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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=90 BGCOLOR="#CC9900" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="043005a0dwnjzk.gif"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EDWARD WATSONS WEBWORLD"><U><B>home</B></U></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>EDWARD WATS</B><B>ON'S WEBWORLD</B></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id112.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SECTION 3: INTRODUCTION"><U><B>SECTION 3: INTRODUCTION</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id113.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="1"><U><B>1</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>2</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id115.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="3"><U><B>3</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id116.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="4"><U><B>4</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id117.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="SECTION 3: CONCLUSION"><U><B>SECTION 3: CONCLUSION</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id138.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="ABBREVIATIONS"><U><B>ABBREVIATIONS</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>[MORMONISM. The Faith of the Twenty-first Century. Volume 1. Edward K. Watson. (Liahona Publications. Copyright © 1998 Edward K. Watson.) pp. 419-423. MORMONISM: Section 3, Chapter 2. All rights reserved.]    </B></div> <bR> <div> <U>CHAPTER 2</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>What is the Holy Ghost?</B></div> <bR> <div>      Does the Bible view the Holy Ghost to be a  personage or merely an active force from God? There are certain religious groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses who disbelieve the Holy Ghost is a personage, with self-awareness. They claim the Holy Ghost is an impersonal energy without independent will or thoughts and attack us for viewing him as a personage.</div> <div>      One reason why they claim the Holy Ghost is an impersonal energy is because the specific Greek word for “spirit” [<I>pneuma</I>] (4151/4460) is neuter [neither masculine nor feminine] (“It,” not “He”).</div> <div>      This stance conflicts with the LDS view since we believe the Holy Ghost is a self-aware spirit being who happens to lack a physical body (i.e., he is an incorporeal Spirit). He is a member of the Godhead and is  equal to Jesus Christ and the Father in  nature.</div> <div>      If the Father and the Son are self-aware beings with the Holy Ghost as an  impersonal force with no personality; why is the Holy Ghost treated as if he has a personality and most interestingly, why is he always associated with the Father and the Son?</div> <div>      The Old Testament doesn't clearly identify the distinctions of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost within “God.” All it really does is refer to God in plural form (<I>Elohim</I>) and say there's only one God for the Israelites (prior to Second Isaiah) in opposition to the gods represented by the idols. Despite the obscurity, there are a number of OT passages which seem to point to the Holy Ghost (Job  33:4; Ps  51:11;  104:30; Isa  32:15;  44:3;  63:10-11; Ezek  36:26-27;  37:5-6,9-10,14;  39:29; Joel  2:28-29) but we have no way of knowing for sure if these passages are actually about the Holy Ghost.</div> <bR> <div> <B>HOLY BIBLE:</B></div> <bR> <div>      (1) John <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>14:16 And I will pray the Father, and <I>he shall give you another Comforter,</I> that he may abide with you for ever.</div> <bR> <div>      (2) John <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>14:17,26  [Even] <I>the Spirit of truth;</I> whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, <I>neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you</I> ... <I>But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost</I>, whom the Father will send in my name, <I>he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,</I> whatsoever I have said unto you.</div> <bR> <div>      (3) John <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>15:26 But when the Comforter is come, <I>whom I will send </I>unto you from the Father, even<I> the Spirit of truth</I>, which proceedeth from the Father, <I>he shall testify of me.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (4) John <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>16:7-8,13-14 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the <I>Comforter</I> will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send <I>him</I> unto you. And when <I>he</I> is come, <I>he will reprove the world of sin,</I> and of righteousness, and of judgement ... Howbeit when<I> he,</I> the Spirit of truth, is come,<I> he will guide you into all truth:</I> for <I>he</I> shall not speak of <I>himself</I>; but<I> whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:</I> and <I>he will show you things to come</I>. <I>He</I> shall glorify me: for <I>he</I> shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.</div> <bR> <div>      (5) Acts<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 5:32 And <I>we are his witnesses of these things; and [so is] also the Holy Ghost</I>, whom God hath given to them that obey him.</div> <div>  </div> <div>      (6) Acts<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 8:29 Then <I>the Spirit said</I> unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.</div> <bR> <div>      (7) Acts <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>13:2-4 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, <I>the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul</I> for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So <I>they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, </I>departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.</div> <bR> <div>      (8) Acts <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>15:28 For <I>it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us,</I> to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things.</div> <bR> <div>      (9) Acts <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>21:11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said,<I> Thus saith the Holy Ghost, </I>so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.</div> <bR> <div>      (10) Rom<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 8:16,26-27 <I>The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit</I>, that we are the children of God ... <I>Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities</I>: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but <I>the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings </I>which cannot be uttered. And <I>he that searcheth the hearts knoweth </I>what is<I> the mind of the Spirit,</I> because <I>he maketh intercession for the saints</I> according to the will of God.</div> <bR> <div>      (11) 1 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 2:10-11 But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit<I>: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God</I>. