Bible Question:  I believe the Holy Spirit is the same as the Holy Ghost. The leadership in the present assembly that I attend has said that the Holy Ghost is not the Holy Spirit - that the Holy Spirit has a different function. I am not confused with who He is, but I need to know if this is what is known as teaching from the King James Bible. It appears that whenever capital letters are used with Holy Ghost it has to do with the infilling or baptism of the Holy Ghost. I personally have found no validity to this concept, but I'm not a scholar.   Bible Answer: The expression "Holy Ghost" occurs eighty-nine times in the King James Bible. This expression is used in Matthew 1:18 to tell us that Mary was pregnant by the Holy Ghost.     Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. (KJV) Matt. 1:18        Where Is It Used? It also occurs in Mark where we are told that King David spoke by the Holy Ghost.     For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, "The Lord said to my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool." (KJV) Mark 12:36   The Holy Ghost also came upon Jesus at His baptism (Luke 3:22). The expression "Holy Ghost" was also used to tell us that some Jewish leaders blasphemed against the Holy Ghost (Luke 12:10), to tell us that scripture was written by the Holy Ghost (2 Pet. 1:21), and to tell us that no one can call Jesus "Lord" except by the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 12:3). The expression is used to tell us that the early Christians were filled with the Holy Ghost, but it is important to see that "Holy Ghost" is used in many different situations and not just with "infilling or baptism." The expression is used in many different circumstances.      Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost? In the King James Bible, the basic Greek words for Holy Ghost are AGIOS PNEUMA. In the New American Standard Bible, New International Version, and in many other Bibles the same Greek words are translated as Holy Spirit. This means that both "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" come from the same basic Greek words. The expression "Holy Ghost" is the same as the "Holy Spirit." "Holy Ghost" is an older expression and "Holy Spirit" is newer. Both expressions are okay.   Conclusion:  There is no difference between the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost. The King James Bible is using older English. They both come from the same Greek words. I would encourage you to discover who the Holy Spirit is in scripture and by prayer. May God give you an understanding of His awe, mystery, and great wonder.           < Back
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