The Holy Spirit
The WTS has long held that the Holy Spirit is not a person but simply God’s impersonal active force.
Reasoning from the Scriptures p. 381 (q.v. Spirit) - “The correct identification of the holy spirit must fit all the scriptures that refer to that spirit. With this viewpoint, it is logical to conclude that the holy spirit is the active force of God. It is not a person but is a powerful force that God causes to emanate from himself to accomplish his holy will.” [italics in original]
In the same book, under the topic of “Trinity” (p. 406) they write:
“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 a helper (Greek, pa·raʹkle·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.” [emphasis added]
So, as a “reasonable conclusion,” the WT reasons that “the first texts cited ... employ a figure of speech,” when as a matter of logic, it could just as easily treat the second group of texts as being figures of speech. This is indeed the “reasonable conclusion” they come to when they encounter comparisons of God to inanimate objects that would otherwise turn him into a “stone tower”, a “flaming fire”, a “rock”, a “fortress”, a “shield”, or “light”. Yet these expressions do not move JWs to consider God to be an impersonal force. They are viewed as figures of speech, as metaphors and anthropomorphisms comparing an aspect of God to something else. In their publication Insight they state about Jehovah: “The so-called anthropomorphisms, therefore, are never to be taken literally, any more than other metaphoric references to God as a “sun,” “shield,” or “Rock.” Yet in the case of the Holy Spirit they reverse their “logic” and assert that the comparisons to inanimate objects must be literal and the references to personal attributes are figures of speech (essentially anthropomorphisms).
If all these texts must be considered, why draw the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is impersonal? There are more texts that indicate personality than not. Nowhere else does the Bible give evidence of speaking about an admittedly inanimate object or abstract concept using language of personality in such a wide array of books, time span or authors (Moses, Job, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul) as it does to the Holy Spirit. Christ Himself, the supreme authority, testifies most clearly of his personality. All persons also have power and inanimate characteristics to them, but inanimate objects do not have speech, volition, creativity, intelligence, emotion, and personality. The argument of making the Holy Spirit inanimate in spite of the testimony of personality in the Scriptures can be called reductionism. This is the same process strict materialists use when they argue that human beings are nothing more than a collection of atoms and chemicals. Yes, matter is necessary to explain humans, but it is not sufficient. Yes, human beings can be described from that perspective if you ignore values, emotion, consciousness, religion, morals and personality. Reductionism forces us to symbolize a whole host of texts where no hint of symbolism is given.
How does the New Testament refer to and describe the Holy Spirit?
The following chart demonstrates that scripture uses language that corresponds to a person rather than an impersonal force.
As we have done elsewhere we will use the same criteria the Watchtower organization uses for comparing Jesus to Michael; namely, we will compare
- Names or Titles
- Actions or Activity
- Attributes or Descriptions
of the persons involved.
| The Lord Jesus Christ - The Helper | (66 points of comparison and about verses. Not exhaustive!) | The Holy Spirit - The OTHER Helper |
|---|---|---|
| 1Jo 2:1 (Paraclete) | is called our Helper | John 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:7 (Paraclete) |
| John 1:18; 20:28 | is called God | Acts 5:4 |
| John 20:28; 1Co 8:6; Eph 4:5 | is called Lord | 2Co 3:17,18 (Kingdom Interlinear) |
| John 1:3,10; 1Co 8:6; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:2,10 (Psa 102:25-27); Rev 3:14 |
creates (a rational activity) | Gen 1:2; Job 33:4; 26:13; Psa 33:6; 104:30; Luke 1:35 |
| John 8:35; 12:34; Rev 1:18 | is Eternal | John 14:16 (Heb 9:14) |
