Holy Spirit in Christianity

This article is about the Christian view of the Holy Spirit. For the Holy Spirit in other religions, see Holy Spirit.
"Holy Ghost" redirects here. For other uses, see Holy Ghost (disambiguation).
Stained glass representation of the Holy Spirit as a dove, c. 1660
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For the majority of Christian denominations, the Holy Spirit, or Holy Ghost, is believed to be the third divine person of the Trinity,[1] a triune god manifested as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each being God.[2][3][4] Nontrinitarian Christians, who reject the doctrine of the Trinity, differ significantly from mainstream Christianity in their beliefs about the Holy Spirit. In Christian theology, pneumatology is the study of the Holy Spirit. Due to Christianity's historical relationship with Judaism, theologians often identify the Holy Spirit with the concept of the Ruach Hakodesh in Jewish scripture, on the theory that Jesus was expanding upon these Jewish concepts. Similar names, and ideas, include the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God), Ruach YHWH (Spirit of Yahweh), and the Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit).[5][6] In the New Testament the Holy Spirit is identified with the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, and the Paraclete (helper).[7][8][9]

The New Testament details a close relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus during his earthly life and ministry.[10] The Gospels of Matthew and Luke and the Nicene Creed state that Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary".[11] The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove during his baptism, and in his Farewell Discourse after the Last Supper, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples after his departure.[12][13]

The Holy Spirit is referred to as "the Lord, the Giver of Life" in the Nicene Creed, which summarises several key beliefs held by many Christian denominations. The participation of the Holy Spirit in the tripartite nature of conversion is apparent in Jesus' final post-resurrection instruction to his disciples at the end of the Gospel of Matthew,[14] "Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."[15] Since the first century, Christians have also called upon God with the trinitarian formula "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" in prayer, absolution and benediction.[16][17] In the book of the Acts of the Apostles the arrival of the Holy Spirit happens fifty days after the resurrection of the Christ, and is celebrated in Christendom with the feast of Pentecost.[18]

  1. ^ Emery, Gilles (2011). The Trinity: Jesus could not be God because God said I am not a man. 1 Samuel 15:29 And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have reqret. An Introduction to Catholic Doctrine on the Triune God. Catholic University of America Press. ISBN 978-0813218649.
  2. ^ Erickson, Millard J. (1992). Introducing Christian Doctrine. Baker Book House. p. 103.
  3. ^ Hammond, T. C. (1968). Wright, David F. (ed.). In Understanding be Men: A Handbook of Christian Doctrine (6th ed.). Inter-Varsity Press. pp. 54–56, 128–131.
  4. ^ Grudem, Wayne A. 1994. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press; Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan p. 226.
  5. ^ "Catechism of the Catholic Church – IntraText". www.vatican.va. nos. 711–712. Retrieved 2024-03-29.
  6. ^ Parsons, John. "Hebrew names for God". The Holy Spirit as revealed in the Brit Chadashah.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Millsxi was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Grabe, Petrus J. The Power of God in Paul's Letters 2008 ISBN 978-3161497193, pp. 248–249.
  9. ^ Spirit of Truth: The origins of Johannine pneumatology by John Breck 1990 ISBN 0881410810, pp. 1–5.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Scott208 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Erickson268 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference And442 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference quest was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Matthew 28:19
  15. ^ Lord, giver of life (Lona) by Jane Barter Moulaison (2006). ISBN 0889205019, p. 5.
  16. ^ Vickers, Jason E. Invocation and Assent: The Making and the Remaking of Trinitarian Theology. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2008. ISBN 0802862691, pp. 2–5.
  17. ^ The Cambridge Companion to the Trinity by Peter C. Phan 2011 ISBN 0521701139, pp. 3–4.
  18. ^ "Pentecost". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2017-06-03. Pentecost... major festival in the Christian church, celebrated on the Sunday that falls on the 50th day after Easter.