The Masculinity of the Holy Spirit:
In Greek, the word for Spirit is Pneuma (πνεύμα). It is what is translated into English as the Holy Spirit in the Bible. In Greek, the word Pneuma (πνεύμα) is gender neutral. However, it is referred to by several pronouns in the Greek which are masculine. (John 14:26, John 16:13) This would be grammatically incorrect in the Greek, but it is theologically accurate to the nature of God. The Holy Spirit is a He not an it. The Holy Spirit is not some mystical force like in Starwars, or something that is a part of all creation (pantheism). The Holy Spirit is a person/being. Ephesians 4:30 says that when we sin we grieve the Holy Spirit. You can’t grieve an impersonal force, you can only grieve a person. Additionally, Hebrews 10:29 says you can insult him. You can’t insult a force. We can conclude from the Greek, and from descriptions of the essence of the Holy Spirit that He is a Person not an it.
Pneuma (πνεύμα) is an ancient Greek word for "breath," and in a religious context for "spirit" or "soul."
John 14:26 (English Standard Version)
26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John 16:13 (English Standard Version)
13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Ephesians 4:30 (English Standard Version)
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Hebrews 10:29 (English Standard Version)
29How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace?
I have never noticed the phrase "outraged the Spirit of grace" until reading this blog entry. What a concept; what a word. We usually think of the Holy Spirit is the quietest person (if we think of him as a person at all, as you point out). But to think that He can be outraged ... this is scary. The fear of the Lord ... keeps us humble. DW