Page 71 - Cults and Marginal Groups - Textbook w videos short

(John 10:7), a light (John 8:12), a rock (I Cor. 10:4), a stone (I Peter 2:4-8), the truth (John 14:6), the vine
(John 15:1), the way (John 14:6), and the Word ((John 1:1). Clearly, Jesus’ personality is not canceled out
simply because these kinds of terms are used in association with Him.

WITNESSING NOTE: Is it not illegitimate to say the Holy Spirit is NOT a person simply because He is
seen in close association with impersonal items like water and blood?

3. Matthew 28:19
19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit,

JWs argue that the word “name” does not always mean a personal name, for example, “In the name of
the law”

In the NT, the Greek word for “name” (onoma) is almost ALWAYS used of real persons. It is used 228
times in the NT, but except for 4 places, ALWAYS refers to persons. Using their argument in #2 above
saying that the Spirit is listed with water and blood which makes all impersonal objects, then using the
word, “name” in association with the Father and the Son means that the Holy Spirit is a person, just as
the Father and Son are.

WITNESSING NOTE: If the Holy Spirit is a force, as the Watchtower Society argues, then why does He
use the personal pronouns “me” and “I” in reference to Himself (Acts 13:2)?

One reason the JWs say the Holy Spirit is an “active force” is that the Greek word for “Spirit” (pneuma) is
neuter in gender. However, this is faulty reasoning, since the neuter gender of a word has to do with
the grammatical form of the word and not the actual physical gender. For example, one will find that in
Scripture, neuter terms are used in reference to infants (Luke 1:41, 44), children (Mark 5:39), girls (Matt.
9:24-25, unclean spirits (Matt 12:24), and angels (Heb. 1:14). Obviously, each of these beings have
personality, even though a neuter term is used in reference to them. We can safely conclude, then, that
the use of a neuter term does not indicate a lack of personality.

WITNESSING NOTE: Did you know that in the Greek New Testament a neuter term is used of infants,
children, girls, unclean spirits, and angels? Does the fact that a neuter term use for them mean that
they are not persons? How then is it legitimate for the Watchtower Society to insist that the Holy
Spirit is not a person simply because a neuter term is used in reference to Him?

IMPORTANT: It is interesting that Scripture writers used masculine pronouns in the original Greek in
referring to the neuter noun, “spirit” (pneuma). According to every normal rule of grammar, any
pronoun that would be substituted for this neuter noun would itself have to be neuter. However, the
Scripture writers did not follow this normal procedure of grammar and instead of using a neuter
pronoun in the place of the neuter noun pneuma; they deliberately contradicted the grammatical rule
and used masculine pronouns. This shows that they considered the Holy Spirit to be a person and not
merely a thing….

Conclusion: The Holy Spirit speaks of Himself as a person (“I” and “me”). He is
addressed as a person by others. He has all the attributes of personality (mind,
will, and emotions). He does things that only a person can do (pray and
intercede). He is treated by others as only a person can be treated (ex., lied to)

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