BLACK BLUE RED GREEN OTHER
my words SCRIPTURE, or Scriptural perspective WT view / quotes / info PERSONALITY concept EMPHASIS
WT Point "A" ~ ABSENCE of Greek Definite Article "THE"

Anglican, Baptist, Brethren, Eastern & Greek Orthodox, Lutheran, Mennonite, Methodist, Missionary, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, United, Wesleyan (etc., etc.) folks believe in the doctrine of "The Trinity".

The WT formed the following dramatic conclusion from a Greek fact that appears to
DESTROY the theology of THE TRINITY.

"
Lacks personal identification -- Since God himself is a Spirit & is holy & since all his faithful angelic sons are spirits & are holy, it is evident that
if the 'holy spirit' were a person there should reasonably be given some means in the Scriptures to distinguish & identify such spirit person from all these other 'holy spirits.' It would be expected that, at the very least, the DEFINITE article ['the'] would be used with it [i.e. words 'holy spirit'] in all cases where it is not called 'God's holy spirit' or is not modified by some similar expression. This would at least distinguish it as THE Holy Spirit. But, to the contrary, in a large number of cases [47 in the Kingdom Interlinear] the expression 'HOLY SPIRIT' appears in the original Greek WITHOUT the ARTICLE, thus INDICATING ITS LACK of PERSONALITY." [Insight p.1019, & Aid p.1543]

! ! ! WOW ! ! !

IF the above CONCLUSION is JUSTIFIED, then the doctrine of "The Trinity" is totally destroyed!
You cannot have
a (
God The Father, & God The Son, & God The - active force, non-person - Spirit) TRI-UNITY,
because they are not equal
Persons,
IF one 'member' is an
" IT ".

***

Insight, Angel, Vol.1, p.106 reads:
"Personality.
Some may
DENY distinct personality of individual angels,
claiming they are impersonal forces of energy

dispatched to accomplish the will of God,
but the Bible teaches otherwise.
Individual names imply individuality.
The fact that TWO of their names, Michael and Gabriel, are given
establishes the point sufficiently. (Da 12:1; Lu 1:26)"

IRONIC  WOW !!!
The WT DEFENDS the personality of angel-pneuma-spirits
but DENIES the personality of
THE Spirit THE Holy-Pneuma.

***

But can it be PROVED that the definite article " THE " is ABSENT ?

Fact#1 - IT'S TRUE!
The expression 'holy spirit' does appear in the Greek text, without the definite article " THE " !
Check out the following references in any Greek New Testament
(or Greek-English Interlinear, especially the Kingdom Interlinear)
& discover an interesting fact that your favourite author, pastor, priest, preacher, or Bible-teacher probably never told you about
.

Power of holy spirit - Lk.1:35; Rom.15:13,19
holy spirit Given / Received - Lk.11:13; Jn.20:22; Acts 8:15,17,19; 19:2
holy spirit Comes Upon - Lk.1:35; 2:25
Baptized In / With holy spirit - Mt.3:11; Mk.1:8; Lk.3:16; Jn.1:33; Acts 1:5; 11:16
Through / By holy spirit - Mt.1:18,20; Acts 1:2; 4:25; Rom.5:5; 1Cor.12:3; 2Cor.6:6; 2Tim.1:14; Titus 3:5; 2Pet.1:21
With / In / Of holy spirit - Acts 10:38; Rom.9:1; 14:17; 15:16; Heb.2:4; 6:4; 1Pet.1:12; Jude 1:20
Full Of / Filled With holy spirit - Lk.1:15,41,67; 4:1; Acts 2:4; 4:8; 6:5; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9,52
  • Greek text PROVES the definite article 'the' is ABSENT in above verses.
  • Context PROVES the emphasis is on 'POWER' or a 'FORCE' not a 'PERSON'.
  • The expression 'holy spirit' is defined by Scripture as the "FREE GIFT OF GOD" (Acts 8:15-20), & as the "POWER FROM ON HIGH" (compare Lk.24:49 with Acts 2:4).
  • The above is confirmed by this powerful commentary: "God joined in bearing witness with SIGNS as well as PORTENTS & various POWERFUL WORKS & with DISTRIBUTIONS of HOLY SPIRIT according to His will" (Heb.2:4).

