Faith & Reason Nexus

The Holy Spirit is not an “IT” but a “HE.”
He is a distinct personality, not a force or mere influence, but a real person, the third member of the Godhead.

The Old Testament

• Mentions: The Holy Spirit is mentioned about 88 times in the Old Testament.
• Books Referenced: The Holy Spirit is referred to in 23 Old Testament books.
• Books Without Mention: There are 16 Old Testament books in which the Holy Spirit is not mentioned specifically.

The New Testament

• Mentions: The Holy Spirit is mentioned about 264 times in the New Testament.
• Names/References: The Holy Spirit is designated by 39 names or references, highlighting various aspects of His character and role.
  • 5 Names are common to both the Old and New Testaments.
  • 17 Designations describe His own character.
  • 17 Designations indicate His relationship to mankind.

References in the New Testament

• Matthew through John: These four Gospels contain at least 60 references to the Holy Spirit.
• Acts: There are 57 references to the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, highlighting His work in the early church.
• Epistles and Revelation:
  • 132 references are found across the epistles and Revelation.
  • There is a reference to the Holy Spirit in every epistle except for Philemon, 2 John, and 3 John.
  • The epistle with the most references to the Holy Spirit is Romans, with a total of 22 references.
  • 1 Corinthians contains 17 references to the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s presence and role in both the Old and New Testaments demonstrate His essential part in the life of believers and the functioning of God’s plan through history.