Does the Holy Spirit have a name?

-- JBC (jra@jra-architects.com), December 25, 1998

Answers

Response to Holy Spirit ??

In John 14:16, the Holy Spirit is called "Paraclete" which means "advocate" or "comforter". The Holy Spirit is called advocate because He intercedes for us to the Father, that we have been cleansed by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, through the infusion of sanctifying grace into our soul. In Romans 8:26, St. Paul said, "In our weakness, the Spirit will help us. For when we know not how to pray, the Spirit will intercede for us to God..." Also in 1Cor. 12:3, "We profess Jesus is Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit...", and in Gal. 4:6 "In order to manifest that we are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son in our hearts, and the Spirit cries out, 'Abba, Father!'"

-- Jude Thaddeus Gitamondoc (tyrex3679@hotmail.com), December 26, 1998.

Response to Holy Spirit ??

Jude Thaddeus Gitamondoc,

Paraclete I don't see as a name. It's a title like "God" is a title. God is not a replacement - even though it sometimes is used for such - for YHWH or Christ. They both have "names." Advocate or Counselor is an attribute that doesn't fully describe the "person." Names are (usually/suppose to) given to mean something. As in the times of the ancients - Hebrews and even the native poeples in the USA. True names comes from "things" and places but they have a different connotation. They have more meaning than just "advocate" or "counselor." Also, in several translations the word for "Paraclete" translated to counselor is sometimes used as it would be if were a "name." Example:

John 14:26 (NIV) "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."

It says "But the Counselor" not "But Counselor" just as "Holy Spirit" is not a name but more of a desciption of the Holy Spirits "job." For me a "name" is an overall "representation" of the person. As with my middle name "Byron" litteraly means house. It "represents" a storehouse of knowledge, a base for family, etc.

Jamey

-- JBC (JRA@JRA-ARCHITECTS.COM), December 29, 1998.

The answer to your question is yes. I'm under the impression that you are assuming, as many people do, that the personal name of the Father is Yahweh (or Jehovah) and that the personal name of the Son is Jesus. This leaves us with the problem that the Holy Spirit does not seem to have such a personal name.

There's actually no problem at all when you discover that the Scriptures never explicitly say that "the Father is Yahweh." We merely assume (correctly I believe) that the Father's name is Yahweh because 1) there is only ONE GOD (Deut. 6:4), 2) the Father is called God (John 6:27), and 3) God's name is Yahweh (Ex 3:15). In essence, the Father's name is Yahweh because He is the One True God.

Further research into Scripture reveals that the Son's name is rightly Yahweh also however. This is true by the mere fact that the Father expressly addresses his Son as "God" in Hebrews 1:8 (see also Isaiah 9:6, Matt 1:23, John 1:1, 20:28, Acts 20:28, Rom 9:5, Titus 2:12; 2Peter 1:1; Rev 1:8). If the Son is God, He can be rightfully be called Yahweh then since there is only one true God and His name is Yahweh. In fact, the Scriptures do just that! Although not apparent to the English reader, the Son is called Yahweh in Isaiah 40:3. Let's look at this verse closely. If you read the preface to any English Bible, it should note that where you find the word "LORD" in all caps (this is standard) the Hebrew Scriptures actually contain the divine name "Yahweh". Isaiah tells us of "a voice of one calling: 'In the desert prepare the way for Yahweh; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." Who was John the Baptist preparing the way for? Does this sound familiar? See Matt 3:3 for the answer. The Scriptures do this a number of times (see Zech 12:10 with Rev 1:7; Joel 2:32 with Rom 10:13; Isaiah 6:1-5 with John 12:41; Ez 42:2 with Rev 1:15; Isaiah 60:19-20 with Rev 21:23; etc).

Additionally, you guessed it, the Holy Spirit is also personally named Yahweh. This can be deduced, as was for the Father, because the Spirit is called "God" in Scripture (Acts 5:3-4; 1Cor 6:19-20; Heb 3:7-12; etc.). He is also equated with the name Yahweh. The inspired author of Hebrews tells us that the "Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 'This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds" (Heb 10:15-16). The Hebrew Scriptures from which this passage is quoted explains: "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares Yahweh. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. . .declares Yahweh. . ." (Jer 31:33-34).

In conclusion, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are individually, collectively and personally named Yahweh. The Son, however, is only also personally named Jesus which means Yahweh saves. Hence, since the Son alone was incarnated to redeem the world, God in the person of the Son alone is addressed as Jesus. This name is proper to the Son alone but all three person within the Godhead are individually referred to as "savior" or are mentioned in Scripture as involved in the work of salvation.

-- Jorge Trujillo (jtrujillo7203@hotmail.com), June 17, 1999.

He seems to always answer me when I call Him by the name "Holy Spirit". God doesn't care what name we call Him by as long as we remember to call on Him.

-- Br. Rich S.F.O. (repsfo@prodigy.net), June 18, 1999.

I concur with Rich. I was merely attempting to answer the question "does the Holy Spirit have a name?", but left out a very important point that Rich made. God will hear your prayers if you are sincere in your calling for Him. God never turns from us, we turn from Him. He always awaits His children's return (as in the story of the prodigal son).

Even when the Lord Jesus lived on earth, He did not see it necessary to call God by any name other than by His titles (Father, Lord, God, etc.). Never did He use the divine name Yahweh to address God. Sincerity of heart was most important to Jesus in addressing God rather than using a personal name. In His famous prayer to the Father he said, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. . ." (Matt 6:9) without mentioning or addressing His Father by any name.

-- JT (jtrujillo7203@hotmail.com), June 19, 1999.