The Holy Ghost or the Holy Spirit? A case for the King James Version
Randy White
Most people assume that Holy Ghost is simply an antiquated name for the Holy Spirit, and that Spirit is less ghastly than Ghost. In one sense this is true (for modern readers), but in another, there is a real advantage of speaking of the Holy Ghost rather than the Holy Spirit.
Is Ghost too Ghastly?
One of the major reasons people give for dismissing the KJV term Holy Ghost is because ghost sounds too ghastly. And, actually, the English words come from the same family. The Old English word gast meant “breath,” much like the Greek word pneuma (from which we get pneumatic tools). In 1611, there was no more frightening imagery associated with the word ghost than we have today with the word spirit (which can have a positive or negative “vibe”). In fact, the Geneva Bible (1560) the Tyndale Bible (1526) and the Wycliff Bible (1382) all use the word ghost when referring to the Holy Spirit.
But words do change, and ghost has come to be almost exclusively associated with evil spirits or, at best, with the paranormal.
However, don’t be quick to dismiss the KJV because it uses an antiquated or inappropriate word. In fact, the term Holy Spirit was just as accepted in 1611 as Holy Ghost, but the word ghost was selected for a very important reason.
God has a spirit that is holy, and there is a Holy Spirit
What may surprise you is that the KJV uses the term Holy Ghost 90 times (exclusively in the New Testament), but it also uses the term holy Spirit seven times (three in the Old Testament and four in the New Testament). While some have stated that this is just sloppy translation on the part of the KJV translators, such a position would be sloppy research. The KJV translators had a very specific purpose in mind when they sometimes translated pneuma as spirit, and other times a ghost.
It is no surprise to you that God has a spirit, and the “spirit of God” is much different than the “Holy Spirit.” That is, the spirit of God (or spirit of the Lord) is not necessarily the third Person of the Trinity. In the places in which the KJV translators understood the “Holy Spirit” to be the third Person of the Trinity, they used the words Holy Ghost. However, in times in which they determined the “spirit of the Lord,” or they believed there was a shadow of doubt that the reference was to the third Person of the Trinity, they used the word Spirit.
For example, Psalm 51:11 records an event that was much earlier than the Holy Ghost was received, and even prior to promises that He would be given. However, there was an understanding of the Spirit of the Lord from the earliest pages of Scripture. When David was confessing before God, his prayer was, “take not thy holy spirit from me.” The KJV does not capitalize the term. The New King James, following the lead of virtually all modern translations, says, “take not Your Holy Spirit from me,” making the assumption that David was indwelt with the person of the Holy Ghost, a questionable position at best.
In the New Testament, the KJV uses “holy Spirit” (lower case “h” and upper case “S”) in Ephesians 1:13, 4:30, and 1 Thessalonians 4:8. In these verses, the context is the Spirit of God (or of the Father), and the KJV translators determined that this was different from the third Person of the Trinity. In fact, even today we would never hear the words “Holy Ghost of God” or “Holy Ghost of the Father,” and would intuitively know that this would be problematic speech. There is a “spirit of the living God” and a “Holy Ghost,” and we should keep these separate.
The final New Testament use of Spirit is Luke 11:13, where the KJV says, “…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” At first glance, one would see this as an inconsistency with the KJV pattern. For one, it is the only passage in which “Holy Spirit” is completely capitalized, and thus a clear reference to the Holy Ghost. In addition, this appears to be a reference to the promised sending of the Holy Ghost. Why would the KJV not use the term “Holy Ghost” in this verse? For understanding, a little historical digging proves valuable. First, we see that there is a close reference to the “heavenly Father,” and it appears that the 1611 KJV translators originally viewed this as the Father sending His holy Spirit and not the sending of the Holy Ghost. However, the capitalization of both words indicates the third Person rather than the Father’s spirit. But in the original 1611 version, you will find the capitalization as “holy Spirit,” in the same manner as the other three “Spirit” translations in the New Testament. Only in later editions of the KJV did editors determine that this was more likely a reference to the Holy Spirit than a holy Spirit, and they made a capitalization change but not a word change to show their editorial opinion.
Advantages of the KJV precision
About four years ago, I began to abandon the NASB (which I had used for 25 years) and adopted the KJV. One of the biggest reasons I did this is because I noted a precision in the KJV that simply isn’t available in any other translation. This is an example of that precision. Not all pneuma is the same, and a direct translation may not, in this case, be the most accurate translation.
I am going to “retrain my tongue” to use the term “Holy Ghost” when referring to the third Person of the Trinity, and using the word “spirit” when referring to the “spirit of the Lord.” It is not the first time I have had to work hard to retrain the tongue to rid myself of modern, evangelical pablum (or outright error). You may not choose to follow me in your own references to the third Person of the Trinity, and I won’t be offended. But as for me, I will use the term Holy Ghost.
And, once again, I will rejoice that the Bible is inexhaustible in its treasures!
