12 Reasons Why the Holy Spirit Is Not a Person (1/3)

Most professing Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is “God Number Three” in the Trinity. While many believe this, the ultimate challenge is this: HOW can one really PROVE it beyond any shadow of doubt? Realizing the difficult challenge, some just simply accept such belief as an article of [blind] faith. But is this strategy or attitude OK?

The greater danger lurking underneath such simplistic attitude is that there is also a great ambitious Deceiver [Satan] actively doing his work of spiritually blinding people from understanding the real truths in the Bible about God (Revelation 12:9; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

Therefore, it is time we seriously and systematically analyze this mystery of the Holy Spirit once and for all. Christ assured us that the truth shall make us free [even from believing errors and rampant deceptions greatly extant in this world today]. (John 8:32).

Common Belief

Most people today believe that the Holy Spirit is a “person” or “being” having its own independent will and personality and is thus the third member of an integral mysterious combine called the “TRINITY.” Can you really prove this from the Bible? What does the Bible really say?

To correctly and properly understand this controversial and mysterious topic, we need to have a logical, well-organized, and biblically-based system in analyzing this subject with an open mind.

Biblical Background

It is very strange and surprising that in spite of its great and popular acceptance as a major doctrine of traditional Christianity, there is absolutely no mention of the word “Trinity” in the whole Bible; none in the Old Testament and also none in the New Testament.

Notice what some reputable theological references say about the word “Trinity”:

The term ‘Trinity’ is not itself found in the Bible. It was used by Tertullian at the close of the second century, but received wide currency and formal elucidation only in the 4th and 5th centuries.
~New Bible Dictionary, 1996, “Trinity” [emphasis added]

Because the Trinity is such an important part of later Christian doctrine, it is striking that the term does not appear in the New Testament. Likewise, the developed concept of three coequal partners in the Godhead found in later creedal formulations cannot be clearly detected within the confines of the NT canon.
~The Oxford Companion to the Bible: Bruce Metzger & Michael Coogan, editors, 1993, p. 728) [emphasis added]

Clear Verses Affirming That Both the Father and the Son Are God

God the Father is GOD

… giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…
~Ephesians 5:20

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
~Philippians 2:11

Jesus Christ is GOD

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God…
~John 1:1, 2; 14

And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
~1 John 5:20

12 Biblical Facts Why the Holy Spirit Is Not a Person

1. Surprisingly, There Is Not Even One Bible Verse Directly Saying “the Holy Spirit Is God”

What then is the HOLY SPIRIT; what it did, and what does it still do?

The Bible defines the Holy Spirit as the “Power of the Highest” [KJV, NKJ, YLT] or “Power of the Most High” [ESV, NAB, NAS, NAU, NIV, RSV] (Luke 1:35).

NOTE: Electricity is also a Power that can do almost every imaginable great and wonderful thing for mankind, yet it is not a person.

Ways God Used the Holy Spirit as the “Power of God”:

The Holy Spirit was God’s tool at the re-creation of the earth when “the Spirit of God “moved” [KJV]; [“was moving” NAS, NAU, RSV]; [“was hovering” ESV, NIV, NKJ, NLT]; [“was fluttering” YLT]; [“while a mighty wind swept” YLT] upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2b)

The Holy Spirit is our designated “Comforter” [KJV, NKJ]; [“Counselor” NIV, NLT, RSV]; [“Advocate” NAB]; [“Helper” ESV, NAS, NAU], which dwells in us, and it is also the “Spirit of Truth.” (John 14:16-18)

NOTE: Since there are probably millions of believers, it is illogical that such one Holy Spirit (if it is one “person” or “being”) is split into millions of pieces or units to dwell in each believer?

The Holy Spirit gives [unusual] Power to the recipients:

But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…
~Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit helps in our weaknesses and intercedes for us:

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses… makes intercession for us…
~Romans 8:26

Surprising Facts Negating The “Personhood” of the Holy Spirit:

2. The Holy Spirit “Does Not Speak on Its Own Authority”

However, when the Spirit of Truth has come, it will guide you into all truth; for it will not speak on its own authority [“initiative” NAS, NAU; “will” NIV; “ideas” NLT; “from himself” YLT], but whatever it hears it will speak.
~John 16:13

3. The Holy Spirit Is Considered as A “Gift”

(Like an object, not a person)

…and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
~Acts 2:38

Do not neglect the gift that is in you [“you have” ESV, NAB; “within you” NAS, NAU; “given you” NIV, RSV; “you received” NLT], which was given to you [“conferred” NAB; “bestowed” NAS, NAU] by prophecy with the laying on of hands of the eldership.
~1 Timothy 4:14

4. The Holy Spirit Needs to Be “Stirred Up”

(Like a fire, thus not a person)

