The Watchtower Society teaches that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force, not having the three attributes of personality intellect, emotion, and will. Nor do they believe the Spirit is deity. They compare the Holy Spirit to a radar beam or electricity, a force, hence the title of this piece.
The Watchtower can accept the eternal existence of the Holy Spirit because “it” is Jehovah’s power. Since Jehovah is eternal and His “power” or “active force” has been His eternally then the Holy Spirit is also eternal. By the way, the Watchtower never says “the” Holy Spirit. They always say Holy Spirit without the definite article.
Since Christians firmly hold to the personality and deity of the Holy Spirit it would be useful to pose a few questions to focus the Witnesses mind on a contradiction their belief presents. According to the Watchtower all “spirits” have the attributes of personality, intellect, emotion and will, except the Holy Spirit. Why? My opinion is that to accept the personality of the Holy Spirit would be to take a step toward the Trinity, which they hate. The Holy Spirit is, according to the Bible, eternal (Hebrews 9:14), and if He is a “person” then He must also be deity for only God is an eternal Person, having no beginning and no end.
First Question:
Is Jehovah a spirit and is He a “personal” being having the three attributes of intellect, emotion, and will?
Answer: The Jehovah’s Witnesses will say “yes.”
Second Question:
According to the Watchtower is Jesus a spirit today in heaven? Does He have the three attributes of personality?
Answer: Again, the JW will agree.
Third Question:
Are angels spirits? Do they have the attributes of personality?
Answer: Yes.
Fourth Question: Is Satan a spirit? Is he a being with the attributes of personality?
Answer: Yes.
Fifth Question: Are demons spirits? Do they have the attributes of personality?
Answer: Yes.
Sixth Question:
Is the Holy Spirit a spirit? Does He have the attributes of personality?
Answer: No.
Why not? Why are all spirits personal beings but not the Holy Spirit?
Another objection by the Watchtower to the personality of the Holy Spirit is that they believe a person cannot indwell another person. This objection has no logic to it in my opinion because the Witnesses believe you can be “indwelled” (possessed) by a demon. So if a demon can get inside you why not the Holy Spirit? This belief of the Watchtower is borne out in their mistranslation of many passages of scripture where believers are said to be “in” Christ, or Christ “in” us. They translate these verses as being “in union with” Christ.
Further, if the Holy Spirit is not a personal being how can an “it” carry on a personal conversation as in Acts 8:29; 10:19, 20; 13:2; 21:11; Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; and 3:6.
The Holy Spirit has the three attributes of personality.
Intellect:
Romans 8:27 “The MIND of the Spirit.”
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 The Spirit “KNOWS.”
Emotion:
Ephesians 4:30 “GRIEVE not the Spirit.”
Will:
1 Corinthians 12:11 “The Spirit WILLS.”
Conclusion:
“Let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit SAYS…” (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
