Paul or none of the writers of the New Testament greet or address the Holy Spirit Because the Holy Spirit is a thing, the POWER of Yahweh, NOT a person or the 3rd part of the "God Head"
If the Holy Spirit were a separate divine Person equal to the Father and the Son, we would expect the New Testament writers to address, pray to, worship, or send greetings from the Holy Spirit in the same way they do the Father and Yeshua. The fact that never happens sows the Holy Spirit is the power, presence, and Spirit of Yahweh rather than a third co-equal Person.
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Here are some of the facts from Scripture:
1. New Testament letters consistently greet from the Father and the Son
Paul's standard greeting:
"Grace be to you and peace from Yahweh our Father, and from the Lord Yeshua."
— Romans 1:7
"Grace be unto you, and peace, from Yahweh our Father, and from the Lord Yeshua."
— 1 Corinthians 1:3
"Grace be to you and peace from Yahweh the Father, and from our Lord Yeshua."
— Galatians 1:3
This pattern appears repeatedly throughout Paul's letters.
Observation: The Holy Spirit is never included as a third source of grace and peace.
2. Paul frequently thanks Yahweh and Yeshua, but never offers thanks to the Holy Spirit
Examples:
"I thank my Yahweh through Yeshua for you all."
— Romans 1:8
"We give thanks to Yahweh and the Father of our Lord Yeshua."
— Colossians 1:3
The New Testament contains many prayers directed to the Father through Yeshua.
Observation: There are no examples of prayers directed to the Holy Spirit.
3. Stephen prayed to Yeshua
"Lord Yeshua, receive my spirit."
— Acts 7:59
If the Holy Spirit were a third divine Person, one might expect at least one example of prayer directed to Him.
Observation: No such example exists.
4. The Holy Spirit is never portrayed as sitting on a throne
The Father and the Son are repeatedly shown on heavenly thrones.
"The throne of Yahweh and of the Lamb."
— Revelation 22:3
"One sat on the throne."
— Revelation 4:2
The Holy Spirit is never shown as a third being seated beside them.
5. Paul identifies "one Yahweh" and "one Lord"
"But to us there is but one Yahweh, the Father... and one Lord Yeshua."
— 1 Corinthians 8:6
Paul names:
- One Yahweh — the Father
- One Lord — Yeshua
The Holy Spirit is not listed as a third divine Person.
6. The Holy Spirit is described as Yahweh's Spirit
Throughout Scripture:
"My Spirit."
— Joel 2:28
"The Spirit of Yahweh."
— Genesis 1:2
"The Spirit of your Father."
— Matthew 10:20
"The Spirit of Yeshua."
— Romans 8:9
These expressions naturally describe the Spirit as belonging to Yahweh and Yeshua, much as a person's spirit belongs to that person.
7. The Holy Spirit is often described as power
Yeshua told the disciples:
"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you."
— Acts 1:8
The angel told Miriam:
"The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee."
— Luke 1:35
Notice the close parallel between Holy Spirit and power of the Highest.
A Misguided Counterargument
Those who believe the Holy Spirit is a divine Person point to passages where the Spirit:
- Speaks (Acts 13:2)
- Teaches (John 14:26)
- Can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30)
However, non-Trinitarians respond with facts that Scripture frequently personifies non-personal things:
- Wisdom speaks (Proverbs 8)
- Sin reigns (Romans 5:21)
- Death rides a horse (Revelation 6:8)
Scripture shows that such language does not prove personality.
Summary
The New Testament consistently:
- Greets believers from the Father and Yeshua.
- Records prayers to the Father and sometimes to Yeshua.
- Never records a prayer to the Holy Spirit.
- Never sends greetings from the Holy Spirit.
- Never portrays the Holy Spirit on a throne.
- Frequently describes the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Yahweh and the Spirit of Yeshua.
- Associates the Holy Spirit with divine power.
Scripture shows that the Holy Spirit is the power and Spirit of Yahweh rather than a separate third Person. These facts show that truth.
The Scriptures themselves clearly show that the Father and Yeshua are the primary recipients of prayer, worship, greetings, and direct personal address throughout the New Testament.
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