*A play on the greek word gnosis, which means knowledge. Each month Rev. Cynthia will share a theological, or churchy word/phrase and its meaning.
Since we are in the season after Pentecost let’s talk about the Spirit and its biblical names. This instalment is inspired by a conversation with a member of Glebe about the Holy Ghost and a new book by United Church theologian the Rev Dr. Rob Fennell, Passion, Power, and Promise: Introducing the Holy Spirit. (Book link)
In the First (Old) Testament there are two common words for spirit, ruach and nephesh. Ruach is a feminine noun that can be translated as spirit of God, breath or wind. It is ruach that sweeps over the creation in the opening of Genesis. Nephesh is something like life breath, the breath that God breathes into the first human creature adam.
In the Second (New) Testament the most common word for Spirit is pneuma which like ruach suggests wind. The other term is paraclete, translations include comforter, advocate, counsellor, or encourager.
What about the phrase Holy Ghost? Where does that come from? This is as often is the case the result of the jumble of languages that make up the English language. Ghost is borrowed from the German geist and spirit is borrowed from Latin spiritus. Ghost in particular was used in the King James Bible which till this day has a significant influence on the English language. More modern translations prefer spirit, as the word “ghost” became more and more associated with the spirit of a dead person. All of this suggests that The Holy Spirit refuses to be placed in one single box, or single translation, and is untamable, ineffable and diverse.
Rev. Cynthia O’Connell
Minister
Image (right) Rush by Rev. Cynthia O’Connell
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