3

<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><A HREF="id114.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="2"><U><B>2</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>3</B><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. 424-430. MORMONISM: Section 3, Chapter 3. All rights reserved.]    </B></div> <bR> <div> <U>CHAPTER 3</U></div> <bR> <div> <B>Is the Holy Ghost “God”?</B></div> <bR> <div>      This chapter isn't an attempt to combine the persons of the Holy Ghost and “God.” “God” is nearly always used in reference to Heavenly Father and is  frequently in distinction from Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. This isn't an attempt to say the Holy Ghost and the Father are the same entity, but is a study on the <I>nature</I> of the Holy Ghost. Does the Holy Ghost possess the “God” nature the Father and Son possess? In other words, is the Holy Ghost “God” just as the Father and Son are “God”?</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 <I>pray</I> the Father and he shall give you <I>another</I> [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>allos</I></FONT>] Comforter [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>parakl</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" ><I>‘</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>tos</I></FONT>], that <I>he</I> may abide with you forever.</div> <bR> <div>      (2) John <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>14:26 <I>But the Comforter </I>[<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>parakl</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" ><I>‘</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>tos</I></FONT>]<I>, [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 [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>parakl</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" ><I>‘</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>tos</I></FONT>] 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> [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>parakl</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" ><I>‘</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I>tos</I></FONT>] 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) Mark <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>13:11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, <I>but the Holy Ghost.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (6) Luke <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>12:12 For <I>the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say</I>.</div> <bR> <div>      (7) Luke<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 2:25-27 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and<I> the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, </I>that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And<I> he came by the Spirit</I> into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law.</div> <bR> <div>      (8) Acts<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 5:3-4 But Peter said, Ananias, why hast Satan filled thine heart<I> to lie to the Holy Ghost,</I> and to keep back part of the price of the land? whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart?<I> thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (9) Acts <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>16:6-7 Now when<I> they</I> had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and <I>were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.</I> After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia:<I> but the Spirit suffered them not.</I> </div> <bR> <div>      (10) Rom<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 8:11 But<I> if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus</I> from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. </div> <bR> <div>      (11) 1 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 2:10-11,13 But <I>God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: 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>Which things also we speak, <I>not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. </I></div> <bR> <div>      (12) 1 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but <I>ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (13) 1 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 6:19 What? Know ye not that <I>your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost</I> which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?- 1 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 3:16-17 Know ye not that<I> ye are the temple of God,</I> and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy: for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (2 Cor<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 6:16)</div> <bR> <div>      (14) Matt <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>12:31-32 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men; but<I> the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men</I>. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: <I>but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.</I> (See also Alma <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>39:6).</div> <bR> <div>      (15) Mark<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 3:29 But<I> he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (16) Luke <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>12:10 And <I>whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (17) 2 Pet<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but <I>holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (18) Heb <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>10:15-17 [Whereof] <I>the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, </I>This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. </div> <bR> <div> <B>LATTER-DAY SCRIPTURES:</B></div> <bR> <div>      (1) 1 Ne <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>11:11 And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof- for <I>I spake unto him as a man speaketh</I>: for<I> I beheld that he was in the form of a man;</I> yet nevertheless, I knew that <I>it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (2) 2 Ne <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>31:18 And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received t<I>he Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son,</I> unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive.</div> <bR> <div>      (3) 3 Ne <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>28:11 And <I>the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me;</I> and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me.</div> <bR> <div>      (4) Moro<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 6:9 And their meetings were conducted by the church after the manner of the workings of the Spirit, and by the power of the Holy Ghost; for as the power of <I>the Holy Ghost led them whether to preach, or to exhort, or to pray, or to supplicate, or to sing, even so it was done.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (5) D&C <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>36:2 And I will lay my hand upon you by the hand of my servant Sidney Rigdon, and you shall receive my Spirit<I>, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (6) D&C <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>42:17 For, behold, <I>the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (7) D&C <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>75:10 Calling on the name of the Lord for<I> the Comforter, which shall teach them all things that are expedient for them.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (8) D&C <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>79:2 And I will send upon him <I>the Comforter, which shall teach him the truth and the way whither he shall go.