Holy Spirit
A divine force or person in Abrahamic religions.
The Holy Spirit, also referred to as the Holy Ghost, appears across Abrahamic religions with different meanings. In Judaism, it is the divine quality or force of God active in the world, especially through prophecy, creation, and guidance. Nicene Christianity expanded this into the third person of the Trinity, fully equal and eternal with God the Father and God the Son. Islam views the Holy Spirit as an agent of divine action or communication, while the Baha'i Faith considers it the intermediary between God and humanity, described as "the outpouring grace of God and the effulgent rays that emanate from His Manifestation."
The Hebrew Bible uses "spirit of God" (*ruach elohim*), which Jews interpret as the power of a single, unitary God—distinct from the Christian Trinity. Christian thought, especially in the New Testament, emphasizes the Holy Spirit's moral role and power in ministry, as seen in the book of Acts. Jews reject any co-equal, multi-person godhead, holding to absolute monotheism as stated in the Shema; the Hebrew word for "one" (*ekhad*) means a simple numerical one. Rabbinic understanding personifies the Holy Spirit to a degree but treats it as "a quality belonging to God, one of his attributes." The idea of God as a duality or trinity is considered *shituf* (not purely monotheistic).
Theologian Rudolf Bultmann identified two ways to conceive the Holy Spirit: "animistic" and "dynamistic." Animistic thinking sees it as an independent, personal power that can take possession of a person, enabling or compelling manifestations of power. Dynamistic thought views it as an impersonal force that fills a person like a fluid. Both appear in Jewish and Christian scripture, but animistic is more typical of the Old Testament, while dynamistic is more common in the New. This distinction also relates to whether the gift is temporary or permanent: in the Old Testament and Jewish thought, the Holy Spirit is primarily temporary for a specific task; in Christian thought, it resides permanently in believers.
In Judaism, the phrase *ruach ha-kodesh* (holy spirit) appears in the Hebrew Bible and writings, referring to the spirit of YHWH. It generally denotes the divine aspect of prophecy and wisdom, as well as the divine force, quality, and influence of God over the universe or creatures.
For most Christians, the Holy Spirit (or Holy Ghost) is the third person of
- field
- Theology, Religious Studies
- known_for
- Third person of the Trinity in Nicene Christianity; divine force in Judaism; agent of divine action in Islam; intermediary in Baha'i Faith
- associated_religions
- Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha'i Faith
Lore & Background
The Hebrew Bible contains the term 'spirit of God' (ruach elohim), interpreted by Jews as the might of a unitary God, differing from the Nicene Christian conception of the Holy Spirit as one person of the Trinity. The Christian concept emphasizes the moral aspect, as seen in the book of Acts, which highlights the power of ministry. Jews reject any co-equal, multi-person godhead, considering the idea of a duality or trinity as shituf (not purely monotheistic). The rabbinical understanding personifies the Holy Spirit to a degree but maintains it as a quality belonging to God.
According to theologian Rudolf Bultmann, there are two ways to think about the Holy Spirit: 'animistic' (an independent agent, a personal power) and 'dynamistic' (an impersonal force). Both appear in Jewish and Christian scripture, with animistic more typical of the Old Testament and dynamistic more common in the New Testament. In Jewish thought, the gift of the Holy Spirit is primarily temporary for a specific task, whereas in Christian concept it resides permanently.
In Christianity, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, symbolized by a winged dove (at Jesus' baptism) and tongues of fire (at Pentecost). In Islam, the Holy Spirit (Ruh al-Qudus) is mentioned four times in the Qur'an and is identified as the angel Gabriel. The Baha'i Faith views the Holy Spirit as the conduit for God's wisdom to messengers, rejecting the idea of a partner in the Godhead.
Reader's Guide
The Holy Spirit holds central significance across Abrahamic religions, though its interpretation varies widely. In Judaism, it represents God's active force in prophecy and creation, maintaining strict monotheism. For Nicene Christianity, it is a co-equal person of the Trinity, empowering believers and enabling proclamation of Jesus Christ. In Islam, it is identified with the angel Gabriel, acting as a divine agent. The Baha'i Faith sees it as the outpouring grace of God, manifesting through prophets. These differing views reflect fundamental theological divides, such as the Christian Trinity versus Jewish and Islamic absolute monotheism. The concept also appears in comparative religion, with parallels drawn to Hellenistic mystery religions, Stoic pneuma, Hindu Advaita, and Zoroastrian Spenta Mainyu, though scholars note significant dissimilarities. The Holy Spirit's legacy includes shaping Christian liturgy, iconography, and theology, while also serving as a point of interfaith dialogue and distinction.
Did You Know?
- The Hebrew phrase ruach ha-kodesh refers to the spirit of YHWH in the Hebrew Bible.
- In Christian iconography, the Holy Spirit is depicted as a winged dove or tongues of fire.
- The Qur'an mentions the Holy Spirit four times, identifying it as the angel Gabriel.
- The Baha'i Faith views the Holy Spirit as the conduit for God's wisdom to messengers like Jesus, Muhammad, and Bahá'u'lláh.
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