Some people assume the Holy Spirit is a mystical, cosmic force at work in the universe. Others see Him as an impersonal energy source that God utilizes from time to time as He sees fit. Still, others render the Holy Spirit as a depersonalized emanation from God. However, the Bible declares Him to be a divine Person (along with God the Father and God the Son).
Below is a list of passages that affirm the Personhood of the Holy Spirit, using the pronouns “He, Him, and Himself” to describe His Being. These verses also reveal some of the Holy Spirit’s roles and responsibilities, which confirm His Personhood. I encourage you to copy and paste this list into a format you can save on your computer or smart device for future encounters with those who believe or teach otherwise. (Note: The Scriptural references and versions are cited below each verse).
The Holy Spirit is a (divine) Person: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NASB)
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:13-15 (NASB)
But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; John 16:7-8 (NASB)
When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning. John 15:26-27 (NASB)
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 (NASB)
For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:10b-13 (NKJV)
I hope this information equips you to contend for the Personhood of the Holy Spirit as you share biblical truth with others. To access these verses directly from my website and other lists identifying various aspects of the Holy Spirit's Personhood, click here.