| John 14:6 | is Truth | 1Jo 5:6 (cf. 1Jo 2:20-27) |
| Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; Acts 3:14 | is Holy | Mat 12:32; Acts 5:3; 13:2 (Rom 1:4) |
| John 8:54; 17:4 | glorifies (Another) | John 16:13,14 |
| John 6:38,50,51,58 | is from Heaven | Mat 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32 |
| John 10:14; 14:7,9 | can be known | John 14:17 |
| John 5:21 | gives Life | John 6:63; 2Co 3:6 |
| Eph 4:11 | gives (ability) | 1Co 12:7-11 |
| Mat 15:36; Mark 6:7 | gives | Acts 2:4 |
| 1Co 1:9; 1Jo 1:3 | shares | 2Co 13:14 (κοινωνία koinōnía, fellowship) |
| Rom 8:35; 2Co 5:14; Eph 3:19 | loves | Rom 15:30 (cf. 1Jo 4:8) |
| Phil 2:1 (parakleesis) | comforts | Acts 9:31 (cf. 2Co 1:3) |
| John 14:18 (orphans) | adopts | Rom 8:15 |
| Phil 1:8 | longs (yearns) | James 4:5 |
| Mat 11:28-30; Heb 2:18; 4:15-16 | helps | Rom 8:26 (cf. Luke 10:40) |
| Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25 | pleads | Rom 8:26,27 (cf. Rom 11:2) |
| Mat 11:27 | wills | 1Co 12:11 (cf. 2Pe 3:9) |
| Mat 3:9; 17:25 | thinks | Acts 15:28 (cf. Acts 15:25) |
| Rev 7:17 | guides | John 16:13; (cf. Acts 8:31) |
| John 10:27 | leads | Mat 4:1; Luke 4:1; Rom 8:14 |
| John 15:26; 17:18 | sends | Acts 10:20; 11:12; 13:4 |
| Mat 9:34 | thrusts out | Mark 1:12 |
| 1Th 4:17 | snatches away | Acts 8:39 (cf. John 10:28,29; 2Co 12:2) |
| John 2:19-21 | raised (Christ) | Rom 8:11 |
| Mark 10:14 (Mat 16:20,23) | forbids | Acts 16:6 (cf. Luke 9:49,50; 11:52; 18:16) |
| Luke 4:41 | did not permit | Acts 16:7 (cf. Acts 14:16) |
| Rev 3:19 | reproves | John 16:8 (cf. Titus 1:9; Heb 12:5) |
| John 15:16 | appoints | Acts 20:28 (cf. Acts 1:7; 1Th 5:9) |
| Rev 2:23 | searches | 1Co 2:10-14 (cf. Rom 8:27; 1Pe 1:11) |
| John 12:33; 18:32; 21:19 | signifies | Acts 11:28 |
| 2Pe 1:14 | makes it plain | Heb 9:8; 1Pe 1:11 (Kingdom Interlinear) |
| Mat 24 | gives prophecy | 1Pe 1:11; 2Pe 1:20,21; Luke 1:67; Acts 1:16 |
| Luke 10:22 | reveals | 1Co 2:10 (cf. Gal 1:15,16); Luke 2:26; 1Pe 1:12 |
| interprets | Dan 4:9,18; 5:11 (dreams) | |
| Rev 1:1; Gal 1:12 | Divinely reveals | Luke 2:26 |
| John 15:20; 16:4; Rev 2:5; 3:3 | reminds | John 14:26 |
| Mat 4:23; 5:2; 9:35 | teaches | Luke 12:12; John 14:26 (cf. John 8:28); 1Co 2:13 |
| Mark 12:32; Luke 20:39; John 3:3,7,10,12; 4:25; 6:35; 7:46; 20:26 | speaks (direct speech) | Mat 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; John 16:13-15; Acts 1:2,16; 2:4; 8:29; 10:19; 11:12; 13:2 (cf. Acts 19:15); Acts 21:11; 28:25; 1Co 12:3; 1Ti 4:1; Heb 3:7-11 |
| John 4:44; 7:7; 8:18; Rev 1:5; 3:14; 22:18,20; (cf. 1Th 2:5) | witnesses or testifies | John 15:26; Acts 5:32 (cf. Acts 2:32; 3:15); Rom 8:16 (cf. Rom 2:15; 9:1); Heb 10:15-17 (cf Jer 31:33); 1Jo 5:6; |
| John 18:37 | warns | Acts 20:23 (cf. Luke 16:28; Acts 2:40) |
| John 15:15 (cf. John 5:24) | hears | John 16:13 (cf. John 11:42; 1Jo 4:6) |
| 2Pe 1:17; Rev 2:27 | receives | John 16:14,15 |
| John 1:12 | can be received | John 14:17; 1Co 2:12; Acts 10:47 |
| John 14:23 | dwells within | John 14:17; Rom 8:9,11 (cf. Mark 9:25) |
| John 8:35; 12:34 | remains | John 14:17 (cf. 1Jo 4:12,15) |
| John 5:39,40 | can be resisted | Acts 7:51 |
| Heb 4:15 | can be tested | Acts 5:9 |
| Mark 14:56,57 | can be lied to | Acts 5:3,4 (cf. Heb 6:18) |
| Mat 12:32; Luke 12:10 | can be spoken against | Mat 12:31,32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10 |
| Mat 26:37,38 (Mark 3:5) | can be grieved | Eph 4:30 (cf. 1Th 4:13); Isa 63:10 |
| Mat 27:30 | can be insulted | Heb 10:29 |
| Mat 28:19 | should be baptized in His Name | Mat 28:19 |
| John 20:30,31; 21:25 | did many other things | John 16:12,13 |
| Eph 3:19 - “that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 4:10 “that He [Christ] might fill all things.” | filled with H.S. | Luke 1:15 (John the Baptist), Luke 1:67 (Zacharias); Luke 4:1 (Jesus); Acts 2:4; 4:8,31; 6:3,5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9,52; Eph 5:18 |
| Gal 3:27 (baptized into Christ) | baptized with H.S. | Mat 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16 |
| anointed by H.S. | Acts 10:38 | |
| H.S. given | Acts 2:38 |
The Holy Spirit is described as having rational attributes (speech, volition, emotion, intelligence).
