The Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost.

There is something quite unnerving in trying to comprehend, let alone explain the existence of a spiritual concept that involves both a ghost and being holy.

Ghosts? One is likely to have mental images ranging from floating, pale apparitions lingering around graveyards and haunted castles; or Patrick Swayze refusing to shake off his mortal coil completely, while he rescues his newly widowed wife Demi Moore from evil forces in the spiritually simplistic, yet tear jerking film “Ghost.”

So, what is the Holy Ghost?

St. Augustine, speaking with diffidence, says: "In no other subject is the danger of erring so great, or the progress so difficult, or the fruit of a careful study so appreciable". And in fact the more one gets into it, the more the Holy Ghost comes across as the workhorse of the Trinity, albeit for most of the time keeping a low profile. When he does appear, it is dramatic to say the least. Theologian Vladimir Lossky has argued that while in the act of the Incarnation, God the Son became manifest as the Son of God, the same did not take place for God the Holy Spirit which remained unrevealed.

Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost is a term found in English translations of the Bible. The word "Spirit" is used in both the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and the New Testament. 20th Century translations of the Bible overwhelmingly prefer "Holy Spirit", probably because the general English term "ghost" has increasingly come to refer only to the spirit of a dead person.

The Hebrew Bible contains the term "Spirit of God" in the sense of the might of a unitary God. This meaning is different from the Christian concept of "Holy Spirit" as one personality of God in the Trinity. For the large majority of Christians, The Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) is the third divine person of The Trinity: The "Triune God" manifested as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; each aspect itself being God.

The Holy Spirit intervention can be either a temporary or permanent gift. In the Old Testament and Jewish thought, it is primarily temporary with a specific situation or task in mind, whereas in the Christian concept the gift resides in man permanently.

The Holy Spirit is The Creator Spirit, present before the creation of the universe and through his power everything was made in Jesus Christ, by God the Father.

The Holy Ghost is a Person really distinct as such from the Father and the Son.

The Son proceeds from the Father; the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father and the Son.

He is the Sanctifier of souls, the Helper, Comforter, the Giver of graces, he who leads souls to the Father and the Son.

We attribute to the Father the perfection of omnipotence, with its most striking manifestations, e.g. the Creation, because He is the principle of the two other Persons; to the Son we attribute wisdom and the works of wisdom, because He proceeds from the Father by the Intellect; to the Holy Ghost we attribute the operations of grace and the sanctification of souls, and in particular spiritual gifts and fruits.

The gifts of the Holy Ghost are of two kinds: the first are specially intended for the sanctification of the person who receives them; the second, called charismata, are extraordinary favours granted for the help of another.

We find nine charismata mentioned: the gift of speaking with wisdom, the gift of speaking with knowledge, faith, the grace of healing, the gift of miracles, the gift of prophecy, the gift of discerning spirits, the gift of tongues, and the gift of interpreting speeches. The charismata, being extraordinary favours and not requisite for the sanctification of the individual, were not bestowed indiscriminately on all Christians. However, in the Apostolic Age, they were comparatively common, especially in the communities of Jerusalem, Rome, and Corinth. The reason of this may be that in the infant Churches the charismata were extremely useful, and even morally necessary, to strengthen the faith of believers, to make them reflect.

The Holy Spirit acts as comforter or, one who intercedes, or supports or acts as an advocate, particularly in times of trial.

The Holy Spirit also empowers the believers to act on Jesus behalf today here on earth operating in signs, wonders, and miracles like Jesus did and released his disciples to do in the Gospels. Jesus heals the sick and blesses little children by laying hands on them. In his name the apostles will do the same. Even more pointedly, it is by the Apostles' imposition of hands that the Holy Spirit is given.


There are a number of symbols associated with the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography:

1. A winged dove. When Christ comes up from the water of his baptism, the Holy Spirit, in the form of a dove, comes down upon him and remains with him.

2. Fire. Symbolizes the transforming energy of the Holy Spirit's actions. In the form of tongues "as of fire", the Holy Spirit rested on the disciples on the morning of Pentecost.

