Replies

Re: “I just don’t understand what is so hard to grasp. The Bible completely supports my interpretation, while your stance has no Scriptural support. So tell us how you justify an extra-Scriptural view of God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost.“

Okay. You’ve completely lost me now. I just got home a little bit ago and I’ve been reading all the posts back and forth, and, I thought for a minute that I understood what you were saying.

But, with what you said to caww above, I’m now not so sure.

I thought you objected the term “person” in reference to the Holy Spirit because you thought the typical dictionary definition of the word “person” has to refer to a human being. Therefore, in your mind that diminishes who God is. Also, you said the word “person” in reference to God is never used in the Bible.

I was willing to meet you halfway and agree that using the word “person” is somewhat a diminishment of all that God is. But, so would the term, “being” that you used earlier. In fact, any human word used to describe God is not going to capture all that God is.

The point is, the terms “Father”, “Son”, “being”, or “person” are all human metaphors for God - none of them quantify all that God is. But, they are useful to us human beings in trying to grasp a little of who God is.

I thought we we’re all agreeing that God has autonomy, has character, has a will, loves, forgives, can communicate, reasons - all these attributes are what make God, and us, individuals - beings.

That is in fact what theologians mean when they use the word “person” in reference to God - they don’t mean He is a human being - they just mean that the Holy Spirit is a person in the sense of autonomy, will, communicate, etc.

But, if using the word “person” bothers you and you would rather use “being” - great - I can get with you on that.

Now, though, I’m not sure at all what you’re saying. Other than using the word “person” rather than “being” - what caww saying that is so “non-Biblical”?

A “being” is an entity of some sort without required shape or form. There is one sort of being we are, which is “human.” Human beings have shape and form. Calling God and the Holy Ghost people is just not supported in Scripture. To be fair, calling God a “being” is not mentioned in the Bible either, but I can’t seem to help caww understand it is best to call God “God” and the Holy Ghost “like a ghost.”

To call God and the Holy Ghost “people” is, frankly, demeaning to them. I can’t call my pets people, but I can call FReepers and God, people? I don’t think so.