The nature and identity of the Holy Spirit is a complex theological topic that has been debated throughout church history. This article will examine what the Bible has to say about whether the Holy Spirit should be referred to as “He,” “She,” or “It.” Is the Holy Spirit a male, female, or neuter entity? Let’s explore the biblical evidence.
The Personhood of the Holy Spirit
First, it is important to establish that the Holy Spirit is not merely an impersonal force or power, but rather He is the third Person of the Trinity. Though the word “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, it is a theological concept used to describe the triune nature of God as three co-equal and co-eternal Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
There are numerous verses that demonstrate the personhood of the Holy Spirit. For example:
- The Holy Spirit has intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
- The Holy Spirit has emotions (Ephesians 4:30)
- The Holy Spirit speaks (Acts 13:2)
- The Holy Spirit intercedes (Romans 8:26-27)
- The Holy Spirit bears witness (Romans 8:16)
- The Holy Spirit has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11)
The Holy Spirit is not some impersonal force, but rather He has self-awareness, emotions, speech, and volition like a person. This is significant background when considering whether the Holy Spirit should be referred to in the masculine, feminine, or neuter sense.
The Masculine Pronouns for the Holy Spirit
The primary reason that the Holy Spirit is almost universally referred to with the masculine pronouns “He” and “Him” in the Bible is because of the gender of the nouns and pronouns used in the original Greek text.
The original Greek word for “spirit” is pneuma. This is a grammatically neutral word that does not have inherent gender. However, the grammars of both biblical Greek and English dictate that pronouns must agree in number and gender with their antecedent noun. Therefore, when referring back to the neutral pneuma, masculine pronouns are used.
In John 15:26, Jesus said:
“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.” (ESV)
The word translated “Helper” is parakletos, a masculine noun, so the pronoun that follows is the masculine “he.”
This pattern is consistent throughout the New Testament. The Holy Spirit is continually referred to with masculine pronouns:
- “The Spirit Himself bears witness…” (Romans 8:16)
- “He will teach you all things.” (John 14:26)
- “He will not speak on His own authority…” (John 16:13)
Even when pneuma is neuter, the pronoun remains masculine due to grammatical agreement:
“The Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)
Thus, the prevalence of the masculine pronouns is largely a grammatical artifact rather than a theological statement about the Holy Spirit’s masculinity per se.
Symbols and Metaphors for the Holy Spirit
In addition to pronouns, Scripture uses a variety of symbols, metaphors, similes, and analogies when referring to the Holy Spirit. Many of these also have masculine connotations:
- Fire (Matthew 3:11)
- Wind (John 3:8)
- Water (John 7:37-39)
- Clothing (Luke 24:49)
- Seal (Ephesians 1:13)
- Counselor (John 14:16)
- Witness (Romans 8:16)
The Holy Spirit is most often referred to in the masculine sense when such titles and figures of speech are employed. However, there are occasional feminine analogies as well.
For example, in Luke 1:35, the birth of Jesus is described this way:
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”
The word translated “overshadow” has a feminine connotation in the original Greek, evoking images of a mother bird sheltering her chicks. Such feminine imagery for the Spirit is rare, but not absent from Scripture.
Implications for Gender and Language
When surveying all of the biblical evidence, the Holy Spirit seems to transcend human gender categories. The predominant use of masculine pronouns reflects grammatical convention, not necessarily theological truth. There is a mix of feminine and masculine metaphors used as well. The Holy Spirit is neither male nor female in essence.
However, the long history of referring to the Holy Spirit with masculine pronouns has led to tradition and precedent. Changing to gender neutral language (using “it” instead of “he”) would be jarring and disruptive. Some consider gender neutral terms diminishing to the Holy Spirit’s personhood. Others argue masculine terms are limited and exclusionary.
Using feminine pronouns like “she” would be making a theological statement not supported by Scripture. But exploring feminine biblical imagery for the Spirit can provide balance. There are good faith arguments on all sides of this issue.
The main takeaway is that the Holy Spirit transcends gender, yet grammatically requires a gendered pronoun. Tradition favors continuing to use “He/Him/His” when referring to the Spirit. But room can be made for feminine metaphors as well. The Holy Spirit inspires both men and women.
The Holy Spirit in Church History
Looking at church history provides some perspective on how the Holy Spirit’s gender has been viewed:
- Early Jewish thinkers like Philo viewed the Spirit as sharing God’s feminine wisdom.
- Most early Christian leaders used masculine pronouns based on Greek grammar, but saw the Spirit as transcending gender.
- Medieval mystics used maternal imagery for the nurturing Holy Spirit.
- Reformers like John Calvin emphasized the Spirit’s neuter nature.
- Feminist theologians argue for gender neutral language as correctives.
- Conservatives push back against gender neutral language as diminishing personhood.
This shows there has never been universal consensus historically on the language and gender implications of the Holy Spirit. Room can be made for different views.
The Holy Spirit in Salvation
This article has focused on examining the Holy Spirit’s gender identity, but it is also crucial to recognize the Spirit’s vital role in salvation and the Christian life regardless of gender. According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit:
- Convicts people of sin (John 16:8)
- Regenerates spiritually dead souls (Titus 3:5)
- Indwells believers (1 Corinthians 6:19)
- Produces spiritual fruit in them (Galatians 5:22-23)
- Gives spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
- Guarantees future resurrection (Ephesians 1:13-14)
All Christians, both men and women alike, depend on the life-giving ministry of the Holy Spirit. We must remain sensitive to how we address Him, but should focus far more on responding rightly to His transforming work in our lives.
Conclusion
While the Holy Spirit transcends human gender limitations, the biblical text predominantly uses the masculine “He/Him/His” based on Greek grammatical conventions. Tradition follows this precedent. While some argue for gender neutral language for the Spirit as “It,” this is unlikely to become widespread due to concerns over diminishing the Spirit’s personhood. There is validity in also incorporating feminine biblical imagery for the Holy Spirit on occasion. The Holy Spirit inspires both men and women without preference.
How we address the Holy Spirit’s gender reflects sensitivity, not necessarily a deeply held theological stance. Christians of all perspectives can unite around the Spirit’s fundamental role of regeneration, indwelling, and empowering for godly life and ministry. The Holy Spirit is neither male nor female, yet vitally involved in the lives of all Christian men and women.