Concept

Holy Spirit

Overview

The Holy Spirit, otherwise known as the Holy Ghost, is a concept within the Abrahamic religions. In Judaism, the Holy Spirit is understood as the divine quality or force of God manifesting in the world, particularly in acts of prophecy, creation and guidance. In Nicene Christianity, this conception expanded in meaning to represent the third person of the Trinity, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son. In Islam, the Holy Spirit acts as an agent of divine action or communication. In the Baha'i Faith, the Holy Spirit is seen as the intermediary between God and man and "the outpouring grace of God and the effulgent rays that emanate from His Manifestation".

Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).

In the original texts

Passages from public-domain books where Holy Spirit is discussed.

Hence the name "Feast of Pentecost," the word "Pentecost" coming from the Greek "Pentecoste," or "fiftieth day." Our Saxons, rather more in conformity to the Greek, use the word "Pfingsten." So we have it here of Luke: "When the day of Pentecost was now come," or "fully come"--when the Jews had properly commemorated the giving of the Law of God on Mount Sinai--the Holy Spirit came, in accordance with Christ's…
Martin Luther, Epistle Sermons, Vol. 2
names the idea; a chapter is titled for it; opens on it
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For instance if we say "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God," then Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God. If then their one godhead is one substance, the name of God may with right be predicated substantially of the Divinity.
Boethius, The Theological Tractates and The Consolation of Philosophy
names the idea; states what it is; opens on it
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He treats of science, or composes hymns, exhorts his fellow-men, discusses political and theological problems; all this he does while awake, and in the full possession of his senses. Such a person is said to speak by the holy spirit. David composed the Psalms, and Solomon the Book of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon by this spirit; also Daniel, Job, Chronicles, and the rest of the Hagiographa were…
Moses Maimonides, The guide for the perplexed
names the idea; states what it is
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[Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15] It is the institution through which He does His work of applying redemption to the souls of men. The Church, therefore, has a work to do: namely, to make disciples of all men. THE MEANS through which the Church, as an agency of the Holy Spirit, is to do its work are the Word of God and the Sacraments. They are sufficient for the purpose for which they are intended, because the Holy Spirit…
Martin Luther, An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
states what it is; names the idea; opens on it
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Are we to suppose, therefore, that there are two Holy Spirits? Who will be found so utterly mad as to assert this?
of Hippo Augustine, Writings in Connection with the Donatist Controversy
names the idea; opens on it
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Philosophers who discussed Holy Spirit

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Christian meditation

Place in the tradition

Part of Christian humanism.

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