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so<I> the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. </I></div> <bR> <div>      (12) 1 Cor <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame<I> Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (13) Eph<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 4:30 And <I>grieve not the holy Spirit of God</I>, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.</div> <bR> <div> <B>     (1) John </B> <B>14:16</B> Jesus says the Father will send another “<I>allos</I>” (243/257)  [like himself] Paraclete to these members. If the Holy Ghost was an  impersonal force, Jesus probably would've used the word “<I>heteros</I>” (2087/2283) [unlike himself] in reference to the Holy Ghost since Jesus was a self-aware being with individual personality. (See Chapter 3).</div> <div>      The Holy Ghost is our Paraclete/Advocate/Comforter (John  14:16,26;  15:26;  16:13; Rom  8:26-27; Moro  8:26; D&C  21:9)<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >1</FONT> just as Jesus is (1 Jn  2:1 cf. John  17:20-24; Rom  8:26,34; Heb  7:25; 2 Ne  2:9-10).<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >2</FONT> A Paraclete (“called to the side”)<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >3</FONT> intercedes on behalf of another. He is a mediator, intercessor or helper. He speaks in one's defense and pleads one's cause.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >4</FONT> The Holy Ghost is Jesus' alte r ego<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >5</FONT> and  replacement,<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >6</FONT> and is modeled after Jesus.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >7</FONT> If Jesus has personality, so does the Holy Ghost.</div> <div>      <B>(2) John </B> <B>14:17,26</B> The Holy Ghost is knowable to the righteous followers of Christ but is unknowable to those who aren't.  He has interpenetration with them. Every instance in the New Testament that described interpenetration always does it in reference to sentient beings such as the Father, Son, Jesus Christ's true disciples ... and also the Holy Ghost. If the Father, Son and the righteous Christians are self-aware sentient beings with personality, likewise the Holy Ghost. He teaches the Truth and causes the members to remember the words of Christ. The description of the Holy Ghost is one of him being a personage, not an nonpersonal force.</div> <div> <B>     (3) John </B> <B>15:26</B> The Paraclete/Comforter (Holy Ghost) will be sent to the Christians to testify of Jesus. <B>(4) John </B> <B>16:7-8,13-14</B> This passage shows the Holy Ghost has  personality and will bring awareness of sin, righteousness and judgment. He guides into all  Truth, reveals the future and glory of Jesus. He  speaks God's will and not his own. These show he has independent will and is self-aware since Jesus said the same thing in reference to himself while being a self-aware entity with personality (John  12:49). Jesus said he won't do anything on his own volition but will do his Father's desires and will only say what the Father told him to say (John  5:19,30,37;  6:38;  7:16-18;  8:26,28-29,40,42). This is identical with how he described what the Holy Ghost will do and say.  If Jesus is a personal being; so is the Holy Ghost.</div> <div>      <B>(5) Acts</B> <B> 5:32</B> This verse describes these Christians as witnesses as well as the Holy Ghost. Since these Christians are fellow-witnesses with the Holy Ghost, if they are sentient beings, likewise the Holy Ghost. Only rational beings are allowed to be witnesses.</div> <div>      <B>(6) Acts</B> <B> 8:29</B> &<B> (7) Acts </B> <B>13:2-4 </B>The Holy Ghost commands the missionaries of the church and sends them on their missions.</div> <div>      <B>(8) Acts </B> <B>15:28 </B>James mentions a perception these Christians and the Holy Ghost had concerning the requirements for Gentile admission into the church. “<I>It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us ...</I>” If the Christians at this council were self-aware entities,  likewise the Holy Ghost.</div> <div>      <B>(9) Acts </B> <B>21:11</B> The Holy Ghost prophesies via the prophets. <B>(10) Rom</B> <B> 8:16,26-27</B> The Holy Ghost witnesses to us that we are children of God. He strengthens our weaknesses and <I>prays to the Father on our behalf.</I> Heavenly Father knows the mind of the Holy Ghost which shows the Holy Ghost has  independent rational thought and isn't an impersonal force just as Jesus has independent will (Matt  26:38-39,42; Luke  22:42-44; John  5:21,30;  6:38;  7:16-18). <I>How can Heavenly Father know the mind of the Holy Ghost if the Holy Ghost doesn't have a mind</I>? (Since an impersonal force doesn't have a mind!)</div> <div> <B>     (11) 1 Cor</B> <B> 2:10-11</B> The Holy Ghost plumbs the very depths of God. No man can understand a man's thoughts except the man's spirit himself; likewise it is only the Spirit of God that comprehends the thoughts of God. Could a non-personal force<I> understand </I>God's thoughts? Understanding implies comprehension. Comprehension implies intelligence. Intelligence implies  personality. The Holy Ghost has to be an entity and not an impersonal force.</div> <div>      <B>(12) 1 Cor </B> <B>12:11</B> The Holy Ghost parcels out different fruits of the Spirit in accordance with his will. He has independent will and can think for himself <I>which is impossible for a non-sentient object.</I> </div> <div>      <B>(13) Eph</B> <B> 4:30</B> The Holy Ghost can experience sorrow. He can be grieved by man. This proves he is a personal sentient being since <I>impersonal energies can't feel grief.</I></div> <bR> <div>      The Holy Ghost is often mentioned as he, him, himself, he will teach, he will reprove, he shall testify, he will guide, he will speak, he will show, he communicates his will and reveals the future. Only a being with personality and member of the Godhead can do all of these things. Sure, the specific Greek word for “spirit” is neuter, but <I>“spirit” is described in such a way that the Holy Ghost can only be a self-aware entity.</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>     These passages prove the Holy Ghost is indeed a self-aware being who possesses rational and emotional ability. He really exists and </B> <B>isn't an impersonal force.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[ENDNOTES]:</B></div> <bR> <div> 1.Also see D&C  24:5;  28:1;  31:11;  35:19;  36:2;  39:6;  42:16-17;  47:4;  50:14,17;  52:9;  75:10,27;  79:2;  88:3-4;  90:11,14;  124:97; Mos  6:61.</div> <div> 2.Also see Jac  3:1; Mosi  15:8; Moro  7:28; D&C  29:5;  32:3;  38:4;  45:3;  62:1;  110:4.</div> <div> 3.DB. p. 636.</div> <div> 4.NIDNTT. 1:88-91; EBD. Advocate.</div> <div> 5.UDNT. p. 228.</div> <div> 6.ABD. 1:87; 5:152-153; 168; MDB. p. 13.</div> <div> 7.DJG. p. 349.</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:ewatson@shaw.ca" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:ewatson@shaw.ca"><U>e-mail me!</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>