HOLY GHOST OR HOLY SPIRIT?

[Andy C]

Its probably just me, but I have never once used the name “Holy Ghost” when instead, I only use Holy Spirit.

Do you have a preference, and if so, why?

I like Jacks answer.

The below is a question and answer from Jack Kelley

Question: Please help me understand the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit in the new testament. I have studied and am a bit confused over this. My pastor is determined to call him the Holy Spirit, and yet the “Spirit” like a dove descended on Jesus, and then there is the fruit of the “Spirit” yet the gift of the Holy Ghost … see what I mean? I have I believe some understanding but would encourage your input.

Answer: No one knows exactly why the King James translators chose to use the term Holy Ghost 88 times and Holy Spirit 4 times in the New Testament. All the other major translations use Holy Spirit exclusively, and both terms come from exactly the same Greek words.

Since in our time, the word ghost usually calls to mind an apparition, or visual representation of a dead person, and since the Holy Spirit is not now nor has He ever been dead, most prefer to use Holy Spirit when referring to the third person of the Trinity.

Holy Ghost Or Holy Spirit? – Grace thru faith

gracethrufaith.com

 

[Tall Timbers]

I'm fine with either and have used both.

 

[Baby Yoda]

Have never used Holy Ghost.

 

[Almost Heaven]

Have never used Holy Ghost.

Me neither

 

[Andy C]

I'm fine with either and have used both.

I guess I always thought that was the name the Catholics used, and never considered others also use Holy Ghost.

 

[Tall Timbers]

I guess I always thought that was the name the Catholics used, and never considered others also use Holy Ghost.

Some of the Protestant denominations lean towards Holy Ghost.

 

[Margery]

My presbyterian mother used the old fashioned term Holy Ghost, but that was also because she used the KJV (she wasn't averse to other Bible versions, but the KJV was standard in her home growing up, and it's what she used to read to us with)

It's just standard old English from the KJV period. A bit archaic and antiquated.

The more "with it" Baptist and Pentecostal type churches that used more modern versions of the Bible tended to go with Holy Spirit.

 

[Ghoti Ichthus]

Holy Ghost. It's what I was brought up with, both KJV Bible and when confessing the Apostle's and Nicene Creeds in church (including Confirmation and children's church).
The Sunday church still uses Holy Ghost, and the Wednesday church uses Holy Spirit, and both congregations are the same denomination

I far prefer Holy Ghost to Holy Spirit because Holy Spirit sounds kind of new-agey to me. Part of that is because of what my former husband and FIL believed and practiced. Part of it is because it makes a good (and very necessary) differentiation when witnessing to a new ager, occultist, satanist, or doesn't-believe-anything-but-has-heard-a-bunch-of-PC-and-or-new-age-rubbish.

I like that Holy Ghost is different and special, as opposed to what non-Christians mean when they refer to spirit, a spirit, spirit of the age, spirit of the world, a holy spirit (NOT the same as the Third Person of the Trinity), etc., etc., etc. ad nauseam.

 

[LightOfMyLife]

I like Holy Spirit because when we are born again scripture says of the Spirit,

 

[Ronnie]

There are some old line Holiness Pentecostals who adamantly hold to Holy Ghost and it is a line of contention with them.

 

[Goodboy]

I always use Holy Spirit unless I am quoting a Bible verse that uses Holy Ghost. I actually like the fact that both are used in the King James Bible. On the one hand Holy Ghost can make one think of what you find in the Ghost Buster movies. On the other hand Holy Spirit can make one think it is just a force like in Star Wars or like what Jehovah Witnesses believe. So depending on who we are speaking with, one use might be better than the other.

As LightOfMyLife stated, I also prefer Holy Spirit because we have a spirit just like God does. I would not want to say that we have a Holy Ghost. In any case I am fine with either, just like how people like me went from Negro to Colored to Black to Afro American. They all refer to the same race. I personally stopped at Black though, as I have never been to Africa.

 

[Kem]

Part of it is because it makes a good (and very necessary) differentiation when witnessing to a new ager, occultist, satanist, or doesn't-believe-anything-but-has-heard-a-bunch-of-PC-and-or-new-age-rubbish.

Good point and one I had not thought of. I do use Holy Spirit though because the word ghost has a different connotation in our modern America.