Is the Holy Spirit a Person? What the Bible Really Teaches About the Spirit of God

IN MODERN Christianity, the Holy Spirit is often described as the third person of a triune God. But is this idea biblical? Is the Holy Spirit truly a separate person, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son? Or does Scripture present the Holy Spirit differently—as the very power and presence of God, not a distinct person?

To answer these questions, we must look deeply into both the Old and New Testaments and examine the meaning of the words used to describe the Holy Spirit. We will also consider the metaphors used, the functions attributed to the Spirit, and insights from biblical scholarship.

God’s Spirit in the Old Testament

The first mention of the Holy Spirit occurs in the opening verses of the Bible:

“And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2, NKJV).

The Hebrew word used for "spirit" here is ruach, which also means breath, wind, or air in motion. This word is not used to describe a person but a force or presence—God’s active energy working in creation. The same ruach is used in Job 33:4:

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

We find no indication in the Old Testament that God’s Spirit was a separate being from God. Instead, it is consistently portrayed as God’s power, His creative force, or His sustaining presence. Isaiah 40:13 asks,

“Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, or as His counselor has taught Him?”

The Spirit is under God’s direction—not an independent entity.

God's Spirit Inspiring Craftsmen, Kings, Judges, and Prophets

In Exodus 31, the Holy Spirit is again mentioned as something that can be "filled", giving inspiration and wisdom to a person. To an artistic craftsman Bezalel, the LORD said:

"And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze.." (Exodus 31:3-4)

Throughout the Old Testament, the Spirit of God empowered individuals for specific tasks.

The Spirit came upon judges like Gideon (Judges 6:34), Samson (Judges 14:6), and upon prophets like Isaiah (Isaiah 61:1), Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:2), and kings like David (1 Samuel 16:13) were directly inspired and moved by the Spirit.

In none of these passages is the Spirit given a personal identity. Instead, it is God’s way of interacting with His servants, imparting wisdom, strength, and divine inspiration. The Spirit's presence empowered individuals to lead, prophesy, or perform skilled work.

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

In the Greek New Testament, the word for Spirit is pneuma, which, like ruach, means breath or wind. Pneuma is neuter in gender, not masculine. This grammatical detail has led many scholars to question the personhood ascribed to the Holy Spirit by later creeds.

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit as a “Comforter” in John 14:16–17:

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper [Comforter], that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth…”

Some argue that this proves personhood. However, the Greek word translated “Comforter” is parakletos, which simply means advocate or one called alongside to help. This can describe a role or function, not necessarily a person. Moreover, in verses 18 and 23, Jesus clarifies that He Himself will come to them and dwell in them—through the Spirit:

“I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” (v.18)“We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (v.23)

Clearly, the Spirit is the presence of both the Father and the Son—not a third divine being.

The Holy Spirit in Acts and Paul’s Epistles

In Acts 1:8, Jesus said:

“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”

The Holy Spirit is equated with power, not personhood. This matches Luke 1:35, where the angel tells Mary:

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you.”

Paul repeatedly describes the Holy Spirit in functional terms. In Romans 8:11, he says the Spirit is what raised Jesus from the dead. In Galatians 5:22–23, Paul lists the “fruit of the Spirit”—love, joy, peace, etc.—as qualities developed in believers, not traits of a person.

In 1 Corinthians 2:11, Paul draws a parallel between the "spirit of man" and the "Spirit of God", emphasizing understanding and communication—not personhood.

“For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.”

The Attributes of the Spirit: Symbols of Power, Not Personhood.

The Bible uses various metaphors for the Holy Spirit—none of which suggest a person:

Oil (1 Samuel 16:13) – symbolizes anointing and consecration.

Fire (Acts 2:3) – represents purifying and energizing power.

Wind (John 3:8) – denotes invisibility and sovereignty.

Water (John 7:38–39) – signifies refreshment and life-giving sustenance.

A dove (Matthew 3:16) – points to gentleness and peace.

None of these images imply a conscious being. They describe the effects of the Spirit, not a separate personality.

Scholarly Perspectives

Even many theologians acknowledge the tension in Trinitarian doctrine regarding the Holy Spirit. The New Catholic Encyclopedia (1967, Vol. 14, p. 574) admits:

“The Old Testament clearly does not envisage God’s Spirit as a person... God's spirit is simply God's power.”

Scholar Alvan Lamson wrote in The Church of the First Three Centuries:

“The modern doctrine of the Trinity is not found in any document or fragment belonging to the Church of the first three centuries.”

Indeed, the full personhood of the Spirit is a later doctrinal development—solidified at the Council of Constantinople in 381 AD, more than 300 years after Christ.

Conclusion: God’s Spirit, Not a Separate Person

The biblical evidence consistently presents the Holy Spirit as the power, breath, and presence of God, not a distinct person alongside the Father and the Son. Both the Hebrew ruach and the Greek pneuma emphasize function, not individuality. The Spirit works within believers, inspires the prophets, and empowers the Church—but always under the direction of God.

To say the Holy Spirit is a person is to go beyond the Bible’s clear teaching. Rather, we are called to receive the Spirit of God into our lives, allowing His power to transform us into the image of His Son.

As Paul wrote:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)

With the Holy Spirit there's true freedom indeed, and unlimited potential! (Not limit imposed by the Trinity doctrine.)

References:

New Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. 14, 1967

Alvan Lamson, The Church of the First Three Centuries

James Strong, Strong’s Concordance, Hebrew and Greek Lexicons

George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament

F.F. Bruce, The Epistles of Paul