, YHWH and the son Jesus. Holy spirit is a myth, in fact it is non-existent. Pray ONLY to YHWH and only through the proper channel : Jesus. Do NOT pray to...
by Andrew0208 16 years ago
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is 100% active in the body of Christ especially in the lives of believers. Who is He? He is a Spirit, He is the third Person of God head. How does He operate and His mission? How real? How do you relate and talk with Him? Acts 1:8 "But ye shall recieve...
by graceinus 9 years ago
No where in the bible that I know of does it state that we are to love the Holy Spirit, why not?I find it interesting that the bible does not inclued love towards the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is inclued when we are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy...
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