Acts 10:19, 20 - Destroying the Holy Spirit personification argument

by GOrwell 70 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • GOrwell
    GOrwell

    This set of scriptures pretty much demolishes "the holy spirit is only God's active force and is only personified throughout the Bible" argument (as if the rest Book of Acts doesn't already). These verses pretty much put the nail in the coffin of that argument :

    Acts 10:19,20 - NWT

    "As Peter was going over in his mind about the vision, the spirit said: “Look! Three men are seeking you. However, rise, go downstairs and be on your way with them, not doubting at all, because I have dispatched them.”

    I mean, really, who is the holy spirit being personified here as? Himself? Someone else?

    Unsuprisingly, if you look up Acts 10:20 in the WT CDROM, there is only exactly ONE reference and isn't even discussing this part of the verse.

    Pretty funny, no?

  • the-illuminator81
    the-illuminator81

    Yes but evidently, it was J speaking through the spirit. You see, we know it better than the bible.

  • ProdigalSon
    ProdigalSon

    The Watchtower can never admit that half of "God" is female, as that would put an end to their Narcissist Jehoobergod. The Evil "Mother of the Harlots" Catholic Church is almost a century ahead of them in that regard, at least they have their folks praying to Mary. I guess that makes the Watchtower the Father of the Harlots, or something like that. They are really two sides of the same coin.

  • Ding
    Ding

    No doubt the WTS would say it's Jehovah speaking through his impersonal, active force, but what does that lingo mean?

    Do they consider the Holy Spirit to be like a megaphone or tape recorder?

    Does the WTS' explanation make sense?

    Why is it that in the OT Jehovah spoke directly (as to Abraham and Moses) but in the NT He has to use some sort of impersonal force as an aid?

  • ssn587
    ssn587

    Wel in OT Jehober spoke directly, now as he gets older he needs a hearing aid (the society) to hear, and a mouth piece to speak, he is just too old now I suppose.

  • brotherdan
    brotherdan

    There are many cases of the Holy Spirit speaking. And that is not the only thing that makes it CLEAR that He is a person.

    1. The Holy Spirit has a mind (1Cor 2:10)

    2. He has emotions (Eph 4:30)

    3. He has will (1Cor 12:11)

    4. He prays for us (Romans 8:26)

    5. He speaks (John 15:26)

    6. He has omnipresence (Psalm 139:7)

    7. He has omniscience (1Cor 2:19)

    8. He has omnipotence (Romans 15:19)

    The WT likes to argue, though, that the Holy Spirit can't be a person because the Holy Spirit is "poured out" and we are to be "filled" with the Spirit. They forget that in Eph 3:19 we are to be "filled" with God and in Eph 4:10 we are to be "filled" with Christ. Guess that slipped their minds...

  • BurnTheShips
    BurnTheShips
    Acts 10:19,20 - NWT
    "As Peter was going over in his mind about the vision, the spirit said: “Look! Three men are seeking you. However, rise, go downstairs and be on your way with them, not doubting at all, because I have dispatched them.”

    Some passages in Genesis are also suggestive:

    "Now the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, while he was sitting at the tent door in the heat of the day. When Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, behold, three men were standing opposite him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth" Genesis 18:1-2

    BTS

  • brotherdan
    brotherdan

    That account in Genesis actually talks about YHWH being one of the 3. It could have been Jesus or the Holy Spirit.

    That's the thing that has shocked some people that I've shown the scripture to. Abraham is actually spoken of as FEEDING JEHOVAH HIMSELF! Of course, they take "Jehovah" to mean "Father", but most of us know that that is not the case.

  • PSacramento
    PSacramento

    In that account of Genesis you can see that they all speak as "the Lord".

    18 The Lord appeared to Abraham a by the oaks b of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures c of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

    9 They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10 Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” 13 The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, and say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too wonderful for the Lord ? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.” 15 But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”

  • GOrwell
    GOrwell

    Interesting. The scripture in Acts 10:20 is the only one that I'm aware of where the holy spirit is actually referring to himself (as in "I") and what he did. Yes, there are other scriptures that talk of him speaking, but this one scripture seems to thoroughly say that the HS in fact a person.

    Does anyone know of any other scriptures where the HS speaks of "I"?

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