But what does FACT #1 mean?

Does the missing Greek article 'the' prove that The Holy Spirit is just a force, power or energy ?

2 additional crucial FACTS (#2 & #3) must be considered re: WT Point "A".

Fact#2 - The Greek Scriptures use
5 grammatical constructions referring to HOLY pneuma.
(1) spirit (pneuma) - See Jn.3:5,6; 4:23,24; Rom.8:4; Rev.1:10; 4:2; 17:3.
  • "SPIRIT" + ABSENCE of Greek definite article 'the', supports "LACK of Personality" premise.
(2) holy spirit - See Lk.11:13; Acts 1:2; 4:25; Rom.14:17; 15:13,16,19.
  • "Holy SPIRIT" + ABSENCE of 'the', also supports "LACK of Personality" premise.
(3) THE Spirit - See Mt.4:1; Acts 2:4; 5:9; 8:29; 16:7; Rom.8:9-11,16,26,27.
  • "SPIRIT" + PRESENCE of 'the', supports "PERSONALITY" concept.
(4) THE Holy Spirit - See Mt.28:19; Lk.12:10,12; Acts 9:31; 16:6; 2Cor.13:14.
  • "Holy SPIRIT" + PRESENCE of 'the', also supports "PERSONALITY" concept.
(5) THE Spirit THE Holy - See Acts 1:16; 5:3,32; 7:51; 13:2; 20:23,28; 21:11; Heb.3:7; 9:8.
  • PRESENCE of 2 articles - THE Spirit THE Holy (One) - is dramatically PERSON oriented !
(1) & (2) possibly [see Fact #3] supports the "FORCE" concept.

(3) & (4) & (5) neutralizes (1) & (2), & strongly supports the "PERSONALITY" concept.

The Greek Scriptures emphasize:

  • the POWER of The Holy Spirit, when the Greek definite article 'the' is absent.
  • the PERSON of The Holy Spirit, when the Greek definite article 'the' is present.

- - -

In language, the presence of a definite article is much more significant & specific
than an indefinite article
(or the absence of a definite article).
And the presence of an adjective strengthens the identification -- dramatically.
What happened to you? It was a man (1) who hit me.
It was a tall man (2) who hit me.
Can you be more specific?

Yes, it was the man (3) in this photo who hit me.
It was
the tall man (4) in this photo who hit me.
It definitely was
THE man THE tall man (5) in this photo who hit me.

But I don't know his NAME
(see WT Point "E").

In court, most witnesses identify criminal PERSONS by things OTHER THAN THEIR NAME !
THE SPIRIT THE HOLY ONE, the author of Scripture (Heb.3:7,8; 9:8; 10:15-17),
chose to identify Himself by His nature, attributes, character.

- - -

Fact#3 - The Greek grammatical construction for Unclean / Wicked PNEUMA (F#3)
is
IDENTICAL with the Greek grammatical construction for HOLY PNEUMA (in F#2)!
[Check any Interlinear, especially the
WT Kingdom Interlinear.]
(1) spirit (pneuma - i.e. 'demons' in this chart) - Lk.9:39; 13:11; 2Cor.11:4; 2Th.2:2; 1Jn.4:1,3

