Is there a difference between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost?

Question

I'm just trying to find out if there is a difference or are they the same being?

Answer 1

Hope this helps. Thanks for the question, I didnt know either until I looked!


The differences are more linguistic than theological. Past versus present usage and the various languages which went into modern English create much of the muddle. English speakers now rarely use the traditional "Holy Ghost" which we learned from the Authorized (or "King James") Version of the Bible. The AV used "Spirit" in a few places, but these were rare. "Ghost" came.from the Old English ~gast~, related to the German ~geist~. ~Gast~ sneaks into modern English in "aghast" (be shocked, terrified, rendered breathless) and "flabbergast." The German ~Zeitgeist~directly entered English; it means "the spirit of the times."

With recent Scripture translations, "Spirit" replaces "Ghost" in most instances. Some of this came about because words don't always hold their meanings. In the days of Shakespeare or King James, ~ghost~ meant the living essence of a person. Looking back, we see that "breath" or "soul" were often used as synonyms of "ghost." During these times, ~spirit~ normally meant the essence of a departed person or a demonic or paranormal apparition.

Slowly, language changed. People started saying "ghost" when speaking of the vision of a dead person while "spirit" became the standard term for life or living essence, often also for "soul." With slight exceptions, "ghost" and "spirit" changed places over some 300 years.

When comparing,"ghost" and "spirit" normally translate only one word from Hebrew and another from Greek. Throughout the Old Testament, the word ~ruach~ (pronounced ROO-ach) could mean wind, breath, spirit, mind. The basic sense of the ancient Hebrew word is "air in motion." It could be a positive or negative (see Jeremiah 5:13) term. In intensity, ~ruach~ was anything from a gentle breeze to cyclonic winds. Old Testament picture language used ~ruach~ for snorting through the nostrils, a sign of aggressiveness or anger by God, man, or beast.

The Greek word ~pneuma~ (pronounce p-NOO-ma or p-NOI-ma) finds its roots in moving air, whether "wind" or "breath." Similarly, ~pneumon~ is a "lung." These origins entered our language in words such as ~pneumatic~ (air-powered), ~pneumonia~ (lung disease), and ~pneumatology~ (study of spiritual or paranormal beings or activities).

Our next complication is Latin, the primary language of Western civilization for most of the past two thousand years. Latin gave us ~spiritus~ (breath) from ~spirare~ (blow or breathe). Imagine the possible translation headaches; consider the words based upon these and all their shadings of meaning. Spirit (both as noun and verb), respiration, inspiration, and spirited (verb or adjective) only begin the list. Sometimes root hides a bit, as in "expire"; literally, meaning "breathe out," we normally use it to say "terminate" or "die." All of this intersects when considering Matthew 27:50 and John 19:30. Most modern translations say Jesus gave or yielded up "his spirit" while the AV says "the ghost." Either means that He breathed His last and that His life's essence departed Him.

The bottom line: Both "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" refer to the Third Person of the Trinity. We see the dynamics and evolution of English, discovering in a seemingly simple case the complexity of translating into our language.

As mentioned earlier, "ghost" and "spirit" switched meanings. However, changes continue. Some of my colleagues argue that we should return to "Holy Ghost" because of the muddled concept of "spirit" and "spiritual" in modern English. I think they make a good case that it might be easier to reclaim "ghost" than "spirit" for our theological vocabulary. Many "spiritual" people have
"spiritual" thoughts and live "spiritual" lives without any relationship to the Holy Spirit.

But whichever we use, we remember that this Holy Ghost is God's active breath, blowing where He wishes, creating faith through water and Word. The conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 wonderfully intertwines the varied interpretations of spirit, breath, and wind as Jesus shows the Spirit's work on earth to effect our salvation.”

Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost? A Spirited Comparison
by Pastor Walter Snyder

Answer 2

No, there is no difference between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is a common phrase used in the King James Version Bible. Here is an example,
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (King James Version) Hebrews 2:4

In the Revised Standard Bible, the New Revised Standard, the New American Standard, the New International Version, and even the New King James Bible, the phrase is the Holy Spirit. Here is an example from the New King James Version Bible,

God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (New King James Version) Hebrews 2:4

You can see that the terms are used interchangeably.

The word "ghost" was a common word in the King James English. The term spirit is a probably better word in modern English since the term "ghost" tends to have a negative meaning today. The actual Greek words mean "holy wind." Since wind is something you cannot see, the word "ghost" or "spirit" better expresses the idea that no one can see Him.

Answer 3

The Holy Ghost is a personage and is in one place at a time, yet His presence (The Holy Spirit) can be felt everywhere at the same time.

