It seems from scripture that the holy spirit can be greived, can teach and can speak. Seems to point to the hs being a person. I can't imagine electricity being greived but it can make us grieve
2006-12-13 03:23:18 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some individual texts that refer to the holy spirit (“Holy Ghost,” KJ) might seem to indicate personality. For example, the holy spirit is referred to as a helper (Greek, pa·ra´kle·tos; “Comforter,” KJ; “Advocate,” JB, NE) that ‘teaches,’ ‘bears witness,’ ‘speaks’ and ‘hears.’ (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:13) But other texts say that people were “filled” with holy spirit, that some were ‘baptized’ with it or “anointed” with it. (Luke 1:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10:38) These latter references to holy spirit definitely do not fit a person. To understand what the Bible as a whole teaches, all these texts must be considered. What is the reasonable conclusion? That the first texts cited here employ a figure of speech personifying God’s holy spirit, his active force, as the Bible also personifies wisdom, sin, death, water, and blood.
2006-12-13 03:38:18 · answer #1 · answered by Janos 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Luke 11:20 called the holy spirit, God's finger. See parallel in Matthew 12:28. The holy spirit is a part of God, not a separate person of God. If you say " I clapped" most probably it means "I clapped with my hands". The instrument that was used to make the sound is the hands. God uses his spirit (his active force) in doing what he wants. If the spirit can be grieved, teach and speak the Bible points that to the Father being grieved, who teaches and speaks. God uses his spirit to do those things. If you go against the workings of the holy spirit you are actually going against the workings of the owner of that spirit, the Father Jehovah.
E.W. Bullinger remarks in Appendix 9 of the Companion Bible for the meaning of the spirit:
The meaning of the word is to be deduced only from its usage. The one root idea running through all of the passages is invisible force.
Notice also the usage of the word spirit in the Bible. The Bible states that the spirit are used for baptism just like water, being clothed with spirit, enveloped with spirit, etc.
The spirit is not a separate person of God, but a part of the Father. That's why in all the visions of Go's people in the heaven, only two are present, the Son and the Father. That's why Jesus said that we have to exercise faith in the Father and the Son (John 14:1, John 17) not mentioning any other person, because the holy spirit is already part of the Father.
2006-12-14 10:51:45 · answer #2 · answered by trustdell1 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well Dan ....if I may call you Dan:
I believe JW's would take your analogy of electricity and refer to 'resistence'.
It slows up the flow of electricity.
So, if one was asking for strength (power) to accomplish something, but then acting in a contrary manner ....they would be grieving that force, no?
Acts 2:4 speaks of the 120 getting filled with the holy spirit.
If it was a person, man that's creepy!
BTW the holy spirit, though a force, can teach.
Have a peak at John 14:26 .....please.
2006-12-13 12:48:10 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle Thesis 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In the book of Hebrews we are told that God's Word is alive and exerts power. Is the bible you are reading a person?
(I know the verses about grieving and teaching where does it say it can speak?)
When you compare the account of Jesus expelling demons, one gospel account says it by holy spirit, another says by God's finger.
Almost every reference in the bible to the holy spirit, it is in conjunction with words such as
his, God's, of God, - all showing ownership.
When God, the resurrected Jesus, and angels are pictured or described in the bible it is always in human form.
When the holy spirit is described as being seen it is a dove, or flames of fire.
There are many symbolic, illustrations in the bible.
tree of life, Abraham's bosom, etc
2006-12-13 12:48:44 · answer #4 · answered by TeeM 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Scriptures clearly teach that the Holy Spirit is NOT a person, but an impersonal thing or quality. Here are two obvious lines of reasoning...
1. People are NOT filled with other people; they are filled with impersonal QUALITIES:
(Luke 1:41) Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit
(Luke 2:40) filled with wisdom
(Luke 4:28) became filled with anger
(Luke 5:26) they became filled with fear
(Luke 6:11) they became filled with madness
(Acts 3:10) they became filled with astonishment
(Acts 5:17) Sadducees, rose and became filled with jealousy
(Acts 19:29) the city became filled with confusion
2. Logical connections
Here the impersonal thing Holy Spirit is connected with the impersonal thing "power":
(Acts 10:38) God anointed him with holy spirit and power
Here the impersonal thing Holy Spirit is connected with the impersonal thing "joy":
(Acts 13:52) the disciples continued to be filled with joy and holy spirit
The Scriptures apply anthroporphic qualities to many impersonal things. Trinitarians are required to believe that the Holy Spirit is a person, but literally *ALL* of their so-called "proofs" that the Holy Spirit is a person fail in the light of the entire bible. Here are lines of reasoning that expose the unscripturality of the arguments which pretend that the Holy Spirit is a person.
