the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
Bible Dictionaries
Holy Ghost
Charles Buck Theological Dictionary
or The third person in the Trinity. I. The Holy Ghost is a real and distinct person in the Godhead.
1. Personal powers of rational understanding and will are ascribed to him, 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 . 1 Corinthians 12:11 . Ephesians 4:3 .
2. He is joined with the other two divine persons, as the object of worship and fountain of blessings, Matthew 28:19 . 2 Corinthians 13:14 . 1 John 5:7 .
3. In the Greek, a masculine article or epithet is joined to his name Pneuma, which is naturally of the neuter gender, John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:13 . Ephesians 1:13 .
4. He appeared under the emblem of a dove, and of cloven tongues of fire, Matthew 3:1-17 : Acts 2:1-47 :
5. Personal offices of an intercessor belong to him, Romans 8:26 .
6. He is represented as performing a multitude of personal acts; as teaching, speaking, witnessing, &c. Mark 13:11 . Acts 20:23 . Romans 8:15-16 . 1 Corinthians 6:19 . Acts 15:28; Acts 16:6-7 . &c. &c. &c. II. It is no less evident that the Holy Ghost is a divine person equal in power and glory with the Father and Song of Solomon 1:1-17 . Names proper only to the Most High God are ascribed to him; as Jehovah, Acts 28:25 , with Is. 6: 9. and Hebrews 3:7; Hebrews 3:9 . with Exodus 17:7 . Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 31:34 . Hebrews 10:15-16 . God, Acts 5:3-4 . Lord, 2 Cor 3: 17, 19. "The Lord, the Spirit."
2. Attributes proper only to the Most High God are ascribed to him; as Omniscience, Psalms 139:7 . Ephesians 2:17-18 . Romans 8:26-27 . Omnipotence, Luke 1:35 . Eternity, Hebrews 9:14 .
3. Divine works are evidently ascribed to him, Genesis 1:2 . Job 26:13 . Psalms 33:6 . Psalms 104:30 .
4. Worship, proper only to God, is required and ascribed to him, Is. 6: 3. Acts 28:25 . Romans 9:1 . Revelation 1:4 . 2 Corinthians 13:14 . Matthew 28:19 . III. The agency or work of the Holy Ghost is divided by some into extraordinary and ordinary. The former by immediate inspiration, making men prophets, the latter by his regenerating and sanctifying influences making men saints. It is only the latter which is now to be expected. This is more particularly displayed in,
1. Conviction of sin, John 16:8; John 9:1-41 :
2. Conversion, 1 Corinthians 12:1-31 : Ephesians 1:17-18 . 1 Corinthians 2:10; 1 Corinthians 2:12 . John 3:5; John 6:1-71 :
3. Sanctification, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 . 1 Corinthians 6:11 . Romans 15:16 .
4. Consolation, John 14:1-31
5. Direction, John 14:17 . Romans 8:14 .
6. Confirmation, Romans 8:16; Romans 8:26 . 1 John 2:24 . Ephesians 1:13-14 . As to the gift of the Holy Spirit, says a good writer, it is not expected to be bestowed in answer to our prayers, to inform us immediately, as by a whisper, when either awake or asleep, that we are the children of God; or in any other way, than by enabling us to exercise repentance and faith and love to God and our neighbour.
2. We are not to suppose that he reveals any thing contrary to the written word, or more than is contained in it, or through any other medium.
3. We are not so led by, or operated upon by the Spirit as to neglect the means of grace.
4. The Holy Spirit is not promised nor given to render us infallible.
5. Nor is the Holy Spirit given in order that we may do any thing, which was not before our duty.
See TRINITY, and Scott's Four Sermons on Repentance, the Evil of Sin, Love to God, and the Promise of the Holy Spirit, p. 86-89; Hawker's Sermons on the Holy ghost; Pearson on the Creed, 8th article; Dr. Owen on the Spirit; Hurrion's 16 Sermons on the Spirit.
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Buck, Charles. Entry for 'Holy Ghost'. Charles Buck Theological Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/cbd/h/holy-ghost.html. 1802.