A way I have heard it explained that makes sense to me is to liken the Holy Ghost (The 3rd member of the Godhead) as like"the sun"
and the Holy Spirit (the force that can be everywhere at the same time---which comes from the Holy Ghost) like "sunshine".

from "Gospel Interpretation - John A. Widtsoe - p.14-15"
" ...President Joseph F. Smith makes the distinction between the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit even clearer: The Holy Ghost...by his intellligence, his knowledge, his power and influence, over and through the laws of nature,...is and can be omnipresent throughout all the works of God. It is not the Holy Ghost who in person lighteth every man who is born into the world, but it is the light of Christ, the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the source of intelligence, which permeates all nature, which lighteth every man and fills the immensity of space. You may call it the influence of God's intelligence, you may call it the substance of his power, no matter what it is called, it is the spirit of intellligence that permeates the universe and gives to the spirits of men understanding,.......The Spirit of God which emanates from Deity may be likened to electricity...which fills the earth and the air, and is everywhere present....."

and from the Bible Dictionary
The third member of the Godhead and, as the name implies, a personage of Spirit, not possessing a body of flesh and bones (D&C 130: 21-22). The Holy Ghost is manifested in every dispensation of the gospel since the beginning, being first made known to Adam (1 Ne. 10: 17-22; Moses 6: 51-68). The Holy Ghost is manifested to men on the earth both as the power of the Holy Ghost and as the gift of the Holy Ghost. The power can come upon one before baptism, and is the convincing witness that the gospel is true. It gives one a testimony of Jesus Christ and of his work and the work of his servants upon the earth. The gift can come only after proper and authorized baptism, and is conferred by the laying on of hands, as in Acts 8: 12-25 and Moroni 2: 1-3. The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right to have, whenever one is worthy, the companionship of the Holy Ghost. More powerful than that which is available before baptism, it acts as a cleansing agent to purify a person and sanctify him from all sin. Thus it is often spoken of as “fire” (Matt. 3: 11; 2 Ne. 31: 17; D&C 19: 31). The manifestation on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) was the gift of the Holy Ghost that came upon the Twelve, without which they were not ready for their ministries to the world.
For some reason not fully explained in the scriptures, the Holy Ghost did not operate in the fulness among the Jews during the years of Jesus’ mortal sojourn (John 7: 39; John 16: 7). Statements to the effect that the Holy Ghost did not come until after Jesus was resurrected must of necessity refer to that particular dispensation only, for it is abundantly clear that the Holy Ghost was operative in earlier dispensations. Furthermore, it has reference only to the gift of the Holy Ghost not being present, since the power of the Holy Ghost was operative during the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus; otherwise no one would have received a testimony of the truths that these men taught (cf. Matt. 16: 16-17; 1 Cor. 12: 3). When a person speaks by the power of the Holy Ghost that same power carries a conviction of the truth into the heart of the hearer (2 Ne. 33: 1). The Holy Ghost knows all things (D&C 35: 19) and can lead one to know of future events (2 Pet. 1: 21).
Other names that sometimes refer to the Holy Ghost are Holy Spirit, Spirit of god, Spirit of the Lord, Comforter, and Spirit.

Answer 4

Nope. They are the same. I've noticed Pentecostals and more Charismatics tend to refer to it as The Holy Ghost, probably because the King James version of the Bible uses that title. Other newer versions use the term Holy Spirit, and that's what other people say. But there really is no difference.

Answer 5

No.

The Old Testament was originally written mostly in Hebrew.

The New Testament was originally written in Greek.

The Third Person of the Holy Trinity, now commonly called in English "the Holy Spirit," is in Hebrew: רוח הקודש or Ruah haqodesh
And is in Greek: το Άγιο Πνεύμα

These Hebrew and Greek words have been translated into English as both the "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit."

It was originally translated as "Holy Ghost" but later translations use a more spiritual "Holy Spirit."

With love in Christ.

Answer 6

They are the same...

I usually say Holy Spirit because to me if I say Holy Ghost it makes me think that the Holy Ghost used to be in a Physical body and it died... but I believe that He has not yet had a Physical body.

Answer 7

No. Just the name is different. Ghost and Spirit are pretty much interchangeable. Check out our website if you want to see some evidence of the Holy Spirit today. http://www.soldiersoflightministry.com/

Answer 8

They are the same. In fact, I was told by a minister that the term "Holy Ghost" used to be used, but now "Holy Spirit" is used. Don't know why....

Answer 9

It is called a synonym. They mean the same - it is just that there have been many different translations and some people say Spirit and others say Ghost. I prefer Spirit.

Answer 10

No, (to this point as i comprehend) I even have seen the Holy Ghost named that and Holy Spirit. distinctive variations of the bible will reference this as the two. yet as with every non secular subject count, that's open to interpretation.

Answer 11

im thinkin they are not the same ,the Spirit can be present,,as in a congregation being over come by the Spirit, But the Ghost is an Entity in its self.