You may notice, I included another argument, which I have now supplemented with a third.

Also, in Jn 16:13, it is stated, that he "speakes from HIMSELF," aph heautou another plain use of the masculine, and so close to the "Spirit" reference antecedently. To apply that back to verse 7 is incredible to me.

And the grammatical argument is itself no inconsequential argument. Yes, you could make a case that paraklatos is the referent (hardly however, in 16:13 noted just above), however, that is not demanded, nor is it in even one case the nearest antecedent. The rendering "Helper" is itself a personal description, and not impersonal at all. And the description is explained by reference to the Being of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the emphasis in the verse falls upon the One, who is described by the additional name of "Helper."

The grammatical construction certainly gives no aid to those arguing that the Spirit is a "force". They still have to explain away the deliberate usage of the masculine in those cases. When they say "Its just case usage," they are demonstrating 1) the paucity of their argument, and 2) their general unfamiliarity with Greek grammar. I had one exchange (mediated by TomBombadil) with a JW, arguing for the impersonality of the H.S. He pontificated about the Greek cases, but he was merely parroting arguments from the Watchtower, or cherry-picking OnenessPentacostal websites. I don't think he owned (or even ever opened) a Greek Grammar in his life.

Then, there is at least the one case of Eph. 1:14, an iron-clad case of masculine usage with reference to the Spirit. I refrained from one or two other cases, simply because those references to the Spirit could be gainsaid also, by someone appealing to related words in context like Lord, Christ, or God.

In any case, the argument for the Spirit's Personality is at least as broad-based as the three arguments put forth above. For an uncomplicated introduction to the orthodox doctrine of the Holy Spirit, I recommend George Smeaton, The Holy Spirit, published by Banner of Truth, and probably available for free on the internet.

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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