Is Man’s Spirit a Person?

Next Part More Aspects of the Holy Spirit

The book of Job makes a fundamental statement about another spirit that we have only briefly touched upon. Notice the following: “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding” (Job 32:8).

Then notice this passage, also referenced earlier: “For what man knows the things of a man, save [by] the spirit of man which is in him? (I Cor. 2:11).

These two passages plainly reveal that there is a spirit within all people. That spirit is what differentiates human beings from animals, and is what gives people a concept of self. However, it is not this spirit that permits human beings to comprehend the truths of God. Notice the rest of I Cor 2:11 above: “…even so the things of God knows no man, but [by] the Spirit of God.”

With the human spirit present, people can understand physical knowledge and things, and this is done through use of the five senses. But without the Spirit of God leading a person, it is absolutely impossible to understand God’s truth—including the nature of the true God who is the One Who must give that Spirit to reveal Himself. Now think about this: God has a Spirit, and man has a spirit. According to trinitarians, the Holy Spirit is a person. Using their convoluted logic, one could conclude that man’s spirit is a person, which means that there would be another “person” dwelling within each person. Obviously, this is ridiculous!

Can the Holy Spirit Feel Grief?

Paul recorded, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed unto the day of redemption” (Eph. 4:30).

What does it mean to “grieve the Holy Spirit”? Does this passage mean that the Holy Spirit can “feel” pain or grief? Also, can something be grieved if it is not a person? Trinitarian reasoning argues “no.”

But consider, for example, the expression, “Don’t stress the system.” What does this mean? Who is going to feel the stress? What is the “system”? The “system” is the embodiment of the world as we know it. It is not something with a literal objective or agenda of its own. This is commonly understood. The connotation is that something is being done in a way that makes things run less than smoothly. But does the “system” actually feel “stressed”? When someone says, “I’m going to beat the system,” what does this mean? Does the “system” have a name, a face? Is it personal?

When Paul writes, in Romans 8:22, “…the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now,” does anyone believe that planets, stars, trees, rocks, etc.—part of the creation—actually “groan and travail in pain”? Of course not! In I Corinthians 11:14, Paul asked, “Does not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?” Is nature running an academic curriculum? Again, of course not.

Paul should be able to make such statements without inviting over analysis of his words, with the reader coming to unfounded conclusions. For purpose of teaching, Paul is simply attributing emotion to things that obviously have none. Poets do this all the time. Their writings are generally not overanalyzed to the point of gross contortion of the basic intended meaning. So we ask: Why are not Paul’s other writings examined in a consistent light? This is because another spiritual element comes into play when the words of God, as opposed to a poet or prose writer, are the subject of the study. Recall: “the carnal mind is enmity [hostile] against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom 8:7). Human beings naturally do not want to obey God.

Two Characteristics of the Holy Spirit

When one stops and considers the Bible-defined characteristics of the Holy Spirit, it becomes abundantly clear that it cannot be a person. Let’s examine certain characteristics of the Holy Spirit and ask whether they can be those of a person.

For example: Can a person be distributed? The obvious answer is no. However, the Holy Spirit can be. Notice: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4).

On the Day of Pentecost, many were filled with the Holy Spirit. This marked the beginning of the New Testament Church. If the Holy Spirit were a person, this miracle could not have taken place, as it is not possible to be filled with a person. Also make note again here that many believe that one either has the Holy Spirit or does not—the amount cannot vary. If this is the case, all Christians in every age would have to be filled with the Spirit. Acts 6:3 and Matthew 25:8 (“gone” there should be translated “going”), among others, reveals the fallacy of this thinking.

Do not allow an intellectual trinitarian response to this such as “the Holy Spirit is God, so normal rules do not apply” to confuse you. On such a basis, no Bible passage could ever mean what it said because every passage came from God.

In Acts 2:17-18, Peter, quoting Joel 2:28-29, said, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

Can a person be poured out? Are Christ and the Father ever referred to as being poured out? Again, do not fall for an intellectual dismissal of this with the simple assertion that “the Holy Spirit is God, so forget all rules.” We will revisit points in this section a little later.