WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT? Part II
Novemeber 2023
In Part One of this study, we dealt with who the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead. Now let’s look at some of the different names of the Holy Spirit.
In describing the person of the Holy Spirit, we must understand that names are important. Actually, in the Bible, a person’s name was special and unique. The name Moses, for example, means “drawn out,” specifically referring to the fact that he was drawn out of a place of death, the Nile River, which Pharaoh was going to use to drown all the newborn Hebrew boys. Methuselah’s name means “It (the Deluge) shall be sent” when he is dead; and so it came to pass. A few weeks after his death, the flood destroyed the world. Noah’s name means “rest,” which Noah found in the safety of the ark.1
As you can see, names in the Bible are very descriptive. Now let’s look at some of the names of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God. First Corinthians 3:16 states, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” In Isaiah 61, the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Spirit of the “Lord Jehovah” (Jehovah refers to the covenant-keeping God).
The Spirit of the living God. This is another name used to portray the Holy Spirit’s relationship to deity (II Cor. 3:3). Paul used this title to call attention to the fact that his God was alive and real, while the pagan gods of the Corinthians were dead and false.
The Spirit of His Son. By use of this name, we are shown the relationship of the Spirit to Jesus Christ as used in Romans 8:9. This name is also found in Galatians 4:6 and, in Philippians 1:19, the name “Spirit of Jesus Christ” is used. This name points to the fact that the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus Christ (John 16:14).
The Spirit of judgment. Isaiah 4:4 states, “When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgement, and by the spirit of burning.” With the Holy Spirit involved with convicting, purging, purifying, consuming, etc., we see the aspect of judgment at work by the Holy Spirit.
Spirit of grace and of supplications. Zechariah 12:10 says, “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and supplications.” The Spirit of grace is that which brings us the love, the mercy, and the grace of our Lord. Supplications refer to petitions for help. This is what the Holy Spirit does when we pray.
Spirit of wisdom and knowledge. Ephesians 1:17 says, “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.” It is the Holy Spirit who gives us spiritual insight which brings wisdom and knowledge.
Spirit of the Father. Matthew 10:20, “For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”
The Spirit of Christ. Romans 8:9 says, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” He is called this because He is the Spirit sent by Christ to draw men into the kingdom.
The Comforter. John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever.” The word Comforter (in the Greek, parakletos) literally means, “One called to the side of another for the purpose of helping him in any way.”
The Holy Spirit of promise. Luke 24:49 says, “And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you” (see also Galatians 3:14). He is called this because His grace and power is one of the outstanding blessings promised in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 36:27, Joel 2:28).
The Spirit of truth. John 15:26 says, “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” The mission of the Comforter is to reveal the Son to the hearts of all who will believe. As the Spirit of Truth, He also superintends truth—God’s Word.
Spirit of holiness. Romans 1:4, “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The Holy Spirit desires to draw us closer to Christ in order to develop an inner beauty within us, which is holiness.
Spirit of life. Romans 8:2 says, “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” Without the Holy Spirit, there is no life in the services; there is no joy. He brings life.
Spirit of adoption. Romans 8:15, “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” Only through the Lord Jesus, by the person of the Holy Spirit, are we adopted into the family of God.
There are other names and expressions used to identify the Holy Spirit that give us insight into His nature and function, but the ones I have mentioned are the most important.
Next month, I will deal with the symbols of the Holy Spirit.
Source:
1Williams, George. The Complete Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1994.