Holy Ghost

Also known as: Comforter / Spirit / Spirit of God / Spirit of his Son / Spirit of the Lord / Spirit of truth / the Spirit / the Spirit of Christ / the Spirit of the Lord / the Spirit of truth / the eternal Spirit · Family: heavenly · Role: divine spirit · First appears: Matthew 1

In Matthew 1 and Luke 1, the Holy Ghost is associated with Jesus’ conception through Mary the mother of Jesus, while Elisabeth is filled with the Holy Ghost and Simeon receives revelation from him. “When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” In Luke 3, the Holy Ghost descends upon Jesus as God declares him his beloved Son; in Mark 12, David speaks by the Holy Ghost.

In John 14–16, the Holy Ghost is promised by God and Jesus as the Comforter and Spirit of truth: he will teach and remind Thomas, Philip, Judas (not Iscariot), and other followers of Jesus, testify of Jesus, reprove the world, guide believers into truth, reveal future things, and glorify Jesus. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

Through Acts, the Holy Ghost directs Philip and Peter, carries Philip away after the encounter with the eunuch, and falls upon both Jewish and Gentile hearers. He guides Agabus to foretell famine and Paul’s suffering, and sends Barnabas and Paul to their work; through Esaias, he reveals that God’s salvation will be sent to the Gentiles. “Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

In the later writings, the Holy Ghost reveals and teaches spiritual truths, makes believers’ bodies temples belonging to God, enables confession that Jesus is Lord, and baptizes believers into one body belonging to Jesus. God sends the Spirit of his Son into believers’ hearts; believers are told to walk in and be led by the Spirit. The Holy Ghost signifies the former concealment of access to the holiest, works with Jesus’ offering of himself to God, bears witness to Jesus, and is named with God and the Word as one who bears record in heaven; with the bride, the Spirit says, “Come.”