Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit?

[SonOfThunder]

While I was studying I thought how the Bible I read now (KJV) uses the term Holy Ghost. So is it Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost?



Both Ghost and Spirit come from the Greek word pneuma, which is also what man’s spirit is translated from. That is derived from pneo which is the word for breath, to blow, and wind.



Could The Holy Spirit be the very breath of God? Old Testament references to breath of God which might give evidence of this Gen 2:7, Job 27:3, Job 33:4, 37:10, Is 42:5, Ez 37:9



Since God’s breath gave us life, and breath sustains life, does that mean that whilkst Christ created us The Holy Spirit is the very essence of our life, what keeps us living?



James

[Gwenyfur]

Not quite sure on that one...but I will instead add to your thought if I may?...if not have a mod delete ;)

In the OT the word "restore" when used in conjunction with the LORD or God meant to "blow breath across your brow"....it was an intimate thing...as we would blow cooler breath across the face of our child on a hot day....so is that God using His Holy Spirit/Ghost to "refresh and restore" us so that we continue on His path...or...is it a metaphor...

Personally I go with Holy Spirit (yes I read KJV), but the modern connotations of the word "ghost" just really bothers me when I see it used for someone so Holy as God ;) But that's my personal preference...I'm becoming one of those "line in the sand" Christians :D

[TwinCrier]

I see the words as interchangable, and they certainly seem to mean the exact same thing from the dictionary. I would draw the line at the word "spook" however.

[Gold Dragon]

This was a translation choice made by the KJV translators based on the way the words 'spirit' and 'ghost' were used back in 1611.

Modern translations don't use ghost anymore because the meaning of the word has changed since 1611.


The Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit (http://www.keyway.ca/htm2004/20041030.htm)
...

For example, for Acts 2:4 as shown above:


"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [original Greek word pnoo-mah], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit [again, the original Greek word pnoo-mah] gave them utterance."

...

The King James translators tended (although not always) to use ghost for when there was a physical manifestation of some sort, and spirit when it was "spiritual." Their choice of words may well be the result of the custom of their own time when the definitions of ghost and spirit were more differentiated than they are today i.e.

...

The Original Words Of The Bible


There are 3 words of the Bible, 2 Hebrew (http://www.execulink.com/~wblank/hebrewal.htm) of the Old Testament (http://www.execulink.com/~wblank/otfacts.htm) and 1 Greek (http://www.execulink.com/~wblank/greekal.htm) of the New Testament (http://www.execulink.com/~wblank/ntfacts.htm), that are translated into English as either spirit or ghost. Surprisingly, the literal meanings of all 3 of the original words of the Scriptures simply meant breath, or to breathe:


Hebrew (pronounced) gaw-vah, meaning to breathe out

Hebrew (pronounced) roo-akh, meaning wind or breath

Greek (pronounced) pnoo-mah, meaning a current of air, or breath

[ZiSunka]

Ghost and spirit are the same thing. As for the wind or breath idea, many times in the Bible where the Holy Spirit is mentioned along with a pronoun, the personal pronoun "he" is used. An inanimate thing like breath or wind cannot be described as "he." He can only refer to a person, in this case. It is impossible for the Holy Spirit to be breath or the wind because wind and breath cannot be a person.

[Crazy Liz]

I have a professor who always uses the phrase "Holy Breath." I think it is a good reminder that the ancient understanding of this word is different from ours.

WRT the Holy Wind, see John 3 and Acts 2.

[ZiSunka]

I have a professor who always uses the phrase "Holy Breath." I think it is a good reminder that the ancient understanding of this word is different from ours.

WRT the Holy Wind, see John 3 and Acts 2.

Or what his interpretation of the ancient understanding, anyway. ;)

[Terri]

I prefer Holy Spirit. As a child all we had was the KJV and it really frightened me to think of God as a ghost.

[mesue]

I prefer Holy Spirit. As a child all we had was the KJV and it really frightened me to think of God as a ghost.

But, the KJV calls it both. And they're the same word in the greek.

Mat 1:18Now1161 the3588 birth1083 of Jesus2424 Christ5547 was2258 on this wise:3779 When as1063 his846 mother3384 Mary3137 was espoused3423 to Joseph,2501 before4250 they846 came together,4905 she was found with child2147, 2192, 1722, 1064 of1537 the Holy40 Ghost.4151

Mat 3:16 And2532 Jesus,2424 when he was baptized,907 went up305 straightway2117 out of575 the3588 water:5204 and,2532 lo,2400 the3588 heavens3772 were opened455 unto him,846 and2532 he saw1492 the3588 Spirit4151 of God2316 descending2597 like5616 a dove,4058 and2532 lighting2064 upon1909 him:846

[SonOfThunder]

In the Old Testament there are 2 types of references to God's Breath

what God imparts = Nshmash
(Gen 2:7, Is 2:22, Eze 37:5 , Dan 5:23 (nishmah, Aramiac form of nshamah) Acts 17:25 (pnoe-wind oor breath)

God's Power - ruwach (the blst of breath from God's nostrils)
2 Sam 22:16, Jb4:9, Is 11:4, 30:28
Ruwach is also the word used in the OT for spirit in
Gen 1:2 and 6:3 (this speaks of His power, His breath is His being)
Jb 4:9 and 2 Sam 22:16


James

[Crazy Liz]

Ruach is a key word in Ecclesiastes. Last time I read it, I found it interesting how it was translated in various contexts.

