Missing Where It Would Be Expected
Holy spirit does not appear as a personage on or near the throne of God along with the lamb in heaven in the Revelation. (Revelation 5:6, 13 [pa|in]; 6:16 [pa|in]; 7:9, 10 [pa|in], 17 [pa|in]; 22:1 [pa|in]) In fact, at Acts 7:55-56 [pa|in], Stephen also observed Jesus at God's right hand, but again, no third figure. All he saw was Jesus sitting at the right hand of God in heaven. No image is given of the holy spirit in any way, shape or form. Surely if the holy spirit were a third personage of the so-called "Trinity", it would feature prominently next to God and Jesus.
There are many other Scriptures where we should rightfully expect to see the holy spirit mentioned if it were a third personage of the "Trinity", but is conspicuously absent:
Proverbs 30:4 [pa|in]
Who has ascended to heaven and then descended? Who has gathered the wind in the palms of both hands? Who has wrapped up the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and the name of his son—if you know?
John 17:3 [pa|in]
"This means everlasting life, their coming to know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ."
Romans 1:7b [pa|in]; 1 Corinthians 1:3 [pa|in]; 2 Corinthians 1:2 [pa|in]; Galatians 1:3 [pa|in]; Ephesians 1:2 [pa|in]; Philippians 1:2 [pa|in]; 2 Thessalonians 1:2 [pa|in]; 1 Timothy 1:2b [pa|in]; 2 Timothy 1:2b [pa|in]; Titus 1:4 [pa|in]; Philemon 3 [pa|in]
May you have undeserved kindness and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 8:4-6 [pa|in]
Now concerning the eating of food offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world and that there is no God but one. For even though there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,” there is actually to us one God, the Father, from whom all things are and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are and we through him.
Ephesians 6:23, 24 [pa|in]
May the brothers have peace and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May the undeserved kindness be with all those loving our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruptness.
Colossians 3:17 [pa|in]
Whatever it is that you do in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.
1 Thessalonians 1:1 [pa|in]; 2 Thessalonians 1:1 [pa|in]
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the congregation of the Thessalonians in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 [pa|in]
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus make a way for us to come to you. Moreover, may the Lord cause you to increase, yes, to abound in love for one another and for all, just as we do for you, so that he may make your hearts firm, blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the presence of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.
2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17 [pa|in]
Moreover, may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and gave everlasting comfort and good hope by means of undeserved kindness, comfort your hearts and make you firm in every good deed and word.
1 Timothy 5:21 [pa|in]
I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the chosen angels to observe these instructions without any prejudice or partiality.
1 John 1:3 [pa|in]
... that which we have seen and heard we are reporting also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:22 [pa|in]
Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.
2 John 3 [pa|in]
There will be with us undeserved kindness, mercy, and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, with truth and love.
Jude 1:1 [pa|in]
Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, but a brother of James, to the called ones who are loved by God the Father and preserved for Jesus Christ.
Revelation 1:1 [pa|in]
A revelation by Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his slaves the things that must shortly take place. And he sent his angel and presented it in signs through him to his slave John.
You decide: Should you rightfully expect to see the holy spirit mentioned in one of these scriptures if it were a personage? Consider: Our everlasting life is dependent upon being unified with the one God, the Father, and the one Christ, who is his Son, but no one else. A personage called "holy spirit" is not listed as one of the beings that reveals truths to God's people.
Its Clearly Defined Properties
A POSSESSION
Psalm 51:11 [pa|in]Do not cast me out from your presence; and do not take your holy spirit away from me.
Luke 11:13 [pa|in]
"Therefore, if you, although being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will the Father in heaven give holy spirit to those asking him!"
Acts 2:33 [pa|in]
Therefore, because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear.
Acts 2:38 [pa|in]
". . . you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit."
Acts 8:17 [pa|in]
Then they laid their hands on them, and they began to receive holy spirit.
Acts 10:45 [pa|in]
And the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also on people of the nations
Acts 10:47 [pa|in]
"Can anyone deny water to prevent these from being baptized who have received the holy spirit just as we have?"
Acts 15:8 [pa|in]
"And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the holy spirit, just as he did to us also."
1 Corinthians 2:12 [pa|in]
Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 [pa|in]
So, then, the man who disregards this is disregarding, not man, but God, who gives you his holy spirit.
TREATED LIKE FLUID, FIRE, AIR OR AN EMOTION
Matthew 3:11 [pa|in], Mark 1:8 [pa|in], Luke 3:16 [pa|in]"I, for my part, baptize you with water . . . That one will baptize you with holy spirit and with fire."
Luke 1:15 [pa|in]
"For he will be great in the sight of Jehovah. But he must drink no wine or any alcoholic drink at all, and he will be filled with holy spirit even from before birth."
Luke 1:41 [pa|in]
Well, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped, and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit.
Luke 1:67 [pa|in]
Then Zechariah his father was filled with holy spirit, and he prophesied, saying ...