(plural) spirits - Mt.12:45; Lk.11:26; 1Cor.12:10; Rev.16:13,14

(2) unclean spirit - Mk.1:23; 3:30; 5:2; 7:25; 9:17; Acts 16:16; Rev.18:2

(plural) unclean spirits - Mt.10:1; Lk.6:18; 7:21; 8:2; Acts 5:16; 8:7

(3) THE spirit - Mk.9:20; Acts 16:18; Eph.2:2 (Satan); 1Jn.4:3

(plural) THE spirits - Mt.8:16; Lk.10:20; 1Jn.4:1

(4) THE unclean spirit - Mt.12:43; Mk.9:25; Lk.11:24

(plural) THE unclean spirits - Lk.4:36

(5) THE spirit THE unclean - Mk.1:26; 5:8; 9:25; Lk.8:29; 9:42; Acts 19:15,16

(plural) THE spirits THE unclean - Mk.1:27; 3:11; 5:13; 6:7; Acts 19:12,13

  • The Scriptures in FACT #3 reveal that demon (1) spirit(s), & (2) unclean-spirit(s), & (3) The spirit(s), & (4) The Unclean spirit(s), & (5) The spirit(s) The UNCLEAN are all busy personalities.
  • The ABSENT Greek definite article 'the' is not a factor, & does not call into question whether demon (1) spirit or (1) spirits, or (2) unclean spirit or (2) unclean spirits are personalities or not.
  • The block-buster implication of F#3 is that it totally & completely refutes the premise that the absent definite article indicates lack of personality!
  • Therefore, the personality of The Spirit The HOLY cannot be cancelled by this identical point of Greek grammar !!!
  • In light of F#2 & #3, how can the WT continue to claim (before Jehovah God) that the "the expression 'HOLY SPIRIT' appears in the original Greek WITHOUT the ARTICLE, thus INDICATING ITS LACK of PERSONALITY." ???
  • Option 1: The WT (& each JW) could simply ignore the truth of what the Greek text & context reveals.
  • Option 2: The WT (or individual JWs) could accept the truth of what the Greek text & context reveals.
  • Option 3: The WT (& therefore all JWs worldwide) could adopt a new theory that "unclean spirits" are Satan's ACTIVE FORCES(!!!) to supports its other theory that "holy spirit" is God's ACTIVE FORCE.

RESEARCH about: " THE > SPIRIT -- THE > HOLY (ONE) "
Is "The Holy Spirit" a FORCE, or a Sentient BEING -- or BOTH ?

The Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society's view on "The Holy Spirit"
deviates dramatically from the over-whelming majority of Bible-believing Christians, scholars, & researchers.
WT dictionaries contain the following very brazen & shocking statement that summarizes their view
& executes THE SPIRIT THE HOLY ONE !!!.

" The Scriptures themselves unite to show that
God's HOLY SPIRIT is NOT a
PERSON
but is God's active FORCE

by which he accomplishes his purpose and executes his will
."

Insight p.1019, & Aid p.1543 ~ INSIGHT On The Scriptures (1988) is the updated version of AID To Bible Understanding (1971)

WOW !!! ~ IF The Holy Spirit is just a force, then I (& any truth-seeker)
would be compelled by intellectual honesty & integrity, to abandon belief in the Trinity & become a JW !!!
An honest, careful, thorough comparison of WT opinion with Scriptural evidence, shows there is no need to accept WT conclusions.

I don't view my work as a THEOLOGICAL DEBATE. There's no prize for the winner.
This research is to help JWs think about their eternal destiny -- it's about you & God, not about me.
If WT teaching is wrong, you are picking a fight with the most AWESOME BEING in the universe!
The Holy Spirit has emotion (intellect & will) & can be INSULTED & OUTRAGED !!!
Heb.10:26-31 warns:
For if we practice sin willfully {or stubbornly, or mindlessly, or blindly, or foolishly} after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins left, 27 but [there is] a certain fearful expectation of judgment & [there is] a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition. 28 Any man that has disregarded the law of Moses dies without compassion, upon the testimony of two or three. 29 Of how much more severe a punishment, do YOU think, will the man be counted worthy who has trampled upon the Son of God & who has esteemed as of ordinary value the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, & who has OUTRAGED THE SPIRIT of undeserved kindness with contempt? 30 For we know him that said: "Vengeance is mine; I will recompense"; & again: "Jehovah will judge his people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of [the] living God.
According to WT opinion:
  • only God the Father is Jehovah
  • The (Paraclete) Holy Spirit = God's Active Force
  • Jesus is a sub-God (a.k.a Michael the archangel).
  • According to Scripture:
  • Jesus is our Paraclete (Lawyer / Advocate) ~ 1Jn.2:1
  • The Holy Spirit is also our Paraclete ~ Jn.14:16,26; 15:26; 16:27

  • (Greek allos = another of the same kind -- not different-kind-heteros).

    Therefore:
  • God The Father -- as the Active Force PARACLETE -- is same as Jesus, & must be demoted to the archangel level.