Comparing these two Scriptures (which describe the identical event) helps explain that the Holy Spirit can be thought of as "God's finger". Is a "finger" a person?
(Luke 11:20) If it is by means of God's finger I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU. . .
(Matthew 12:28) If it is by means of God’s spirit that I expel the demons, the kingdom of God has really overtaken YOU.
Can a person's finger be "hurt" (or "grieved")? Obviously.
(Isaiah 63:10) They themselves rebelled and made his holy spirit [or "God's finger"] feel hurt
(Ephesians 4:30) Also, do not be grieving God's holy spirit [or "God's finger"]
The Scriptures often personify impersonal things or qualities:
(Luke 7:35) wisdom is proved righteous by all its children
(Romans 5:14) death ruled as king
(Romans 5:21) sin ruled as king
Referring to the "mind" or governing principles of an inanimate thing does not make it a person; neither does referring to a thing's "heart" or core make it a person:
(Matthew 12:40) the heart of the earth
(Exodus 15:8) the heart of the sea
(2 Samuel 18:14) the heart of the big tree
(Deuteronomy 4:11, footnote) the heart of the heavens
The Scriptures clarify that actual PERSONS spoke ON BEHALF OF the Holy Spirit:
(Acts 4:25) holy spirit said by the mouth of our forefather David...
(Acts 28:25) The holy spirit aptly spoke through Isaiah the prophet
(Matthew 10:20) it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you
Other nonpersons 'testify' or 'bear witness':
(1 John 5:7,8) there are three witness bearers, the spirit and the water and the blood
Arguments pretending that a person can "fill" another person are based on pagan witchcraft and Babylonish mysticism. The Scriptures consistently show that only nonpersonal qualities can "fill" a person. Jehovah's Witnesses are unlikely to trade their Scriptural true worship for witchcraft and Trinitarian false worship; apostasy such as trinitarianism was foretold in the bible.
(2 Thessalonians 2:1-3) We request of you not to be quickly shaken from your reason... the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness gets revealed
(2 Peter 2:1) there will also be false teachers among you. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects
Finally, if trinitarians are true Christians, why do they ignore Christ's command that each Christian must preach?
(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/article_07.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/ti/
http://watchtower.org/e/20020515/
http://watchtower.org/e/20050422/article_02.htm
2006-12-13 13:01:03 · answer #5 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I am not a Jehovah's Witness, but I know may good, happy, peaceful one's.
If you believe and truly followed your bible, you would not aim out to try to see "what you view as the faults or mistakes of others".
Did not your lord say, Do not judge ? FIRST, take out all the Logs out of your own eyes, out of your life, (AND THAT WOULD TAKE A PERSON A LIFETIME OR TWO) then you can see clearly enough to take the speck out of anothers eye. What was jesus' point ? Simply to Never Judge another !! Anyone being crititcal and judging another has not found Peace, and does not walk in Peace, "as of yet." As you Focus on yourself and strive to live peaceably with all people, you will closer to find the Peace that you truly so deeply long for!!
May you be well. May you be healthy, May you be happy. May you have good-fortune in all your endevors. May you have peace and stability of mind. May you be free from anger, impatience, and ignorance(lack of true understanding), and a crititcal attitude. May you be free from harm. May you have contentment, calmness, relaxation, and peace.
May you be free from all anxiety, worries, disappointments, and mental and physical suffering. May you learn patience & humility.
May you have the Courage, Empathy, Understanding, and Wisdom to deal successfully with all the suffering and difficulties in life. May you have Happiness and True inner Peace !!
Happy Holidays to You !
2006-12-13 11:43:04 · answer #6 · answered by Thomas 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Jehovah is the true God, our Creator, Jesus Christ is the first born of all creation, his Son who existed in heaven with God before anything else was brought into existence. The Holy Spirit is Jehovah God's active force or power that he uses to accomplish his will. All of what I said can be backed up with Scriptures if you are truely interested, email me or go to www.watchtower.org
2006-12-13 11:29:50 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
The jovies don't believe Jesus is a person of the Trinity, why would they believe in the Holy Spirit. Of course, they don't even believe in their own birthday, so, what do you expect? Merry Christmas.
2006-12-13 11:27:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
no the Holy Spirit is not a person. it is Jehovah's active force. we do worship Jehovah God and his first creation Jesus Christ his son. www.watchtower.org
2006-12-13 15:17:03 · answer #9 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
God has a tremendous heart and that heart is in both His Son, and His Spirit
2006-12-13 11:29:15 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