The Holy Spirit’s Personhood

Throughout the history of the church, many groups have denied that the Holy Spirit is a person that has a distinct self-awareness and divine personal attributes. But from the structure of the Apostles’ Creed, we can see that it affirms the biblical position that Holy Spirit is a real and distinct person within the godhead. This is the clear teaching of Scripture, and it has been the position of every branch of the Christian church throughout the ages.

When we speak of the personal attributes of the Holy Spirit, we have in mind those qualities he possesses that are unique to persons — things that can only be true about him if he’s a real person and not simply an impersonal force.

We’ll begin by saying that the Holy Spirit has a will. This is the faculty he uses to plan, to desire and to choose. Clearly, any being that can do these things cannot be a mere force or power. As one example of his will, consider 1 Corinthians 12:11, where Paul talked about the distribution of spiritual gifts. Listen to what he wrote:

One and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills (NASB).

The Holy Spirit wants certain people to have certain gifts, and others to have other gifts. Impersonal forces do not have plans and desires. Only persons do. Therefore, the Holy Spirit must be a person.

The Holy Spirit also has the attribute of intelligence, through which he possesses knowledge and the ability to teach others. Jesus himself talked about the Spirit’s intelligence in John 14:26.

The Holy Spirit also has emotions, internal feelings and affections that he expresses in response to other persons and events. Like his other personal attributes, his emotions prove that he is a person, and not simply a power. For example, the Holy Spirit’s love is mentioned in Romans 15:30. His joy is spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 1:6. And listen to the way his grief is talked about in Ephesians 4:30:

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

The fact that the Holy Spirit has emotions like grief indicates that he is a true person. Listen to the words of Romans 8:26-27:

… the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express… the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

The fact that the Holy Spirit prays for believers is another proof of his personhood. Impersonal powers and forces do not pray and intercede, groaning with sincerity. Only persons can do these things.