SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT

  1. Old Testament
     In the OT "the Spirit of God" (i.e., ruach) was a force which accomplished YHWH's purpose (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), I., but there is little hint that He was personal (cf. Isa. 48:16; 61:1).

  2. New Testament
     However, in the NT (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE), II., III., IV. the full personality and personhood of the Spirit is revealed:
    1. He can be blasphemed (cf. Matt. 12:31; Mark 3:29)
    2. He teaches (cf. Luke 12:12; John 14:26)
    3. He advocates for believers (cf. John 14:26; 15:26; 16:7)
    4. He bears witness (cf. John 15:26)
    5. He glorifies the Son (cf. John 16:14)
    6. He convicts, guides (cf. John 16:7-15)
    7. He can be resisted (cf. Acts 7:51)
    8. He speaks His will (cf. Acts 13:2,4; 15:28)
    9. He is called "who" (i.e., hos, cf. Eph. 1:14)
    10. He can be grieved (cf. Eph. 4:30)
    11. He can be quenched (cf. 1 Thess. 5:19)
    Trinitarian texts (here are three of many, see full list see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY) also speak of three persons.
    1. Matt. 28:19
    2. 2 Cor. 13:14
    3. 1 Pet. 1:2
     The Greek word "spirit" (pneuma) is grammatically NEUTER when referring to the Spirit, but the NT often uses MASCULINE DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE to denote it is referring to a person (i.e., John 16:8,13-14).
     The Spirit is linked to human activity.
    1. Rom. 8:26
    2. 1 Cor. 12:11
    3. Eph. 4:30

  3. Acts specifically
     At the very beginning of Acts, the Spirit's role is emphasized (as in the Gospel of John).  Pentecost was not the beginning of the work of the Spirit, but a new chapter. Jesus always had the Spirit.  His baptism was not the beginning of the work of the Spirit, but a new chapter.  The Spirit is the effective means of the Father's purpose for the restoration of all humans made in His image (see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN)! This is the Age of the Spirit, the third Person of The Trinity.

  4. Theological Development
     The Trinity is a historically developed formulation informed by the biblical material.
    1. the full Deity of Jesus, equal to the Father, was affirmed in A.D. 325 by the Council of Nicea (cf. John 1:1; Phil. 2:6; Titus 2:13)
    2. the full personality and Deity of the Spirit equal to the Father and Son was affirmed in A.D. 381 by the Council of Constantinople
    3. the doctrine of the Trinity is fully expressed in Augustine's work De Trinitate There is truly mystery here. But the NT affirms one divine essence (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM) with three eternal personal manifestations (Father, Son, and Spirit; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY).

For a good brief discussion see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, pp. 875-878.

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