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Randy White is the founder and CEO of Dispensational Publishing House, Inc. He teaches Bible online at www.RandyWhiteMinistries.org and preaches at the Taos (NM) First Baptist Church.
Thank you Randy. These little tidbits help so much to solidify my need to dig deeper.
Wow! This makes no sense at all, I guess that if one wishes to create distinctions where none exist why stop here? Perhaps, as Benny Hinn teaches, Father, Son and Spirit are each a Father, Son, and Spirit making a grand total of nine.
An alternative ‘advantage’ of the AV is its use of specific words that define Dispensationalism: dispensation and rightly dividing, which in turn requires convoluted logic to support its ‘perfection.’ Did Jesus have ‘virtue’ go out of Him? How about waiting until after ‘Easter’ to act on the Paul’s case? There are other examples of dubious ‘precision’ in the AV, so regardless of Theological bias, I don’t feel that explaining translation variance as precision overrides the ministry of the Holy Spirit to “Teach us all things”. I am going to stick with Jesus, revealed.
It starts with believing in a perfect Bible. Christians claim God’s word is perfect while accepting 400 translations. If that’s the case, I’m perfectly confused. I have faith there is a perfect Bible in that, God’s word is perfectly preserved in a translation. In this case, the KJV.
How can you claim the KJV is more precise when it teaches, for example, that the love of money is the root of all evil? It obviously is not, since there was evil in the world beginning at the Fall long before money existed? There is no perfect translation including the KJV, but God’s word is sure. Dig, study, pray for guidance to understand by the Holy Spirit that indwells believers.
The Bible says that Lucifer had money BEFORE the world began. Ezekiel 28:5
“By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:”
They LOVE of money could be defined as selfishness which would be the root of all evil. Nothing to do with money but they love of.
They that worship me must worship me in spirit and truth…. some things are revealed through spirit of God… for spiritual things are spiritually deserned
Luke 11:13 clearly aludes to the fact of Duet 32 that the nations are ruled by lesser gods ecept for Isreal so its tje readon that tjere is holy ghost from the devine council and Holy spirit from God
Im not confused at all i understand the readon for the kjv translation the Holy Spirit leads you into all truth but the holy ghost leads you in an opposite direction
I will completely agree with this pastor. I was married at 15 ,didn’t finish school and even I can understand what Randy is saying. Something is wrong when man starts messing with bibles. I have never read the very first bible but I think the plain old KJB Bible is close to the God inspired word. In that bible, all through that bible, it says do not change ANYTHING in the Bible. The ending is don’t change the crossing of a T or the dotting of an I. Through the years, man has changed the Bible to say what makes them feel good instead of what God says. Now they are saying the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost are exactly the same thing, but let’s get rid of the Holy Ghost cause it scares people. I say God Forbid .The only unforgivable sin is blaspheming the HOlY GHOST. I guess that could be the reason they want to rid the Bible of the Holy Ghost. God was not stupid when he used the term Holy Ghost. He used BOTH TERMS. I think He knew exactly what He was saying, God makes NO mistakes. If MAN would have left the Bible alone the way God intended there wouldn’t be so much competition over what GOD SAID. FOLKS, can you not see that the end is getting near and MAN is changing the word of God to say what suits MAN. THANK YOU, Randy. Thank God, a man who understands, The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost.. Amen
How sad, you are certainly confused. There is no such thing as a “Ghost” on;y the superstitious beliefs of an ignorant generation. It is very unfortunate that the KJV translators used the word “Ghost” when clearly it should be translated Spirit. I am certainly a trinitarian and believe in the plenary,verbal inspiration of the original autographs. However , the KJV is just that a version and as far as I am concerned translated from inferior manuscripts. Be that as it may, God help these poor KJV only people.
If you read Proverbs 30:4 can you answer those questions? If you can how do they relate to Will you call the holy ghost and holy Spirit? What about Ruach HaKodesh, how would this fit in?
For the past 2000 years churchianity has been constructing another building which rest upon another cornerstone cut from the quarry of Greco-Roman teachings. These beliefs are cemented with paganistic practices, humanistic philosophies, Hellenistic and Latin customs, include a savior bearing a Latinized Greek name. This spiritual building does not rest upon the foundation of a true Redeemer of Israel. So when we put all the different Spiritual names in place of the original what are try to do?
Hello :Randy DATE: 3/5/2021
I would like to start by stating that I agree that the Holy Ghost is entirely different than any of the other references to
the Spirit or the Holy Spirit contrary to the world view or the Baptist view, which choose to state that the Holy Ghost
and the Holy Spirit are the same, This one verse . (John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:) from the AKJB tells me that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of truth, and that the Spirit of truth is one of the Seven Spirits of God sent into all the earth. This will explain the Seven Spirits.
The Seven Spirits of God / Revelations
The seven Spirits are each found in the New Testament, and the word Spirit is in capital letters.