  • Or, God The (Paraclete) Son must be elevated to equality with God The Father.
  • And God The Spirit -- as same as Jesus PARACLETE -- must be promoted to equal Personhood & Godhood !!!
  • In other words, The Trinity is alive & well.
    Like the atheist who doesn't believe in God, JWs are in for a shock when they meet THE SPIRIT THE HOLY Paraclete-Lawyer-Advocate.

    Because of deliberate, consistent, repeated, systematic emphasis, programming & reinforcement
    (a.k.a. re-education, conditioning, mind control, thought reform, brain washing),
    JWs automatically equate & substitute the Bible expression
    "The Holy Spirit" with the WT's phrase "Active Force",
    e
    ven though
    the "Active Force" phrase is a MISTRANSLATION & found only ONCE in their own Bible!!! See the NWT at Gen.1:2.

    Click here for more detail, & the WT's 28 Meanings / Senses / Interpretation-opinions for "ruach" & "pneuma" ( spirit ).


    SCRIPTURE distinguishes between:
  • The Awesome PERSON & the awesome POWER of The Holy Spirit (throughout Scripture)

  • The GIVER & the GIFT -- in Acts 2:4 for example:
    "...they all became filled with HOLY SPIRIT & started to speak with different tongues,
    just as
    THE SPIRIT
    was GRANTING them to make utterance".
    So obviously "pneuma" is not POWER-only or PERSON-only.
    The truth is that HE is an Awesome PERSON
    AND demonstrates HIS Awesome POWER.

  •  

    WT Basis for "FORCE" Concept

    My Response

     

    Scripture Basis for "PERSON" Concept

    A Absent Greek Definite Article 'the' Fact, BUT... A1 Comparison Chart: - DEMON pneuma (spirit)
    A2 Demon-Pneuma-Spirits are Sentient Beings
    A3 ABSENT Greek 'the' = Awesome POWER
    A4 PRESENT Greek 'the' = Awesome PERSON
    B Pneuma = Neuter Gender noun Fact, BUT... B1 Greek Nouns & Pronouns prove Awesome Person
    C holy spirit Associated with Impersonal Things Fact, BUT... C1 EMOTION = Personality
    C2 INTELLECT = Personality
    C3 WILL = Personality
    D The Holy Spirit has NO Personal Voice F A L S E D1 SPEAKS DIRECTLY & via Humans & Scripture
    E The Holy Spirit has NO Personal Name Unknown,
    but so what?
    E1 Names / Titles of The Holy Spirit
    E2 Testimony of Jesus (GOD-THE-WORD)
    F A 'Person' only because of Personification WT's FAULTY
    conclusion CONTRADICTS
    a host of
    "inconvenient" Scriptures
    F1 Testimony of the Whole NT
    F2 Comparison Chart: - PARACLETE (Advocate)
    F3 Awesome Scriptural Warnings
    F4 Greek Facts / Scholarship
    F5 Does the WT Misquote Scholars ?
    F6 Convincing Evidence (& "Michael")
    Click here for Kingdom Interlinear ~ Definite Article chart to see the various spellings of the neuter gender "the".

    Click here to Search a Greek Interlinear NT
    (Good info in "Tips".)
    Under "Online Bible Search" enter "spirit" beside "Search For ".
    Under "Version(s) " scroll down to "Greek Texts" & click on the next entry.
    Go back to "Search For:" box & click "Search:".

    You will be able to see (in the Greek text) when the definite article "the" is Absent (A3) or Present (A4) before or after "pneuma".
    For verses with TWO definite articles see Acts 1:16; 5:3,32; 7:51; 13:2; 20:23,28; 21:11; Heb.3:7; 9:8.
    (For more verses with double articles, click A1 above & see box 5 in all 3 columns.)

    Click here to Search a Greek NT. ~ Enter "pneuma" beside "Search" & click "GO" (top right).
    Click here for MULTIPLE Greek (& other) Bible CHOICES.

    Chart of interesting LINKS & other RESEARCH

    © 1999 - 2009 ~ All rights reserved. But non-commercial use is OK with me ~ etalk99@hotmail.com

    Email me if you feel I've made any errors, or misrepresented Watchtower theology in any way.
    I will make corrections immediately.
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