Definition

Proper noun 1. The Holy Spirit: In Christian theology, the third person of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). The Holy Spirit is understood as God's active presence and power in the world, often described as a comforter, guide, and source of spiritual gifts.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • Christians believe the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost.
  • She prayed for guidance from the Holy Spirit.
  • The doctrine of the Trinity describes one God in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Advanced Usage

• "The Holy Spirit" is always capitalized, as it is a proper name for a divine person.
• "Filled with the Holy Spirit": A phrase describing a state of being powerfully influenced or empowered by God's spirit.
  • The believers spoke in tongues, feeling filled with the Holy Spirit.
• "Gifts of the Holy Spirit": Refers to spiritual abilities (like wisdom, healing, or prophecy) believed to be granted by the Holy Spirit.
  • The apostle Paul wrote about the different gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Variants and Related Words

• Holy Ghost: An older, synonymous term for the Holy Spirit, still used in some traditional prayers and hymns.
• Spirit of God: A descriptive phrase for the Holy Spirit, emphasizing its divine nature.
• Paraclete: A term from Greek meaning "advocate," "helper," or "comforter," used in the Bible to describe the Holy Spirit.
• Third Person of the Trinity: A formal theological designation.

Synonyms

• Advocate (in the specific biblical sense of Paraclete)
• Comforter
• Spirit of Truth

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "Baptism in/of the Holy Spirit": A Christian concept referring to an experience of being overwhelmed or empowered by the Holy Spirit, often associated with a deepening of faith or the reception of spiritual gifts.
  • Many Pentecostal Christians seek a baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Noun

1. the third person in the Trinity; Jesus promised the Apostles that he would send the Holy Spirit after his Crucifixion and Resurrection; it came on Pentecost