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Methocostal

When and why did we change from referring to the Holy Ghost as the Holy Spirit?

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **6/9/16 9:13 am**

When I grew up, the most common term to describe the Spirit was Holy Ghost. Today, I rarely hear of it referred to as such. People were seeking to be filled with the "Holy Ghost", today, that is mostly referred to as Holy Spirit.

Perhaps, my view is slanted as I have mostly attended Assembly of God in the last 30 years and it is a cultural difference between AG and COG and COGOP? Though I did attend a COG for maybe 6 years in that period and I believe they also referred to Holy Spirit.

For the theology experts, is there a difference? If I am correct and the COG/COGOP also mostly refer to Holy Spirit, why do you think it has changed? Was it incorrect originally to say Holy Ghost or is it more incorrect today to say Holy Spirit? I don't have a clue.

I was just curious. The reality may be that it doesn't matter Smile

To me, Holy Ghost sounds more country and Holy Spirit sounds more fancy Smile

Quiet Wyatt

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **6/9/16 9:39 am**

I think it has to do with the translations that are most popular at the time. As you probably know, the KJV has both "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" as translations of the same two Greek words. All of the more recent translations in the past 100 years have gone with the more accurate rendering in modern English, "Holy Spirit," and this is more and more reflected in common English usage in our worship, preaching and teaching today.

wayne

I have had this same discussion

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1274 **6/9/16 9:52 am**

Interesting story - I baptized a man about 6 years ago and baptized him in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This mans old school sister chastised me for saying Spirit instead of Ghost.

My thoughts -
If we go by the definition in Websters dictionary, Spirit sounds better and when referring to this part of the Godhead when talking to non-church types it may be better to use Spirit instead of Ghost but in church circles I believe they are synonymous.

Websters dictionary definition-
spirit: the force within a person that is believed to give the body life, energy, and power
ghost: the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people

Strongs concordance-
Spirit - ruwach:
I.wind, breath, mind, spirit A.breath B.wind
C.spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
i.spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour ii.courage iii.temper, anger v.impatience, patience v.spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented) i.disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse vii.prophetic spirit D.spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals) i.as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
G.Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son i.as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy ii.as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning iii.imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power iv.as endowing men with various gifts v.as energy of life vi.as manifest in the Shekinah glory

Ghost - pneuma -
I.the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son A.sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his personality and character (the "Holy" Spirit) B.sometimes referred to in a way which emphasises his work and power (the Spirit of "Truth") C.never referred to as a depersonalised force II.the spirit, i.e. the vital principal by which the body is animated A.the rational spirit, the power by which the human being feels, thinks, decides B.the soul III.a spirit, i.e. a simple essence, devoid of all or at least all grosser matter, and possessed of the power of knowing, desiring, deciding, and acting A.a life giving spirit B.a human soul that has left the body C.a spirit higher than man but lower than God, i.e. an angel i.used of demons, or evil spirits, who were conceived as inhabiting the bodies of men ii.the spiritual nature of Christ, higher than the highest angels and equal to God, the divine nature of Christ IV.the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one A.the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc. V.a movement of air (a gentle blast) A.of the wind, hence the wind itself B.breath of nostrils or mouth

THE LOVE OF GOD

Friendly Face Posts: 387 **6/9/16 10:23 am**

I think they think it is more dignified but I like Holy Ghost instead of Holy Spirit too. I am not ashamed to say Holy Ghost. I received the Holy Ghost 1961 - still real today.

Methocostal

Thank you

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **6/9/16 10:56 am**

for each of your responses. I agree "spirit" sounds more dignified. I used the term "fancy", dignified is a better word.

Link

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **6/9/16 11:24 am**

I agree with Wayne. 'Ghost' is scarey or weird to people unfamiliar with church lingo. It can also scare and confuse little kids.
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Eddie Robbins

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16509 **6/9/16 11:48 am**

This is why I believe in all of the Gifts of the Ghost.

Methocostal

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **6/9/16 12:43 pm**

Old Time Country Preacher

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **6/9/16 12:46 pm**

Meth, are you serious, a difference in the HG an HS?

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **6/9/16 12:54 pm**

I noticed on the new emoji translation, "Spirit" looks an awful lot like what I call a ghost. Shocked

👻

Methocostal

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **6/9/16 4:49 pm**

Do I think they are different, No. But, I have noticed a change in how they are mentioned. As I understand, the two are the same (except as some mentioned earlier that Holy Ghost may sound scarier than Holy Spirit.

But, I'm no scholar, perhaps there is a reason for calling them by different names. (No, I'm not suggesting a Four nity, or whatever that would be called) Smile

I was actually just curious for the difference. Someone mentioned Bible's in the last 100 years or so often referred to Holy Spirit. Given that the KJV is used less frequently today than in the past, that sounds like a logical reason the terminology has changed.

And who knows, it may have only my observations where I attend. Other congregations may differ? Maybe in the south, they still predominately refer to it as Holy Ghost. Since I haven't lived in the south for 30 years, I don't know.

I did not mean to imply Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit were two different beings if that is what you thought I meant Smile

Methocostal

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **6/9/16 4:50 pm**

what is emoji? Bring me up to date Smile

bonnie knox

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 14803 **6/9/16 5:52 pm**

They are little symbols like smileys and stuff that you can put in your typing.

Link

Acts-perienced Poster Posts: 11849 **6/9/16 7:27 pm**

'Holy Ghost' sounds more old timey Pentecostal. Our forebearers used the KJV and often spoke of "Baptism in the Holy Ghost" and that's a pretty stock phrase in Pentecostal sermons.
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Cojak

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **6/9/16 7:53 pm**

Holy Ghost was for real Christians. Holy Spirit was for those 'nominal Churches'. This was a serious thing in the COG up until the mid 60's.
No one would 'Seek the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues...etc' in the 1950's it would have been sort of sacrilege. Sorta like a woman cutting her hair or wearing pants! Very Happy

We churchy folk have many times strained at a gnat and swallowed a camel over the years. Wink

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