Luke 11:13 Holy Spirit;
John 14:16,17 Spirit of truth;
Romans 8:1.2 Spirit of life;
Romans 8:8,9 Spirit of Christ;
Romans 8:14-17 Spirit of adoption;
Ephesians 1:12-14 Spirit of promise; and
Hebrews 10:28,29 Spirit of grace.
Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
Revelation 3:1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Note: The exact phrase “ seven Spirits “ is found only four times in the Bible ( AKJV ), and they are all found in Revelation. They are before his ( God’s ) throne, He ( Jesus ) has the seven Spirits, They are the seven Spirits of God, and they are sent forth into all the earth.
During my study of Revelations I did not know the seven Spirits of God , so I had to do some research on my own,
because I had never been taught anything about the Seven Spirits of God.
Thank you for your article on the Holy Ghost, and God bless you and your Family.
Stephen Lee Meredith sj
I don’t see how you got this notion that the the KJ translators used Holy or holy with regard to whether it was or wasn’t the third person of the Godhead/Trinity. The original KJV 1611 has “holy Ghost” in Matt. 12:32, in Acts 5 but has “Spirit of the Lord” there. Luke 11:11 has “holy Spirit” so does Acts 2:4 or 1 Cor. 2:13. I didn’t search exhaustively, but these samples show that holy was left lower case but they simply capitalized the term Ghost when referencing Deity.
See https://www.originalbibles.com/the-original-king-james-bible-1611-pdf/ and select #1297, #1347, #1351 , #1400 and so on.
Stan:
My emphasis is on the use of capital letters for the word “Spirit” as in the seven Spirits written about only in
Revelations. I do agree that the word Holy is used with reference to God, as it should be, and proper English grammar
even for proper names. The forty-seven Translators of the Bible were extremely careful to translate the words with
great consistency. My intention was to share about the seven Spirits, which are sometimes over looked when
studying the word of God. Please except my apology for not being clear, and God Bless you.
Stephen Meredith sj Date; 3/15/2021
It seems to be an issue not only of the words and their definition but also of deeper context.
There is the spirit of God, God is a spirit they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. There is us, we are made up of mind, body and spirt, or also put body spirit and soul.
There is verse states things like the spirt of God rest upon. Or the holy spirit or holy ghost rest upon. This spiritual aspect of God is omnipresent but does not seem to be the same as the holy ghost that falls on penecost. Why do I say this? The scriptures say it in acts. Speaking of Jesus talking about living waters. That he speaks of the holy ghost but it had not been given yet. Which doesn’t seem match with say the old man who sees Jesus in the lords youth as the man was promised by the holy spirit that was upon him. Or the holy spirit resting upon Jesus or Moses or David ect…. But again in acts there is many references that this spirit is both a promised gift and only becomes such after Jesus’s accent to heaven. I believe about round 2:30 there is a mention that Jesus receives….even sheds… The holy ghost. Jesus states that he will send the comforter… He says the father will send the comforter both in his name but only after Jesus departure. A ghost can be defined as the spirit of a departed one. But spirits are not the same. Althe spirit of rebellion, or of the dog, or deceiving spirit ect. Therefore I use the term Holy ghost for the spirit that fills a believer, and Holy spirit for the father’s presence that’s always been with man.
KJVonlyists refuse to admit a simple fact: it doesn’t matter what the unsaved and pagan translators “intended” in the KJV – it matters what the Greek says. It says pneuma – which is a person, a Spirit – not a ghost. But while we’re on the subject, which KJV is “God’s perfect and preserved word for english speaking people”? The one you carry is likely a 5th version from the late 1700’s. If it was 100% perfect and preserved, why did they change it later? Which translation is God’s perfect and preserved word for Spanish speaking people? For the Portuguese? For the French? For the Germans? Why defy scholarship and common sense? Those are not alien to the born-again believer. The Christian has nothing to fear from biblical criticism. The very fact that we have so many manuscripts and translations to compare is PROOF that God has preserved His Word and that manuscript authority is the means of determining accuracy. Stop worshiping a translation – and a flawed one at that.
I’ve always used a KJV but never really thought about why some places use the word spirit and some use ghost when referring to the 3rd person of the trinity until someone said there was a difference. I looked and could find no obvious reason for the change knowing that the same word was translated both ways.
You cleared that issue up for me. So thanks
So the Father and the Holy Ghost are two different spirits? Is Jesus a different spirit too? If so that is tritheism, not monotheism? Jesus said, “God is a Spirit” not three spirits. The Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty… Jesus called the temple where the Holy Ghost dwelt, “My Father’s house…” The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of the Father. He is also the Spirit of Christ. Paul in reference to the Holy Ghost called Him the supply of the Spirit of Jesus…. The difference in a spirit and a ghost (they both are spirits) a ghost however has lived in a body. The OT refers to the Spirit of God as the Holy Spirit and the NT refers to Him as the Holy Ghost. Could this be why the translators chose to use Ghost instead of Spirit?