In Greek, references to the Spirit often omit the article making it “tantamount to a proper name”. This is in line with the reasoning the WTS uses for determining if the lack of the article in conjunction with the word “kurios” is a reference to Jehovah in OT quotations. As one of many, many examples of this argument used by the Watchtower organization, see here. If the lack of an article argues for the word “kurios” being used as a proper name then the same must also apply to the Holy Spirit. The fact that the WTBTS does not use that argument consistently is just another example of special pleading: if X then Y, except when it hurts me.
The fact that the article for the Holy Spirit is in the neuter case in no way determines or makes him impersonal. That is merely a feature of Greek grammar. Anyone who speaks or has learned a language that uses gendered articles (such as German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, etc., etc.) will understand this. Greek has other words that refer to persons using the neuter case, which include: βρέφος (brephos - infant), γυναικάριον (gunaikarion - idle woman), κοράσιον (korasion - girl), παιδάριον (paidarion - boy or servant), παιδίον (paidion - child), σῶμα (soma - body), and τεκνίον (teknion - little child).
Being filled with the fullness of God is similar to being filled by the Spirit. This doesn’t make God an impersonal force. Eph 3:19 - “and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
The “I am” statements of Jesus (The Bread, The Door, The Lamb, The Way, The Truth, The Life, The Light, The Rock, The
Stone, The Vine, The Word, The Bread of Life) use impersonal metaphors to describe Christ, yet they do not move anyone to
think that they are literal descriptions and deny his personality. Metaphoric language does not mean impersonal reality.
Whose Spirit — the Father’s or the Son’s?
Romans 8:9 (NWT 2013) However, you are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly
dwells in you. But if anyone does not have Christ’s spirit, this person does not belong to him.
Romans 8:11 (NWT 2013) If, now, the spirit of him who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who
raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his spirit that resides in you.
1 Corinthians 6:11 (NWT 2013) And yet that is what some of you were. But you have been washed clean; you have been
sanctified; you have been declared righteous in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God.
2 Corinthians 3:3 (NWT 2013) For you are shown to be a letter of Christ written by us as ministers, inscribed not with ink
but with the spirit of a living God, not on stone tablets but on fleshly tablets, on hearts.
Philippians 1:19 (NWT 2013) for I know that this will result in my salvation through your supplication and with the support
of the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:3 (NWT 2013) For we are those with the real circumcision, we who are rendering sacred service by God’s
spirit and boasting in Christ Jesus and who do not base our confidence in the flesh,
1 Peter 4:14 (NWT 2013) If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, yes,
the spirit of God, is resting upon you.
Person or impersonal power?
Let’s make some comparisons between the Holy Spirit and other persons.