</I></div> <bR> <div>      (9) D&C <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>130:22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but <I>the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit</I>. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.</div> <bR> <div> <B>     (1) John </B> <B>14:16; (2) John </B> <B>14:26; (3) John </B> <B>15:26 & (4) John </B> <B>16:7-8,13-14</B> These four passages describe the Holy Ghost as the  Paraclete [<I>parakl</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="WP MultinationalA Roman" ><I>‘</I></FONT><I>tos</I>] of the members of the true church, just as Jesus is (John  14:16; 1 Jn  2:1; Rom  8:34; Heb  7:25). A Paraclete is a being who pleads one's cause. He  replaces Jesus. We can discern his  equality with Jesus because of how he's described and also because of Christ's usage of “<I>allos</I>” for another.</div> <bR> <div>      One of my favorite biblical passages is John  14:16, for a very good reason. In this one verse the equality and divinity of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are established. Just as “<I>erotao</I>” (not “<I>aiteo</I>”) supports the idea Jesus is equal with the Father, so does “<I>allos</I>” (243/257) not “<I>heteros</I>” (2087/2283) for the word “another,” supports the equality of the Holy Ghost with Christ and the Father.</div> <bR> <div>   `<I>Allos</I> and <I>heteros</I> have a difference in meaning, which despite a tendency to be lost, is to be observed in numerous passages.<I> Allos</I> expresses a numerical difference and denotes “another of the same sort”; <I>heteros</I> expresses a qualitative difference and denotes “another of a different sort.” Christ promised to send “another Comforter” (<I>allos</I>, “another like  Himself,” not <I>heteros</I>).'<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >1</FONT></div> <bR> <div>   `The use of <I>allos</I> and <I>heteros</I> in the New Testament should be carefully examined, for another numerically must not be confounded with another generically. Mr. Vine points this out in John 14:16. When Christ said, “I will make request of the Father, and He shall give you another Helper (<I>allon Parakleton</I>).” He made a tremendous claim both for Himself and for the Spirit, for <I>allos</I> here implies the personality of the Spirit, and the equality of both Jesus and the Spirit with the Father.'<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >2</FONT></div> <bR> <div>      The contrast of these two kinds of “another” is clearly visible in Gal  1:6-7 which says:</div> <bR> <div>   Gal<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> 1:6-7 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another [<I>heteros</I>] gospel: Which is not another [<I>allos</I>]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. </div> <bR> <div>      They abandoned the true Gospel and started following another [a different kind of] gospel. It isn't another [the same kind of gospel].</div> <div>      The Greek words “<I>allos</I>” and “<I>heteros</I>” are frequently interchangeable,<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >3</FONT> but “<I>allos</I>” is used more in the sense of “other/another” while “<I>heteros</I>” is used more in the sense of “different/another.” When “<I>heteros</I>” is used as “a distinguishing adj. or adv. it denotes something which is not identical with what has been referred to previously. This may involve a more or less pronounced qualitative distinction, in which case the term acquires theological significance.”<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >4</FONT></div> <div>      Catherine was making snacks for her children and asked her six year old son to help her by getting some fruit from the refrigerator. Her son brought back two apples. She told him, “Please get me another fruit.”</div> <div>      In English, the word “another” doesn't convey what kind of fruit she's asking for but if she said in Greek, “Please get me another [<I>allos</I>] fruit” her son would understand her to mean get “another of the same sort,” meaning, “get another apple.” If she said “Please get me another [<I>heteros</I>] fruit” he would understand her to mean “get another fruit but a different kind.” He would consequently get a different kind of fruit like an orange or a pear.</div> <div>      Jesus Christ's usage of <I>allos</I> shows he was describing the Holy Ghost to be a replica of whatever he was.<B> If Jesus is “God” the Holy Ghost is also “God.”</B></div> <div> <B>     (5) Mark </B> <B>13:11</B> & <B>(6) Luke </B> <B>12:12</B> The Holy Ghost speaks through us at our time of need and we can't be confounded since God is speaking through us. <B>(7) Luke</B> <B> 2:25-27</B> The Holy Ghost descends upon men,  reveals the future and acts as if he's God by promising this man he won't die until he sees the Messiah. Who else but  God can make such a guarantee?</div> <div> <B>     (8) Acts</B> <B> 5:3-4</B> Peter said Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost, and then said: “<I>thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.</I> <B>Peter referred to the Holy Ghost as “God.” (9) 1 Cor</B> <B> 2:10-11</B> The Holy Ghost is omniscient (cf. D&C  42:17). Only God is omniscient, therefore he is God.</div> <div> <I>     </I><B>(10) 1 Cor</B> <B> 6:11</B> Jesus and the Holy Ghost are in a state of equality without any hint of dominance of one over the other. <B>(11) 1 Cor</B> <B> 6:19</B>  Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost but 1 Cor  3:16-17 and 2 Cor  6:16 say our bodies are the temple of God which shows Paul viewed the Holy Ghost to be God.</div> <div>      <B>(12) Matt </B> <B>12:31-32</B>; <B>(13) Mark</B> <B> 3:29</B> & <B>(14) Luke </B> <B>12:10</B> These mention  blaspheming against the Holy Ghost is an unpardonable sin (Alma  39:6) which could only occur if the Holy Ghost possesses a certain attribute normally found in deity that has serious consequences for mortals when transgressed (also see Isa  63:10 (?); Eph  4:30; Heb  6:4-6;  10:29; 1 Jn  5:16-17).</div> <div>      <B>(15) 2 Pet</B> <B> 1:21</B> The Holy Ghost is  responsible for prophecies found in the OT (Neh  9:30; Matt  22:43-44; Acts  1:16;  28:25) but the OT mentions the one responsible is God (Num  11:25-26; 1 Sam  10:6,10;  19:20-21,23-24; 2 Sam  23:2; Ezra  6:14; Isa  8:1;  30:8; Jer  1:9;  26:12;  36:4; Ezek  3:27;  4:7;  6:2;  11:4;  13:2;  20:46;  21:2,9,14,28;  30:2;  37:7; Amos  3:7;  7:15; etc.). As a result, the  Holy Ghost is also God.</div> <div>      <B>(16) Heb </B> <B>10:15</B> Mentions the Holy Ghost was the one who said an OT promise which is found in Jer  31:33-34:</div> <bR> <div>   Heb <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>10:15-17 [Whereof] <I>the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,</I></div> <bR> <div> <I>  This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. </I></div> <bR> <div>   Jer <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>31:33-34 <I>But this [shall be] the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts</I>; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive<I> their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.</I></div> <bR> <div>      Jer  31:33-34 says Jehovah (YHWH) was the one who said the statement Heb  10:15-17 attributes to the Holy Ghost. This shows the Hebraist viewed the Holy Ghost as being God.</div> <bR> <div>      Both the Bible and the Latter-day Scriptures describe the Holy Ghost as “God.” He possesses the “God” nature just as we possess the “Man” nature. </div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>The Holy Ghost is God!</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>[ENDNOTES]:</B></div> <bR> <div> 1.VEDBW-NT. p. 29.</div> <div> 2.VEDBW-NT. Foreword.</div> <div> 3.GELNT-SD. 58.36-37; TDNT. 1:264-265; 2:702-704; BAGD. pp. 39-40,315; NIDNTT. 2:739-742.</div> <div> 4.TDNT. 2:702.</div> <bR> <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>