3. Cloud and light. The Spirit comes upon the Virgin Mary and "overshadows" her, so that she might conceive and give birth to Jesus. On the mountain of transfiguration, the Spirit in the "cloud came and overshadowed" Jesus, Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John, and "a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.

4. Wind. The Spirit is likened to the "wind that blows where it will," and described as "a sound from heaven like the rush of a mighty wind."

5. Water. Signifies the Holy Spirit's action in Baptism, such that in the manner that "by one Spirit [believers] were all baptized".

6. Oil. The symbolism of blessing or anointing with oil also signifies the Holy Spirit.


The New Testament details a close relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus during his earthly life and ministry.

• The participation of the Holy Spirit is apparent in Jesus' final Post Resurrection instruction to his disciples, "Make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

• The temptation of Jesus, where the Holy Spirit led Jesus to the desert to be tempted.

• The Spirit casting out demons in exorcising the blind and mute man miracle.

• The entire mission of the Son and the Holy Spirit, that the Son is the one anointed by the Father's Spirit since his Incarnation - Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah.

• Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world. He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus, to the Samaritan woman, and to those who take part in the feast of Tabernacles. To his disciples he speaks openly of the Spirit in connection with prayer and with the witness they will have to bear.

• Only when the hour has arrived for his glorification does Jesus promise the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will come and we shall know him; he will be with us forever; In his Farewell Discourse to his disciples, Jesus promised that he would "send the Holy Spirit" to them after his departure, stating: "whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth ... shall bear witness of me".

• When Jesus' hour arrives: he commends his spirit into the Father's hands at the very moment when by his death he conquers death, so that, "raised from the dead by the glory of the Father," he might immediately give the Holy Spirit by "breathing" on his disciples. From this hour onward, the mission of Christ and the Spirit becomes the mission of the Church: "As the Father has sent me, even so I send you."

• From the beginning to the end of time, whenever God sends his Son, he always sends his Spirit: their mission is conjoined and inseparable.


The Holy Spirit is present also prior to the birth of Jesus.

• John the Baptist was said to be "filled with the Holy Spirit" prior to birth.

• The Holy Spirit came upon the Virgin Mary. Mary is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In her, the "wonders of God" that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ and the Church began to be manifested.

• The Holy Spirit prepared Mary by his grace. In Mary, the Holy Spirit fulfills the plan of the Father's loving goodness. Through the Holy Spirit, the Virgin conceives and gives birth to the Son of God. Finally, through Mary, the Holy Spirit begins to bring men, into communion with Christ. And the humble are always the first to accept him: shepherds, Magi, Simeon and Anna, the bride and groom at Cana, and the first disciples.

John the Baptist stated that Jesus baptized not with water but with the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the cycle of prophets begun by Elijah. He proclaims the imminence of the consolation of Israel; he is the "voice" of the Consoler who is coming "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. . . . Behold, the Lamb of God." Finally, with John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to man of "the divine likeness," prefiguring what he would achieve with and in Christ. John's baptism was for repentance; baptism in water and the Spirit will be a new birth.

A good all round summery. There are Christians who believe the gifts or charismata were only for the apostolic age , and there is a great division between evangelicals and charismatic believers.

Personally, I can never really understand what Evangelicalism is, other than as a major part of mainline popular Protestantism. I don't know what the word entails other than that they are in fact Christians, in which case I think they should use the word "Christian". When people write for an "Evangelical" audience it is never clear who that includes; or, rather, it is never clear who that excludes, other than people who don't believe the gospel.

Likewise I do not understand any problems they have with charismata, unless it is viewed suspiciously as mainly Roman Catholic territory?

The word Christian is simply impossible to pin point. It could mean a church goer or a dedicated person who lives for others. So other terms have sprung into use here are a few:
A born again Christian; a true christian ; a Bible- based Christian; a Christ-centred Christian ; a believing Christian.
It is impossible to encapsulate lifestyles in a few words but we do our best.
What one man calls a Christian another would deny. The Pope is happy with the big-bang, the Church of England with women ministers.
You mention ' believing the Gospel ' well all the above varieties would claim they do.