| The Holy Spirit | Persons |
|---|---|
| Acts 2:4 “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit” Eph 5:18 “Be filled with the Spirit” |
Eph 4:10 “that He [Christ] might fill all things.” Eph 3:19 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God |
| Acts 2:17 “I will pour forth of My Spirit upon all mankind.” Acts 2:33 “He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” |
Isa 53:12 Because He [Christ] poured out Himself to death” “I [Paul] am being poured out as a drink offering” Phil 2:17; 2Tim 4:6 Psa 22:14 David was poured out |
| “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” Mat 3:11; Luke 3:16 | Deu 4:24 “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Heb 12:29 “our God is a consuming fire.” |
| 1Co 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” | 2Co 13:5 “Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you” Eph 4:6 “one God and Father of all who is in all” 1Jo 4:4 “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” 2Co 13:5 “do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you” Rom 8:10 “And if Christ is in you” |
| 2Co 1:22 “gave the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge” | Eph 3:17 “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts” |
| 1Co 3:16 “you are a temple of God...the Spirit of God dwells in you” | 2Co 6:16 “we are the temple of the Father, I will dwell in them” |
| “the Holy Spirit fell upon them” Acts 11:15; Acts 10:44; Acts 8:16 | Exo 5:3 “sacrifice to Jehovah our God, lest He fall upon us” Eze 8:1 “the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there” (metonymy: the power of God fell, not the hand) |
| Having “power” does not make its owner impersonal | |
|---|---|
| God | Deu 8:18; Ezr 8:22; Job 24:22; Psa 62:11; Amo 1:8; Rom 13:1; 2Co 4:7; Rev 15:8; 16:9 |
| Jesus | Mat 28:20; 1Co 1:24; Heb 1:3 |
| Holy Spirit | Luke 1:35; Rom 15:13; 2Ti 1:7 |
| Satan | Acts 26:18; 1Co 15:24 |
| people | Deu 32:36; Jos 17:17; Dan 8:24; 12:7; Luke 1:17; Acts 3:12; 6:8; 8:10 |
| impersonal things | Sheol: Psa 49:15; Gospel: Rom 1:16; Word of the cross: 1Co 1:18 |
| Impersonal or inanimate metaphors does not make something impersonal or inanimate | |
|---|---|
| God | wings, rock, mighty fortress, fire |
| Jesus | light, bread, root of Jesse, branch, lamb, “all who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ” |
| people | salt (Mat 5:13), worm (Job 25:6), grass (Isa 40:6), clay (Isa 64:8), light; jewels (Zec 9:16); sheep and goats (Mat 25:33); fish (Mat 13:48); wheat (Mat 3:12; 13:29,30); lambs (John 21:15); living stones (1Pe 2:5); rocky reefs and clouds (Jude 1:12); trees (Luke 6:43) |
| Satan | dragon, serpent, beast, roaring lion |
Does metaphoric or symbolic language make the referent impersonal?
Does the Bible ever refer to Jesus using inanimate or impersonal objects or as animals? Does this make us conclude that he is not a person?
- Branch: Jer 23:5; Zec 3:8
- Bread of life: John 6:48
- Bright and Morning Star: Rev 22:16
- Door: John 10:7
- Lamb: Rev 5:6,8; 6:16; 7:9-10,17; Rev 12:11; 13:8,11; 14:1,4; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7,9; 21:9,14,22,23,27
- Lamb of God: John 1:29
- Light: John 1:9; 8:12; Isa 42:6
- Bread: John 6:35,51
- True Vine: John 15:1
- (Chief) Cornerstone: Mat 21:42; Eph 2:20; 1Pe 2:6
- Living Stone: 1Pe 2:4
- Rock: 1Co 10:4; 1Pe 2:8
- Root: Rev 5:5; 22:16; Isa 11:10
- Sceptre: Num 24:17
Does the Bible ever refer to Jehovah using inanimate or impersonal objects?
| None of these inanimate or impersonal descriptions or metaphors lead us to conclude that God must be an impersonal force. | |
| rock | Deu 32:4,15,18; 2Sa 22:3,32,47; Psa 18:2,31; 42:9; 78:35; 94:22 (high tower); Isa 44:8 |
| fortress | 2Sa 22:33; Psa 18:2; 91:2 |
| shield | 2Sa 22:3,31; Psa 18:2; 84:9,11 |
| light | 1Jo 1:5 |
| horn of salvation | Psa 18:2 |
| sun and shield | Psa 84:11 |
| feathers, wings, shield | Psa 91:4 (KJV) He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. |
Names and titles of the Spirit (32)
- Breath of the Almighty Job 33:4
- Comforter John 14:16; 15:26
- Eternal Spirit Heb 9:14
- God Acts 5:3-4
- Good Spirit Neh 9:20; Psa 143:10
- Holy Spirit Psa 51:11; Luke 11:13; Eph 1:13; 4:30
- The Lord 2Th 3:5
- Power of the Highest Luke 1:35
- The Spirit Mat 4:1; John 3:6; 1Ti 4:1
- Spirit of the Lord God Isa 61:1
- Spirit of the Lord Isa 11:2; Acts 5:9
- Spirit of God Gen 1:2; 1Co 2:11; Job 33:4
- Spirit of the Father Mat 10:20
- Spirit of Christ Rom 8:9; 1Pe 1:11
- Spirit of the Son Gal 4:6
- Spirit of life Rom 8:2; Rev 11:11
- Spirit of grace Zec 12:10; Heb 10:29
- Spirit of prophecy Rev 19:10
- Spirit of adoption Rom 8:15
- Spirit of wisdom Isa 11:2; Eph 1:17
- Spirit of counsel Isa 11:2
- Spirit of might Isa 11:2
- Spirit of understanding Isa 11:2
- Spirit of knowledge Isa 11:2
- Spirit of the fear of the Lord Isa 11:2
- Spirit of truth John 14:17; 15:26
- Spirit of holiness Rom 1:4
- Spirit of revelation Eph 1:17
- Spirit of judgment Isa 4:4; 28:6
- Spirit of burning Isa 4:4
- Spirit of glory 1Pe 4:14
- Seven Spirits of God Rev 1:4
Comparing the Holy Spirit and Satan
This is Awake article’s reasoning why Satan is a person.
