The names of the Spirit

 

 

The Holy Spirit is called by different names in the Holy Scriptures, which reveal something about His nature and attributes.

The Spirit of God – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of God’ (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 12:28), ‘the Spirit of your Father’ (Matthew 10:19-20), ‘the Spirit who is from God’ (1 Corinthians 2:12), ‘the Spirit of the living God’ (2 Corinthians 3:3), ‘the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead’ (Romans 8:11) for He proceeds from God the Father.

The Spirit of Jesus Christ – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 1:19), ‘the Spirit of Christ’ (Romans 8:9) ‘the Spirit of His Son’ (Galatians 4:6), ‘the Spirit of the Lord’ (Acts 8:39), because Jesus Christ sent Him to His Church from the Father. It was the man Jesus Christ exalted to the right hand of the Father who received and sent the Spirit.

The Spirit of truth – The Holy Spirit is called the ‘Spirit of truth’ (John 14:16-17; 16:13), for He speaks the truth, or rather, He “is the truth” (1 John 5:6 - NIV).

The Spirit of life – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of life’ (Romans 8:1-2), for He imparts life, that is to say, He quickens those who are dead in their trespasses when they repent and believe in the Lord (John 6:63; 2 Corinthians 3:6).

The Spirit of adoption – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of adoption’ (Romans 8:14-16) for He bears witness with our spirit that we have been adopted by God as His sons (Ephesians 1:5).

The Spirit of grace and supplication – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the spirit of grace and supplication’ (Zechariah 12:10; Hebrews 10:28-29) for He imparts the grace of God and prompts us to make requests to God and aids us in making our requests (Ephesians 6:18; Romans 8:26).

The Spirit of judgement and the Spirit of burning – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the spirit of judgement’ (Isaiah 4:4 - NKJV) and ‘the spirit of burning’ (Isaiah 4:4 – NKJV), for He is involved in justice, law and order. One of the aspects of His ministry concerns purity and sanctification. The name ‘the Spirit of burning’ emphasizes His searching, refining and illuminating work.

The Spirit of glory – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of glory’ (1 Peter 4:14), for He is a glorious spirit and testifies the glory which will be revealed in us.

The Spirit of holiness - The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of holiness’ (Romans 1:4), because He is holy and sanctifies those who believe in Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). The Holy Spirit’s work involves sanctification.

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord’ (Isaiah 11:1-2) for He imparts all these things.

The Spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind’ (2 Timothy 1:7). for He imparts power, love and a sound mind.

The good Spirit of God – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the good Spirit of God’ (Nehemiah 9:20), for He is good (Psalm 143:10).

The eternal Spirit – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the eternal Spirit’ (Hebrews 9:14), for He is without beginning and end.

The promised Holy Spirit – The Holy Spirit is called ‘the promised Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:33 – NIV), for God, first through His prophets of old (Joel 2:28-30) and then through His Son (John 14:26; Acts 1:4), promised that He would send the Holy Spirit. And at God’s appointed time He came in fulfilment of God’s promise.

The Comforter – Jesus called the Holy Spirit ‘the Comforter’ (John 14:26) for He comforts the downcast. The Greek word translated ‘Comforter’ is parakletos, which means also ‘Counsellor’ and ‘Advocate’.

 

 

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