Originally posted by HankD:
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We don't know why the KJV translators did this (at least I have never found a documented reason)....
What of the earliest ancient translations which made no such distinction?
HankD
We do know why the KJV translators translated the Greek word sometimes as "the Holy Ghost"! The Greeks had no way to distinguish between the words ghost and spirit when using their word "pneuma". But, Hebrew, like English can distinguish between ghost and spirit. It is this very distinguish between the words ghost and spirit that we know the Greek word "pneuma" is sometimes speaking of the third person of the Godhead and not just the wind. The KJV translators translated the Greek word into English from the Hebrew Old Testament context!
The Hebrew word "gava" is "to breathe out" as in "ghost".
The Hebrew word "ruwach" is "wind", "breath" as in "spirit".
We find the Greek word "pneuma" in John 19:30 as "ghost" and not "spirit". The Greek could just as well read: gave up the spirit." We learn a very important association of the Greek word "pneuma" within its Hebrew context! Not only is the Greek word "pneuma" of the New Testament found in context with the Hebrew word "ruach" in the Old Testament, but also with the Hebrew word "gava".
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)
Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:8)
It is by this Hebrew context that the KJV translators translated the Greek into English! After all, large parts of the New Testament is quoted Hebrew Old Testament!
We find in the King James Bible the third person of the Godhead: the Holy Ghost is always masculine. The only time the word Spirit is masculine, is when the office of the Holy Ghost is found in the context as being that of truth and not his person: John 14:17; John 15:26; John 16:13,4; 1 Corinthians 12:11
And, yes, the earliest ancient translations DID make a distinction! Look at the Hebrew, and Gothic for examples! Oh, and English can be found as far back as A.D. 450. (see The Mother Tongue: English and How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson)!
"The Gothic is a language of Low German origin, as well as the Anglo-Saxon and English." (The Gospels Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Wycliffe and Tyndale Versions by Joseph Bosworth; published by Gibbings and Company in London - 1907; p.iii).
Therefore, as we find a distinction in Hebrew and English; we also find it in the Gothic, Low german, and Anglo-Saxon.
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