The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third divine person, proceeding eternally from the Father and worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son.
Key points
- The Spirit is fully divine, not an impersonal force.
- The Spirit's eternal procession must be distinguished from the Spirit's mission in history.
Scripture
- John 15:26 — Jesus speaks of the Spirit who proceeds from the Father.
- Acts 2:1-4 — The Spirit is poured out at Pentecost.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 — Paul attributes diverse gifts to the one Spirit, who distributes them as he wills.
Primary sources
The creed names the Spirit as:
The creed associated with Constantinople I confesses the Spirit's procession and equal worship with Father and Son.
the Lord and Giver-of-Life, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified
Passage context and translation
The council confesses the Spirit's divine lordship and the Father's monarchy in the Creed received by the Church.
Before the excerpt
And [we believe] in the Holy Ghost,
After the excerpt
who spoke by the prophets.
Basil writes:
Basil gathers scriptural names that speak of the Spirit personally.
It is called “Spirit of God,” “Spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father,” “right Spirit,” “a leading Spirit.”
Passage context and translation
Basil gathers the Spirit's scriptural names while explaining the Spirit's divine dignity and sanctifying work.
Before the excerpt
First of all we ask, who on hearing the titles of the Spirit is not lifted up in soul, who does not raise his conception to the supreme nature?
After the excerpt
Its proper and peculiar title is Holy Spirit; which is a name specially appropriate to everything that is incorporeal, purely immaterial, and indivisible.