Holy SPIRIT v Holy GHOST

[Dr. Bob]

Some English translations use one or the other or both terms to translate the name of God. I prefer holy Spirit (lower case "h" and capitalized "S"). Spirit is the distinction (like Father, Son) and holy is simpy an adjective.

'Ghost' is kewl if you live in Casper :laugh: but not as a title of God.

Thoughts? Preferences? Which choice did your prefered translation use?

 

[Revmitchell]

Ghost' is kewl if you live in Casper but not as a title of God.

I do not know what that is a reference to.

The word "Ghost" by itself gives off images of Amityville horror etc.

I use the phrases Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit interchangeably as scripture does. I use the first to communicate power and authority and the second to communicate a much softer tone. In the end I think it is a matter of preference as they both carry the same definition. Much like the difference between "cool" and "kewl".

 

[Joseph M. Smith]

I know some folks who don't get stirred at all by Holy Spirit, but who get going when somebody speaks of the HOLYghost. (Spelled that way to show how it is pronounced in some Pentecostal-leaning circles).

Nonetheless, you are right to focus on Spirit. Ghost is an archaic word now in the sense of spirit; it is the same as the German "Geist", which, I believe, has not been replaced as the term for Spirit.

 

[Revmitchell]

Really? hmmmm.. just how archaic is it compared to Spirit?

 

[Pastor Larry]

Since the Bible uses only one word -- pneuma -- meaning "spirit," we should stick with that, shouldn't we?

 

[rbell]

I know some folks who don't get stirred at all by Holy Spirit, but who get going when somebody speaks of the HOLYghost. (Spelled that way to show how it is pronounced in some Pentecostal-leaning circles).

Sorry, you're totally wrong.


It's pronounced holyGHOST-ah.

 

[skypair]

Does anyone think that the disinction might be...

that the Holy Ghost emphasizes His "personhood" whereas...

Holy Spirit emphasizes His "function" or activity?

Like Larry, I'm a little surprised that the translators chose anything different since the word is still "pneuma."

skypair

 

[Jon-Marc]

I prefer Holy Spirit since I don't believe in "ghosts". The only time I use Holy Ghost is when singing the Doxology. I know Holy Ghost is in the Bible, but I don't like it.

 

[Dr. Bob]

Ghost' is kewl if you live in Casper but not as a title of God.

I do not know what that is a reference to.

The word "Ghost" by itself gives off images of Amityville horror etc.

Little bit of humor. Remember Casper the friendly Ghost? I live in Casper and all the truckers, etc, call this the "ghost town"

But agree. I was amazed to see "Spirit" and "Ghost" used interchangeably and at will in the AV when I first use it. They are exactly the same, no difference.

But there are hundreds of other words that translators did the same with - like John 3:15 and John 3:16 (one says eternal life, the other everlasting life, yet the exact same inspired Greek words are used). I've heard whole sermons on the "difference" between eternal and everlasting, and between Ghost and Spirit.

No basis other than translators don't want readers to be bored with the same phrasing, so use alternative words. That's kewl.

 

[SaggyWoman]

The only thinkings of the Ghost usages is those HOLY GHOST REVIVALS.

When I am thinking, I tend to think of the Spirit of God.

The ghost of God...? Hmmm.

 

[Pastor Larry]

Does anyone think that the disinction might be...

that the Holy Ghost emphasizes His "personhood" whereas...

Holy Spirit emphasizes His "function" or activity?

Nobody who understands think this. The point is that the word is the same and there is no justification for translating it differently.

 

[donnA]

I prefer Spirit, not Ghost, a ghost is the spirit of someone who ahs died and still walking around, no other afterlife to go to, this is it, no eternal destination of heaven or hell. It is misleading. God has no 'ghost'

 

[donnA]

Nobody who understands think this. The point is that the word is the same and there is no justification for translating it differently.

This is what I have always thought.

 

[Deacon]

Hoooley Ghost-ah

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 11:13 AV 1873

in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:13 AV 1873

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 AV 1873

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 AV 1873

89 other verses in the KJV use “Holy Ghost” capitalized as written.

Rob

 

[Allan]

Some English translations use one or the other or both terms to translate the name of God. I prefer holy Spirit (lower case "h" and capitalized "S"). Spirit is the distinction (like Father, Son) and holy is simpy an adjective.

'Ghost' is kewl if you live in Casper :laugh: but not as a title of God.

Thoughts? Preferences? Which choice did your prefered translation use?

The terms of Ghost and Spirit are used interchangably though their usage in verses is for a specific reason. 'Ghost' refers to an activity in one place, much like a ghost being techenically confined (as far as our understanding is concerned) in or to one place. This is not to state the Holy Ghost is confined as such but that His activity is specific to a person or place. A person does not see a particular ghost in 3 places at once. However the term 'Spirit' refers to His working in all places or persons and no specific location involved. Yet both are used interchangably to speak of the same person of the Godhead

 

[Jim1999]

My thoughts: There were many who translated to give us the KJV, and hence different groups of translaters used the archaic meaning of spirit as ghost or soul, and there is nothing mysterious about its usage at all.

Cheers,

Jim