The language used to describe Satan includes rationality and personality. See also here.
| The Person of Satan | |
|---|---|
| Zec 3:1 | accuses |
| Mat 1:13; 1Co 7:5 | tempts |
| Mat 1:13; 1Co 7:5 | takes the word away |
| Mat 4; Luke 4:8 | is rebuked |
| Luke 22:3; John 13:27 | enters Judas |
| Luke 22:31 | desires/demands |
| Acts 5:3 | filled the heart of Ananias |
| Acts 26:18; 2Th 2:9 | has power |
| Rom 16:20 | shall be crushed |
| 1Co 5:5; 1Tim 1:20 | people are handed over to him |
| 2Co 2:11 | has intelligence |
| 2Co 2:14 | disguises himself |
| 1Th 2:18 | hinders people |
| Rev 2:9; 3:9 | has a synagogue |
| Rev 2:13 | has a seat/dwelling |
| Rev 2:13 | has a throne |
| Rev 2:24 | deep things of Satan |
| Rev 12:9; 20:2 | called serpent/devil/dragon |
| Evil spirits | |
| Mark 5:8; Acts 19:15 | can speak directly |
| Matt. 17:18; Mark 1:25; 5:8; 9:25; Luke 4:35; Acts 16:18; 19:13-15 |
can be spoken to |
Is Satan a person? What words does Scripture record as having been spoken by Satan?
Approximate words recorded (in English WEB) as spoken by Satan: 295. Notice how God addresses Satan with the pronoun ‘you,’ ‘your,’ ‘him,’ and ‘himself,’ 15 times and the 7 times the personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘me’ are used by Satan and the 9 times the text says that Satan spoke.
Job 1:7-12 (WEB) 7Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan
answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”
8Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth,
a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.” 9Then Satan answered Yahweh, and said,
“Does Job fear God for nothing? 10Haven’t you made a hedge around him, and around his
house, and around all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is
increased in the land. 11But put forth your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will renounce
you to your face.” 12Yahweh said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power.
Only on himself don’t put forth your hand.” So Satan went forth from the presence of
Yahweh. (words spoken by Satan:78)
Job 2:1-5 (WEB) 1Again it happened on the day when the God’s sons came to present themselves before Yahweh,
that Satan came also among them to present himself before Yahweh. 2Yahweh said to Satan, “Where have
you come from?” Satan answered Yahweh, and said, “From going back and forth in the
earth, and from walking up and down in it.” 3Yahweh said to Satan, “Have you considered my
servant Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil.
He still maintains his integrity, although you incited me against him, to ruin him without cause.” 4Satan
answered Yahweh, and said, “Skin for skin. Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life.
5But put forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will renounce you to your face.”
(words spoken by Satan:52)
Matthew 4:1-10 (WEB) 1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. 2When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry afterward. 3The tempter
came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” 4
But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of
God.’” 5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6and
said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will give his angels
charge concerning you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, So that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
7Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’” 8Again, the
devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9
He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship
me.” 10Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the
Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” (words spoken by Satan:70)
Luke 4:3-13 (WEB) 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of
God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word of God.’” The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the
world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, “I will give you all this
authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever
I want. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” Jesus
answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall
you serve.’” He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will give his angels
charge concerning you, to guard you;’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, Lest perhaps you dash your foot against
a stone.’” Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” When the
devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time. (words spoken by Satan:95)
What words does Scripture record as having been spoken by the Holy Spirit?
Approximate words recorded as spoken (in English WEB) by the Holy Spirit: 266. Note the 8 times the text mentions that the Holy Spirit spoke and 17 times the personal pronouns “I”, “me” and “my” are used.
