Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit?

1. 60

   madmachioposted 13 years ago

   Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit?
   
   How do you prefer to call the Third Person of God?

   replyreport
2. 77

   MarleneBposted 13 years ago

   I believe it is the same, but I prefer Holy Spirit!

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Dubuquedogtrainerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Agree - me too

      replyreport
3. 59

   MilesArmbrusterposted 13 years ago

   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.

   replyreport
4. 61

   glmclendonposted 13 years ago

   I think this is enterchangeable. I have wondered about this but you will find it is enterchangeable.

   replyreport
5. 76

   KrisLposted 13 years ago

   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.

   replyreport
6. 80

   blessedpposted 13 years ago

   I do use both, but never really thought about preference in using one over the other.

   replyreport