prior to c.400 the holy spirit was taught as a female gender, was the holy spirit the original goddess?

Question

also a dove is a symbol of divine/female. maybe they were a family? did it get corrupted?from my reading they sort of stopped teaching the holy spirit is female

i was surfing and found it in new advent or wiki accidently.

Answer 1

The WORDS in Hebrew and Greek that are translated into English as "spirit" are Feminine gender nouns....

It would make sense to conclude that there was originally a teaching like you discribe.....

Answer 2

The original Greek term would be "hagios pneuma". "Pneuma" is Spirit. It is a noun and neuter, neither male nor female. the definitions is:

1) the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
1a) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the \\Holy\\ Spirit)
1b) sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of \\Truth\\)
1c) never referred to as a depersonalised force
2) the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated
2a) the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides
2b) the soul
3) a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting
3a) a life giving spirit
3b) a human soul that has left the body
3c) a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel
3c1) used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men
3c2) the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ
4) the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one
4a) the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc.
5) a movement of air (a gentle blast)
5a) of the wind, hence the wind itself
5b) breath of nostrils or mouth
Part of Speech: noun neuter
(Thayer)

Answer 3

Wrong... the Greek word is NEUTER. The Spirit is repeatedly referred to in Greek neuter terms, and there is no reason to think it has ANY "gender." The gender of God is strictly a matter of LANGUAGE, not any characteristic of God. BOTH masculine and feminine symbols are used in reference to God in scripture...

Hestias Priestess: NO, the words are not feminine. The common Hebrew word is "both" and the Greek IS NEUTER.
Greek - πνευμα (pneuma)... This is from Zondervan Quick Reference Series Christian Theology book, the entry about the Holy Spirit:
--- "The Spirit of God is not simply a divine impulse or force by which God interacts with the world. He is a real and distinct person. This is seen in a technical sense in how the New Testament refers to the Holy Spirit. In the Greek language, the word “spirit” is a neuter noun. Technically, then, the New Testament writers should refer to the Spirit as an “it.” Instead, they consistently refer to the Spirit of God as “he,” just as they would a person. Note John 15:26, for example: “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he [not it] will testify about me.” John treats the Spirit sent from the Father as a distinct person (cf. 16:13-14). In Acts 13:2 the Holy Spirit speaks as a person, saying “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” This view of the Spirit is commensurate with the many passages in Scripture that speak of the Holy Spirit performing all kinds of personal actions and works (for example, John 16:13; Acts 15:28; 1 Cor 2:10; 12:11)."--- This is available as an e-book which can be downloaded at no cost (with a "coupon code" on the main software page) from Zondervan until December 31, 2007. Look on their web page ==> http://www.zondervan.com/Cultures/en-US/Product/Software/index.htm?QueryStringSite=Zondervan
The Christian Theology book (under Reference on the left hand menu) is only $5.99 of the $25 credit the coupon code will give you, so browse around and find something else to round out your Pradis (their proprietary program format) "library."

The dominance of the Greek New Testament in early Christianity brings into question the significance of gender and the Spirit. Greek allows the apparent mixing of genders when the subject demands it. While the Hebrew form of Spirit is used as both male and female, in Aramaic it is a female word. So, to the Jews in Jesus' day, thinking of a female Spirit would not have been a great leap and, as I pointed out, "Spirit" in Greek starts with it neuter, but would ALLOW any gender to be applied in a given context IF IT WAS NECESSARY for proper understanding. That no such twists are made suggests that gender of the Spirit was a non-issue.

By the end of the first century, the balance had shifted and the church was no longer PREDOMINANTLY Jewish. Greek readers of the New Testament were NOT told, "but the Spirit is female," so any question of Gender almost immediately fell through the cracks of the languages. Since BOTH are clearly described as eternal, "Father" and "Son" speaking of God cannot be understood in any literal sense. The same would of course also apply to the Spirit.

While there are some who claim that the New Testament was originally composed in Aramaic, the evidence against the claim is overwhelming. The fact is that one of the languages which played a major roll in Palestine in New Testament times speaks of Spirit as female, another speaks of it an neuter, and the third, which received only very limited use since it was already virtually "dead," uses both masculine and feminine forms when referring to God's Spirit. The whole idea seems to be of no consequence.

Answer 4

I comprehend God as being the father, Son and Holy Spirit. although, God has a maternal ingredient, so He would properly be seen as a mom. contained in the e book "The Shack", the author William Paul youthful provided God as Papa (portrayed by potential of an African-American woman), Jesus (portrayed by potential of a Jewish wood worker) and Sarayu (an Asian woman). consistent with possibility because of the fact the Holy Spirit is in maximum cases referred to as our Comforter, so she is nearly a mom who comforts her toddler. (Isaiah sixty six:13) contained in the Bible, the Holy Spirit is in maximum cases referred to as: - the spirit of expertise and revelation (expertise is portrayed as female in Proverbs 3, 4, 8, 9 and 31, eg "expertise has outfitted her abode" and "Who can hit upon a virtuous/smart woman?") - the spirit of grace (in all probability female) - Hebrews 10:29 - the spirit of ability (masculine), love and sound ideas/expertise (female) - 2 Timothy a million:6-7 - the spirit of religion (in all probability masculine, considering that Jesus is author and finisher of religion) - 2 Corinthians 4:13 - the spirit of fact (masculine) - John 14:17 So consistent with possibility it relies upon on the context, the place the Holy Spirit would properly be manifested as masculine or female (yet no longer neuter). thank you for the religious study. God bless you, sister.

Answer 5

A few people still promote that. G*D doesn't need gender.
G*D created 'man & woman' is his image 'male & female'.
It was the Holy Spirit who caused Mary to conceive.

Answer 6

Please tell us what you are reading? I'm very interested...
I recently read a book by Gary Wills "Why I'm Catholic" in which this very thing was mentioned....And then I have been unable to find anything coherent to address this question of the feminine aspect of the divine.
I am Roman Catholic. I am searching for information on this point and would appreciate any sharing of information I can find.
Thanks!!

Answer 7

the feminine aspect of god went by the way side with the need for males to dominate in the church-hasnt changed much-do also believe that if mary had been a man her book would have been included in the bible but hey that is just my thoughts----smile and enjoy the night

here is a web site that dwells into this pretty good

http://www.thenazareneway.com/feminine_god.htm

Answer 8

The holy spirit is the goddess in disguise.

Answer 9

It used to be taught that the earth was flat also. But what is "taught" and what is true is just a Bible away.

Answer 10

I've never read that - sounds interesting - can you reference where you read it?