Therefore I remind you to stir up [“fan the flame” ESV; “stir into flame” NAB; “kindle afresh” NAS, NAU; “fan into flame” NIV, NLT; “rekindle” RSV] the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
~2 Timothy 1:6

5. The Holy Spirit Can Be “Quenched”

(Like a fire, thus not a person)

Do not quench [“stifle” NLT] the Spirit.
~1 Thessalonians 5:19

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire…
~1 Thessalonians 5:19, NIV

6. The Holy Spirit Can Be “Poured Out”

(Like water, thus not a person)

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…
~Acts 2:17

7. The Holy Spirit Is A “Cleansing” Agent

(Thus, not a person)

… not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration [“bath of rebirth” NAB; “washing of rebirth” NIV; “gave us new life” NLT], and renewing [“renewal” ESV, NAB, NIV, RSV] of the Holy Spirit…
~Titus 3:5

8. The Holy Spirit Is Our “Seal” of Redemption

(A seal is an object, thus not a person)

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
~Ephesians 4:30

9. The Holy Spirit Comes From Both the Father and the Son

(Since it is shared, it cannot be a third independent entity)

But when the Helper comes, whom I [Christ] shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
~John 15:26

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God [Father] dwells in you… if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ [Son], he is not His.
~Romans 8:9

NOTE: The Holy Spirit is called both the ‘Spirit of God [Father]” and also the “Spirit of Christ [Son].” While it comes from the Father, it is Christ Who sends it. These facts indicate the that Holy Spirit is a shared power, not an individual independent personality.

10. Surprisingly the Holy Spirit Is Never Included in Any of Paul’s Salutations (Greetings) in Any of His Epistles:

For brevity, I am including only two of Paul’s greetings as an example. You can check the remaining 12 of his 14 epistles, and each surprisingly does not include the Holy Spirit.

To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… (No mention of the Holy Spirit here)
~Romans 1:7

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ… (Again, no mention of the Holy Spirit here)
~1 Corinthians 1:3

11. In All the Visions, the Holy Spirit Is Never Seen Together With the Father and the Son, Even If There Is Space at the Left Hand of the Father:

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (No Holy Spirit seen or mentioned here)
~Psalm 110:1

I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. (No Holy Spirit seen in this vision here)
~Daniel 7:13

But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God… (No Holy Spirit seen in this vision here)
~Acts 7:55

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne [Son], as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. (No Holy Spirit seen in this vision here)
~Revelation 3:21

12. Final Proof That the Holy Spirit Is Not a Personal Being

… that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit…
~Matthew 1:20

NOTE: The word “of” is from the Greek “ek” [G1537], which is defined as: “a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds [from]). It can also be translated as: “by”; “caused by”; or “from” as shown by the following examples:

But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from [“by” NLT; “begotten of” YLT] the Holy Spirit.”
~Matthew 1:20, ESV

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.” [emphasis mine]
~Matthew 1:20, NAB

NOTE: Very clearly then, it is the Holy Spirit which impregnated Mary. Logically, genetically, and biologically, the real father of Jesus should be the Holy Spirit—IF it were a “personal being.”

However, Luke 1:35 says, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you [to impregnate Mary], and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One [Jesus/Yahshua] who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

CONCLUSION: While it is the Holy Spirit which clearly impregnated Mary, yet the Angel Gabriel said, that the Son that will be born will be called the “Son of God” not the “son of the Holy Spirit.” Therefore, the Holy Spirit is NOT a personal being.

That Ambitious One Who Wanted to Be “God” Number Three

Unknown to most, due to the spiritual blindness inflicted upon most of humanity, there is actually a great and ambitious invisible spirit-being who always wanted to be also “god” and to reign as co-equal with God and the Son. Let us read this surprising revelation:

The Fall of Lucifer

How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! … For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ [emphasis supplied]
~Isaiah 14:12-14

Summary and Conclusion

We have clearly seen that the belief in a “Trinity” of three co-equal yet independent God-beings is not mentioned either in the New Testament or Old Testament; whether in visions or statements of biblical writers. And if we refer to the Holy Spirit as the third “person,” several Scriptures negate its “personhood” because of non-person qualities such as being: “poured out”; “quenched”; a need for “renewal”, etc. Likewise, while it is the Holy Spirit which impregnated the virgin Mary, the Son that was born as a result was not called the “Son of the Holy Spirit,” but rather the “Son of God.” This clearly shows that the Holy Spirit is not a “person” but simply the Power of God.

However, let us be reminded that there is an active and invisible spirit being who confuses and deceives humans and also palms himself off as the “god of this world.” Let us be careful not to be carried off into his great lie of trying to become the third divine being in the Godhead.

Please watch out for Part 2, discussing the tampering of Scriptures to produce a ‘Trinity” doctrine, soon to be published on this website.