What Does the Bible Say About the Personality of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force, but a person with a personality of his own. The Spirit of God can be grieved when believers misbehave. The Holy Spirit works actively and selflessly to teach us more about Jesus and to help us in various situations.

Bible Verses

“²⁶But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (Jn 14:26)

“²⁶“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (Jn 15:26)

“¹⁷that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,” (Eph 1:17)

“¹²for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”” (Lk 12:12)

“²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Ro 8:26)

“²⁹And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”” (Ac 8:29)

“²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”” (Ac 13:2)

“²⁸For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:” (Ac 15:28)

“²⁵Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³²Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph 4:25–32)

Study Questions

1. Is the Holy Spirit a person or a power?
2. What is the primary task of the Holy Spirit?
3. What is the difference between my spirit and God’s Spirit?
4. What grieves the Holy Spirit and how do we avoid it?
5. How to be guided by the Holy Spirit?
6. How does one learn to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit?

Additional Bible Verses

John 16:13-14, Isa 63:10, 2 Sam 23:2