[unimportantbuthisnameis]

I'll cast my vote for interchangable usage here, although I prefer to use the word "spirit" in modern context.

[Dmckay]

I believe and teach the use of Holy Spirit as opposed to "Ghost." Believing that "Spirit" is the more accurate intent of the word. I recall a misunderstanding that I personally had as a child hearing Holy Ghost. For a long time I thought that the Holy Ghost was referring to Jesus after His death. But then I was attending an old fashioned Southern Baptist church, and they weren't real big on explaining doctrine to primary aged children.

[Terri]

But, the KJV calls it both. And they're the same word in the greek.

Mat 1:18Now1161 the3588 birth1083 of Jesus2424 Christ5547 was2258 on this wise:3779 When as1063 his846 mother3384 Mary3137 was espoused3423 to Joseph,2501 before4250 they846 came together,4905 she was found with child2147, 2192, 1722, 1064 of1537 the Holy40 Ghost.4151


Mat 3:16 And2532 Jesus,2424 when he was baptized,907 went up305 straightway2117 out of575 the3588 water:5204 and,2532 lo,2400 the3588 heavens3772 were opened455 unto him,846 and2532 he saw1492 the3588 Spirit4151 of God2316 descending2597 like5616 a dove,4058 and2532 lighting2064 upon1909 him:846

:scratch: Now, I have no idea what those words with numbers after them mean but, it wasn't the 7 times that "Holy Spirit" was used that frightened me. It was the 89 times that "Holy Ghost" was used. ;)

[SonOfThunder]

:scratch: Now, I have no idea what those words with numbers after them mean but, it wasn't the 7 times that "Holy Spirit" was used that frightened me. It was the 89 times that "Holy Ghost" was used. ;)

haha funny, it's true we associate the word 'GHOST" as something bad. In America you celebrate Halloween and generally the term is used for something bad, not good.

Your a Big Person (since your another one who is hard to imagine what sex you are) now :D Don't be scared.

James

Ps I think your a girl as you have chosen a teddy bear and flowers in your armour. Am I right Am I right Am I right? huh? HUH?
:P ^_^ :P ;)

[Kripost]

I think the choice of words would depend on whether you are more of a latinophile or a germanophile. Another possibility is Holy Wind.

Usually in church, we use Agios Pneuma, thereby avoiding any such problems. ;)

[Terri]

haha funny, it's true we associate the word 'GHOST" as something bad. In America you celebrate Halloween and generally the term is used for something bad, not good.

Your a Big Person (since your another one who is hard to imagine what sex you are) now :D Don't be scared.

James

Ps I think your a girl as you have chosen a teddy bear and flowers in your armour. Am I right Am I right Am I right? huh? HUH?


http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

OK, I'll stop being scared! http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

Now, about that teddy bear and those flowers, they were gifts so I didn't actually choose them but I am a girl of the old lady type. ;)

I thought the "i" at the end of Terri was a dead give away. I don't know if it's the same in your part of the world, but in the US an "i" on the end usually means female and a "y" as in Terry usually means male. Although that is not always the case.

I have a niece named Jerri and a niece named Toni. We seem to really like ambiguous names in my family!!

[SonOfThunder]

http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

OK, I'll stop being scared! http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

Now, about that teddy bear and those flowers, they were gifts so I didn't actually choose them but I am a girl of the old lady type. ;)

I thought the "i" at the end of Terri was a dead give away. I don't know if it's the same in your part of the world, but in the US an "i" on the end usually means female and a "y" as in Terry usually means male. Although that is not always the case.

I have a niece named Jerri and a niece named Toni. We seem to really like ambiguous names in my family!!

I didn't spot that little 'i', usually typing is the give away.

Glad I know now, hate not knowing ;)

James

[Terri]

I didn't spot that little 'i', usually typing is the give away.

Glad I know now, hate not knowing ;)

James

hehe you thought my name was Terr http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

I know my name is rather small but I am going incognito here. It seems I am a spy from another message board or so I have been told. http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

My name use to be larger but Erwin did some changes getting everything discabobulated and my name got smaller. I don't even know how to change it anymore. Erwin is obviously oblivious to the concerns of the senile! http://www.christianforums.com/image.php?u=208&type=profile&dateline=1070847169

I'm going to see if I can figure out how to make it larger.