John 7:38, 39 [pa|in]
Whoever puts faith in me, just as the scripture has said: ‘From deep within him streams of living water will flow.’” However, he said this concerning the spirit, which those who put faith in him were about to receive; for as yet there was no spirit, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.
John 20:22 [pa|in]
After saying this he blew on them and said to them: "receive holy spirit."
Acts 1:5 [pa|in]
". . . you will be baptized with holy spirit not many days after this."
Acts 2:2-4 [pa|in]
Suddenly there was a noise from heaven, just like that of a rushing, stiff breeze, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And tongues as if of fire became visible to them and were distributed, and one came to rest on each one of them, and they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak in different languages, just as the spirit enabled them to speak.
Acts 2:33 [pa|in]
"Therefore, because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear."
Acts 10:38 [pa|in]
". . . and God anointed him with the holy spirit and power . . ."
Acts 13:52 [pa|in]
And the disciples continued to be filled with joy and holy spirit.
Titus 3:4-6 [pa|in]
However, when the kindness of our Savior, God, and his love for mankind were manifested (not because of any righteous works we had done, but because of his own mercy), he saved us by means of the bath that brought us to life and by making us new by holy spirit. He poured this spirit out richly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
1 John 5:7, 8 [pa|in]
For there are three witness bearers: the spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
APPORTIONED LIKE FOOD OR LIQUID
Numbers 11:25 [pa|in]Then Jehovah came down in a cloud and spoke to him and took away some of the spirit that was on him and put it on each of the 70 elders. And as soon as the spirit settled down on them, they began to behave as prophets, but they did not do it again.
2 Kings 2:9 [pa|in]
As soon as they had gone across, Elijah said to Elisha: “Ask what you want me to do for you before I am taken from you.” So Elisha said: “Please, may I receive a double portion of your spirit?”
Hebrews 2:4 [pa|in]
. . . and with the holy spirit distributed according to his will.
Hebrews 6:4 [pa|in]
For as regards those who were once enlightened and who have tasted the heavenly free gift and who have become partakers of holy spirit ...
LIKE A MESSENGER BIRD
Matthew 3:16 [pa|in]; Mark 1:10 [pa|in]; Luke 3:22 [pa|in]; John 1:32, 33 [pa|in]... and the holy spirit in bodily form like a dove came down upon him, and a voice came out of heaven: “You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved you.”
John 14:26 [pa|in]
But the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you.
Acts 1:2 [pa|in]
... until the day that he was taken up, after he had given instructions through holy spirit to the apostles he had chosen.
1 Peter 1:12 [pa|in]
. . . those who declared the good news to you with holy spirit sent from heaven . . .
AN ABSTRACT CONCEPT
Luke 1:35 [pa|in]"Holy spirit will come upon you, and power of the most high will overshadow you."
John 4:24 [pa|in]
God is a spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.
1 Corinthians 2:12 [pa|in]
Now we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit that is from God, so that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God.
2 Corinthians 6:4-7 [pa|in]
But in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers, by the endurance of much, by tribulations, by times of need, by difficulties, by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by hard work, by sleepless nights, by times without food; by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by holy spirit, by love free from hypocrisy, by truthful speech, by God’s power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left, through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report.
1 Thessalonians 1:5 [pa|in]
because the good news we preach did not come to you with speech alone but also with power and with holy spirit and with strong conviction, just as you know what sort of men we became among you for your sakes.
Hebrews 2:4 [pa|in]
. . . while God joined in bearing witness with signs and wonders and various powerful works and with the holy spirit distributed according to his will.
AN EXTENSION OF JEHOVAH
Ezekiel 3:14 [pa|in]And the spirit carried me along and took me, and I went in bitterness and in the rage of my spirit, and the hand of Jehovah rested strongly on me.
Ezekiel 11:24, 25 [pa|in]
A spirit then lifted me up—through a vision by the spirit of God—and brought me to the exiled people in Chaldea. Then the vision that I had seen left me. And I began to tell the exiled people all the things that Jehovah had shown me.
Ezekiel 37:1 [pa|in]
The hand of Jehovah was upon me, and by his spirit Jehovah took me and set me down in the middle of the valley plain, and it was full of bones.
1 Corinthians 2:11 [pa|in]
For who among men knows the things of a man except the man's spirit within him? So, too, no one has come to know the things of God except the spirit of God.
2 Corinthians 3:17, 18 [pa|in]
Now Jehovah is the Spirit, and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom. And all of us, while we with unveiled faces reflect like mirrors the glory of Jehovah, are transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, exactly as it is done by Jehovah the Spirit.
You decide: Is a bird, air, fire, or power a person? Consider: Holy spirit is described as things devoid of thought and as being a connected extention of God himself as a hand.
Return to the beginning of the Salvation vs. the Trinity/Binity series
Go back to: Part 14 (2): Is There Proof That Holy spirit Is a Personage? (Specific Scriptures)
Go to: Part 16: Is There Proof That Jesus Is the Holy Spirit?
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