God's "active force"

The Holy Spirit, according to Jehovah's Witnesses, is God's active force or power, not a distinct person. They view it as an impersonal force that God uses to accomplish His will, rather than a co-equal member of a Trinity. This understanding contrasts sharply with mainstream Christian theology, which generally regards the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity, co-equal with God the Father and God the Son.

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Jehovah's Witnesses cite the Hebrew word ruach and the Greek word pneuma, often translated as "spirit," "wind," or "breath," to support their view that the Holy Spirit is an active force. They interpret biblical passages that describe the Holy Spirit as God's power in action, such as in creation or empowering individuals, as evidence that it is not a person. For example, they refer to statements like "God’s invisible active force directed the writers of the Bible" and "He accomplished the creation . . . by means of his holy spirit, which is his invisible active force" .They also note that the term "Holy Spirit" is often written with small letters in their publications to emphasize its impersonal nature.

In contrast, mainstream Christian denominations argue that the Bible attributes personal characteristics and actions to the Holy Spirit, indicating personhood rather than merely a force. These attributes include intelligence, will, and emotions. For instance, the Holy Spirit is described as teaching, guiding, speaking, interceding, and being grieved. Actions like saying "Now separate for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2) or being lied to (Acts 5:3-4) are seen as actions only a person can perform. Furthermore, the consistent use of personal pronouns like "He" and "Him" in reference to the Holy Spirit in Scripture, particularly in passages like John 14:26 and John 16:7-15, is presented as strong evidence of His personhood. The Holy Spirit is also described as possessing divine attributes such as omnipresence, omniscience, and omnipotence, further supporting the belief in His deity and personhood.

Regarding the question of why an "active force" would have a name, Jehovah's Witnesses do not assign a personal name to the Holy Spirit because they do not consider it a person. Instead, they view it as God's power or influence. The verse Matthew 28:19, which mentions baptizing "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," is interpreted by Jehovah's Witnesses as referring to the authority or representation of God (Jehovah), Jesus Christ, and God's active force, rather than implying a personal name for the Holy Spirit.