What is holy ghost

The terms "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" are synonymous, referring to the third divine Person of the Trinity in mainstream Christianity. While "Holy Ghost" is an older term, often found in translations like the King James Version, modern Bible translations predominantly use "Holy Spirit" due to the contemporary connotation of "ghost" as the spirit of a deceased person.

The Holy Spirit is understood as a distinct divine person, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son, sharing the same divine essence. This belief is central to Nicene Christianity, which constitutes the majority of Christian denominations. The study of the Holy Spirit in Christian theology is known as pneumatology.

Biblical Portrayal and Roles In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit is often identified with the concept of Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit), Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God), and Ruach YHWH (Spirit of Yahweh) in Jewish scripture, signifying God's divine quality, force, or power manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creation, and guidance. The Hebrew word ruach can mean "breath" or "wind," suggesting a medium of communication.

The New Testament details a close relationship between the Holy Spirit and Jesus. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke state that Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary" The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus like a dove during his baptism. In his Farewell Discourse, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples after his departure, referring to the Holy Spirit as the "Paraclete" (helper), "Spirit of Truth," and "Comforter".

The Holy Spirit is depicted as the "life principle" of the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles, often called the "Book of the Holy Spirit". The arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, fifty days after Christ's resurrection, is celebrated in Christendom. The Holy Spirit is believed to empower believers, grant spiritual gifts, and enable the proclamation of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit performs various functions in the life of a Christian and the church. These include:

• Sanctification: Enabling believers to live a righteous and faithful life.

• Guidance and Revelation: Guiding decisions, protecting from danger, and revealing truth.

• Comfort: Acting as a Comforter, interceding, and supporting in times of trial.

• Conviction: Convincing individuals of their sinfulness and moral standing before God.

• Inspiration and Interpretation of Scripture: Inspiring the writing of scriptures and interpreting them to believers.

• Bearing Witness: Bearing witness of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Symbolism The Holy Spirit is frequently represented through various symbols:

• Water: Signifies the Spirit's action in baptism and as "living water".

• Anointing: Symbolizes the Spirit's presence and blessing, with "Christ" meaning "anointed".

• Fire: Represents the transforming energy of the Spirit, as seen in the tongues of fire at Pentecost.

• Cloud and Light: Depicts the Spirit's overshadowing presence, as with Mary and at the Transfiguration.

• Dove: Symbolizes the Spirit's descent upon Jesus at his baptism.

• Wind: Likened to the Spirit's unseen yet powerful movement.

Denominational Variations While most Christian denominations affirm the Holy Spirit as the third Person of the Trinity, some variations exist:

• Filioque Controversy: A key difference between Western (Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, and many Protestant) and Eastern Christian denominations (Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox) concerns whether the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father" (Eastern view) or "from the Father and the Son" (Western view, incorporating the "Filioque" clause).

• Pentecostalism and Charismatic Movements: These movements emphasize the "Baptism with the Spirit" and the "gifts of the Spirit" (e.g., healing, prophecy), often teaching that these are distinct experiences from conversion.

• Non-Trinitarian Views: Groups like Jehovah's Witnesses and Christadelphians do not view the Holy Spirit as a distinct person but as God's "active force" or "energy". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, a member of the Godhead, but distinct in substance from the Father and the Son, and subordinate to them.