The Holy Spirit

In the Symbol of Faith, the 2^nd Ecumenical Council, which added the last articles to the Creed regarding the existence of the Holy Spirit, gave us the formulation “who proceeds from the Father.” The Father exists uncreated; The Son exists begotten of the Father before all ages; The Holy Spirit exists in a way which proceeds from the Father also before all ages.

As the birth of the Son from the Father is a teaching of the Holy Bible, likewise is the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father. Christ said to His disciples, “But when the Comforter comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” (John 15:26)

As the Son is begotten of the Father, He is of the same essence with the Father, that is, true God of true God, begotten. Likewise, as the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, He is of the same essence with the Father, true God of true God, who proceeds.

The divinity of the Holy Spirit is proved also by the name “the Spirit of truth”. This name, where the word “of truth” is a quality, means “the true Spirit.” The Comforter is the true Spirit when compared with the angelic and human spirits, which in a way are false spirits because they are created beings and are lower than God. If God were to abandon them, they would return to the state of non-existence.

The formulation of “who proceeds from the Father” is in agreement with Christ’s words which we stated earlier. Christ said that He will send the Comforter, but added the words “from the Father.” Why? Because He “proceeds from the Father.” The Father is the authority in the Divinity. He begot the Son and sends the Holy Spirit just as the sun gives lights and sends the warmth.

The Fathers of the Church have forbidden anyone to change the Symbol of Faith. The Pope however, preaching himself greater that the Holy Fathers and the Ecumenical Councils and greater than Christ, added to the “Filoque” to the Creed. In other words, that the Holy Spirit proceeds “and from the Son.” But this is a heresy, a very great heresy which introduces a two figured authority to the Divinity. This according to logical understanding leads to a pair of gods.

May the Holy Spirit enlighten the Pope and all the heretics. May the Pope and all the heretics accept the enlightenment and repent and reject their heresies and in this way making it possible for the much desired Union to occur. A true Union and not a False-union which is being sought out by the Ecumenists.

In relation of the Holy Spirit, the Arians, some Protestant groups and the so called Jehovah Witnesses deny the divinity of the Holy Spirit and teach that the Holy Spirit is simply a power or “an active power of Jehovah” as the false witnesses of Jehovah state.

But also some Orthodox Christians believe the Holy Spirit to be simply a power because they lack the basic theological understanding and teaching that the Holy Spirit is a person.

As the Holy Spirit has power and definitely almighty power, this is why in certain versus like Acts 2:4 (“all filled with the Holy Spirit”) Acts 6:3 (“full of the Holy Spirit”) the Holy Spirit means actual power, grace, talents. Jesus said to His disciples “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” (Acts 1:8)

The Holy Spirit means power, but this doesn’t exclude the Holy Spirit from being a person. Explicitly, the Father and the Son are also called “power” but they are persons. “… you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power…” (Matt 26:64) “… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor. 1:24)

The angels are also called powers but they are also persons. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come.” (Rom. 8:38) “… who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” (1 Peter 3:22)

Even though Simon the sorcerer was a person, a human, the people who were amazed by his sorcery said, “This man is the great power of God.” (Acts 8:10)

In order to overthrow the heretical views that some have about the Holy Spirit, that is, He is a power, something dead and unconscious like the wind or electricity, three passages from the Bible will be provided to show that one thing is said about the Holy Spirit and another is said about power.

“… how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” (Acts 10:37-38)

According to the words of the Apostle Peter, God anointed Jesus as man with the “Holy Spirit” and with “power”. Therefore the Holy Spirit and the power are not identical, but the one is different to the other.

“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Corin. 2:4)

“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit …” (1 Thess. 1:5)

With these words, Apostle Paul makes a distinction between the Holy Spirit and power. The Holy Spirit has power but is not power.

“The Holy Spirit is the truth.” (1 John 5:6)

The Apostle John doesn’t say here that the Spirit is “the power” but he says that the Spirit is “the truth” as Christ also says about Himself.