Acts 10:19-20 (WEB) While Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him,
“Behold, three men seek you. But arise, get down, and go with them, doubting nothing; for
I have sent them.”
Acts 13:2 (WEB) As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “
Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 21:11 (WEB) Coming to us, and taking Paul’s belt, he bound his own feet and hands, and said, “Thus
says the Holy Spirit: ‘So will the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and
will deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
Acts 28:25-27 (WEB) 25When they didn’t agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had
spoken one word, “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah, the prophet, to our fathers, 26saying,
‘Go to this people, and say, In hearing, you will hear, But will in no way understand. In seeing,
you will see, But will in no way perceive. 27For this people’s heart has grown callous. Their ears are dull of
hearing. Their eyes they have closed. Lest they should see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their
heart, And would turn again, And I would heal them.’ [Quote from Isa 6:9-10]
1 Corinthians 12:3 (WEB) Therefore I make known to you that no man speaking by God’s Spirit says,
“Jesus is accursed.” No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” but by the Holy Spirit.
1 Timothy 4:1 (WEB) But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some
will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons,
Hebrews 3:7-11 (WEB) 7Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, “
Today if you will hear his voice, 8Don’t harden your hearts, as in the provocation, Like as in the day of the
trial in the wilderness, 9Where your fathers tested me by proving me, And saw
my works for forty years. 10Therefore I was displeased with that generation,
And said, ‘They always err in their heart, But they didn’t know my ways;’ 11As
I swore in my wrath, ‘They will not enter into my rest.’”
[Quote from Psa 95:8-10]
Hebrews 10:15-17 (WEB) 15The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16
“This is the covenant that I will make with them: ‘After those days,’ says
the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their heart, I
will also write them on their mind;’” then he says, 17“I will
remember their sins and their iniquities no more.” [Quote from Jer 31:33-34]
In addition to the direct speech quoted in the passages above, other passages use indirect speech or state that people spoke under the influence of the Holy Spirit: 2Sa 23:2; 1Ki 22:24; Neh 9:20,30; Isa 11:2; Zec 7:12; Mat 22:43; Mark 12:36; 13:11; Luke 1:68-79; 10:21; Acts 1:16; 4:8,25; 20:23; Heb 9:8; 1Pe 1:21
The NWT itself uses the pronouns “he”, “his” and “him” 10x and the personal pronouns “I”, “me” and “my” 16x in several
verses that speak about or quote the Holy Spirit.
John 16:7,8,13,14,15 (NWT 2013) “Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth, it is for your benefit that I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will not come to you; but if I do go, I will send him to you.
8 And when that one comes, he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment:
13 However, when that one comes, the spirit of the truth, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own initiative, but what he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things to come.
14 That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to you.
15 All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said he receives from what is mine and declares it to you”.
Acts 13:2 (NWT 2013) As they were ministering to Jehovah and fasting, the holy spirit said: “Set aside for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 28:25-27 (NWT 2013) …“The holy spirit aptly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your forefathers, saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “You will indeed hear but by no means understand, and you will indeed look but by no means see. For the heart of this people … never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn back and I heal them.”’ [Quote from Isa 6:9-10]
Hebrews 3:7-11 (NWT 2013) Therefore, just as the holy spirit says, “Today if you listen to his voice, do not harden your hearts as on the occasion of provoking to bitter anger, as in the day of testing in the wilderness, where your forefathers put me to the test and tried me, despite seeing my works for 40 years. This is why I became disgusted with this generation and said: ‘They always go astray in their hearts, and they have not come to know my ways.’ So I swore in my anger: ‘They will not enter into my rest.’” [Quote from Psa 95:8-10]
Hebrews 10:15-17 (NWT 2013) Moreover, the holy spirit also bears witness to us, for after it has said: “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says Jehovah. ‘I will put my laws in their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.’” Then it says: “And I will no longer call their sins and their lawless deeds to mind.” [Quote from Jer 31:33-34]
“The Watchtower Society identifies Satan as a person by showing he does things that only a person can do: speak and think. (Awake! 1973 Dec 8 p.27 “Satan the Devil-Personification or a Person?”). Most Christian religions determine the Holy Spirit to be a person by using this same methodology. For this reason, religions that do not accept the Trinity or the personhood of the Holy Spirit, such as Christadelphians and Christian Scientists, commonly also do not believe that Satan is a person. The Watchtower takes an unusual stance of believing Satan is literal, but that the Holy Spirit is not.” (https://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/trinity.php)
