Proving the Deity of the Holy Spirit

Some cults, such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, deny the historic Christian – and biblical – doctrine of the Trinity.  For example, they deny the deity of the Holy Spirit.  In light of this denial, the question is, “How do you prove the deity of the Holy Spirit?”  Geerhardus Vos gives excellent biblical answers:

1) He bears divine names.  Acts 5:3, 9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; and 1 John 4:13.

2) Divine attributes are ascribed to him. a) Eternity: Gen. 1:2, b) Omnipresence: Ps. 139:7-8; 1 Cor. 3:16), c) Omniscience: 1 Cor. 2:10; John 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:21, d) Omnipotence: Luke 1:35.

3) Divine works are attributed to him: a) Creation: Gen. 1:2, Ps. 33:6, b) Preserving and governing: Ps. 104:30, c) Miracles: Mt. 12:28; 1 Cor 12:4, Luke 1:35, d) Forgiveness of sins and regeneration: 1 Cor. 6:11; John 3:5, e) Governing the church: Acts 13:2; 15:28; 20:28, f) Foretelling future events: John 16:13, g) Illumination and sanctification: Eph. 1:17-18; 2 Thess. 2:13; 1 Pet. 1:2, h) Resurrection from the dead: Rom. 8:11.

4) Divine honor is given to him (Mt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:15; Rev. 1:6, 1 Cor. 6:19-20).

5) One can sin against the Holy Spirit and then, in fact, commit the most severe, unforgivable sin (Mk. 3:29).

Geerhardus Vos, Reformed Dogmatics, Vol 1, p. 73-74.  (Note: I’ve slightly edited the format of the above quote for the purposes of this blog.)

shane lems