Holy Spirit - How the word "Spirit" is used in the Bible

How the Word Spirit Is Used in the Bible

The Word "Spirit" Literally Signifies "the Breath"—
  A. Both the Hebrew and the Greek words mean a breath or blast of air (any lexicon will confirm).
  B. It is used to signify the cycle of respiration (Job 9:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; John 20:22).
  C. The breath and life are closely associated (Job 12:9-10; 33:4; 34:14; Acts 17:25; Revelation 13:15).
  D. A man is dead when he has breathed his last (Psalm 104:29; 135:15-17).

The Word "Spirit" May Signify the Invisible, Immaterial, Eternal Spirit of Man—
  A. A man is dead when he breathes his last (Genesis 25:17; Job 3:11; John 19:30, Mark 15:37,44).
  B. The departing of the spirit and the final breath are associated in death (James 2:26; Acts 7:59).
  C. The word spirit signifies our inner man (2 Corinthians 4:16), the heart (Romans 2:28-29), the
mind (Romans 7:22-8:16).
  D. The inner man, as the seat of our intellect, affections and will, serves God (Romans 1:9).

The Word "Spirit" May Identify an Angel, a Demon or the Devil—
  A. The angels of God are "ministering spirits" (Hebrews 1:7,14; cf Psalms 103:20-21; 104:4).
  B. A demon is an "unclean spirit" (Matthew 12:43-46; Luke 4:33; Mark 1:23-26; 5:2, 8,12).
  C. Satan is "the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2).

The Word "Spirit" May Refer to the Very Essence of God—
  A. God "is Spirit" (John 4:24); He exists outside the material universe.
  B. He is "invisible" (Colossians 1:16; Romans 1:20; cf. I Timothy 6:16; John 1:18; 1 John 2:5).
  C. The Holy Spirit "is Spirit" because the Bible says He is God (Acts 5:3-4).
  D. In John 4:24 "in spirit and in truth" refers to the true spiritual worship which would be revealed
by the Holy Spirit in contrast to the carnal ordinances of the Law (cf. John 3:6; 6:63).

The Word "Spirit" May Refer to an Attitude—
  A. There are several indisputable examples (Galatians 6:1; Romans 11:8; 2 Corinthians 4:13;
Ephesians 1:17-18; 4:23; 2 Timothy 1:7).
  B. Two passages often misunderstood because this fact not observed:
    1. In 1 John 4:6 "the spirit of truth" is not the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:17) but the mind which is under the sway of the Truth revealed by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3; 1 John 4:2-3). The "spirit of antichrist" is not a demon or the Devil, but rather, a mind lost to the error which denies the incarnation (1 John 4:1).
    2. In Galatians 4:6 "the Spirit of His Son" is not the Holy Spirit but the heart of the adopted child of God (v. 5) who in faith can come boldly to the Father (cf. Romans 8:14-16; Mark 14:36). This passage does not teach a personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the believer.

The Word "Spirit" May Refer to the Holy Spirit as a Person Possessing Deity—
  A. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Godhead (2 Corinthians 13:14; Acts 5:4; 1 John 5:4-9).
  B. Often the Holy Spirit is mentioned with respect to His unique role within the Godhead:
    1. Creation (Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13)
    2. Revelation (John 14:16-17, 26; 15:26-27; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10-13; 12:3-6)
    3. Sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2; Hebrews 10:29)
    4. Resurrection (1 Peter 3:18-20; Romans 8:11; Hebrews 9:14)
    5. The Mission of Jesus (Matthew 1:18; 3:16-17; Acts 2:1-4; 10:38)
  C. Sometimes it refers to that which the Holy Spirit experiences as a person (Acts 5:3^4; 7:1;
Ephesians 4:30; Hebrews 10:29; Matthew 12:31).

Consider "In the Spirit," "By the Spirit," "Of the Spirit" & "Through the Spirit"—
  A. Sometimes these phrases indicate the Spirit's miraculous activity.
    1. Disciples were led "by the Spirit" (Luke 2:27; 1 Corinthians 12:3, 8-9).
    2. Jesus was "led up of the Spirit" and "cast out devils by the Spirit" (Matthew 4:1; 12:28).
    3. Jesus was "in the power of the Spirit" when He worked miracles in Galilee (Luke 4:1,14).
    4. N.T. Prophets spoke "through the Spirit" giving special revelation (Acts 11:28; 21:4).
    5. The early church acted and spoke "with the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 14:15-16).
    6. However, none of these passages indicate a bodily indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a person in Jesus, an Apostle or a disciple because of regeneration.
  B. Sometimes these phrases indicate non-miraculous activity of the Holy Spirit through means.
    1. Christians are "led by the Spirit of God" (Romans 8:13-14); however, the Spirit leads by means of His teaching (Romans 8:1-2).
    2. We are washed, sanctified and justified "by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11); yet, that washing occurs "with the washing of water through the word" (Ephesians 5:25) and sanctification is effected by "obeying the truth through the Spirit" (1 Peter 1:22).
    3. We are circumcised in heart "in the Spirit" and not "in the letter" meaning according to the Gospel and not by the Law of Moses (Romans 2:27; cf. 7:6; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Philippians 3:3).
    4. A thing is "by the Spirit" when it is according to the Holy Spirit's will (1 Corinthians 12:3-13).

Observations:
  A. Every time the word "spirit" occurs, it does not mean the Holy Spirit.
  B. When the word "spirit" does indicate the Holy Spirit:
    1. It may signify the Holy Spirit acting in His unique role within the Godhead.
    2. It may signify the Holy Spirit acting miraculously in revelation, inspiration & confirmation.
    3. It may indicate the Holy Spirit acting non-miraculously through means.
  C. Never does it indicate a bodily indwelling of the Holy Spirit as a person in either Jesus, an
Apostle, or a disciple because of regeneration.