The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity in Christian theology. He is fully God, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father and God the Son (Jesus Christ). Throughout the Old and New Testaments, the Bible gives many names and titles that reveal the nature and role of the Holy Spirit.
1. Spirit/Holy Spirit
The most common name is simply “Spirit” or “Holy Spirit.” This name emphasizes that He is a distinct person of the Trinity. He is called the Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; Matthew 3:16), Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11), and the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19).
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)
2. Comforter/Counselor
Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Comforter” or “Counselor” who would come after His ascension, to dwell in believers forever (John 14:16-17). As our Counselor, the Spirit guides us into truth, teaches us, reminds us of Jesus’ words, convicts us of sin, righteousness and judgment, and enables us to pray (John 14:26, 16:7-15).
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)
3. Spirit of Truth
Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Spirit of truth” who would guide believers into all truth (John 16:13). He reveals the truth about God, sin, righteousness, and judgment. Through the Spirit and Scripture, we gain understanding, wisdom and revelation of divine truth.
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13 ESV)
4. Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
As the Spirit of wisdom, He grants spiritual wisdom, knowledge and insight to believers, giving us understanding of God’s word and will (Ephesians 1:17). The Spirit reveals God’s thoughts and ways to us, like a person’s spirit knows their own inner being (1 Corinthians 2:11).
“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…” (Ephesians 1:18 ESV)
5. Spirit of Promise
The Holy Spirit is called the “Spirit of promise” because He himself was promised by Jesus, and He seals the promises of God in our hearts. Through the Spirit, we inherit and experience the blessings of salvation. He is the down payment and guarantee of our full inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14).
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit…” (Ephesians 1:13 ESV)
6. Spirit of Adoption
The Holy Spirit enables us to cry out “Abba Father” to God, confirming our adoption into God’s family and our intimate relationship as His children (Romans 8:15). We are led by the Spirit of God as obedient children, heirs of God’s promises (Romans 8:14).
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!'” (Romans 8:15 ESV)
7. Spirit of Life
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of life who sets us free from sin and death by giving us new life in Christ. Through the Spirit we are born again, sanctified, and enabled to bear good fruit unto righteousness (Romans 8:2, 6:22).
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:2 ESV)
8. Spirit of Holiness
As the Spirit of holiness, He sanctifies us to be more like Christ and produces His fruit in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Romans 1:4, Galatians 5:22-23).
“…Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations…” (Romans 1:4-5 ESV)
9. Spirit of Grace
The Holy Spirit dispenses God’s grace and favor to believers. He applies the saving grace of Christ to our lives. We serve God by the grace given to us through the Spirit who works miracles among us (Hebrews 2:4, 1 Peter 4:10).
“How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” (Hebrews 2:3-4 ESV)
10. Spirit of Glory
Though we suffer reproach for following Christ now, the Spirit of glory – the Spirit who glorifies Christ – rests upon us. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the eternal glory that will be revealed in us (1 Peter 4:13-14).
“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13 ESV)
11. Eternal Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the eternal Spirit, existing forever with God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son. His eternal nature contrasts the temporal nature of our flesh (Hebrews 9:14).
“How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:14 ESV)
12. Spirit of Power, Love and Self-control
The Holy Spirit empowers believers with power to be God’s witnesses. He fills our hearts with God’s love so we can love others. He enables us to exercise self-control over fleshly desires (2 Timothy 1:7, Romans 5:5).
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)
“…God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5 ESV)
13. Spirit of Judgment and Fire
The Holy Spirit brings God’s judgment and purifying fire. He convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. His fire cleanses and refines us from sinful habits and idolatry (Isaiah 4:4, John 16:8-11).
“For the Lord will wash away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and cleanse the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.” (Isaiah 4:4 ESV)
“And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…” (John 16:8 ESV)
14. Oil
Oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit, as he provides richness, wisdom, gladness, illumination. He anoints and sets believers apart for service and ministry, just as priests, prophets and kings were anointed with oil in the Old Testament (Leviticus 8:12, 1 Samuel 16:13).
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward…” (1 Samuel 16:13 ESV)
15. Wind/Breath
Wind and breath embody the invisible, powerful work of the Spirit to regenerate our hearts and impart spiritual life, just as God breathed life into Adam (Ezekiel 37:9-10, John 3:8). The Greek and Hebrew words for “spirit” also mean breath or wind.
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8 ESV)
16. Living Water
The Holy Spirit is described as living water which satisfies spiritual thirst and wells up to eternal life (John 4:10, 7:38-39). We drink of this living water when we believe in Christ and receive the indwelling Spirit.
“‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'” (John 4:13-14 ESV)
17. Fire
Fire signifies the Holy Spirit’s power to inspire passion and zeal. He brings spiritual fervor, enlightens, purifies and refines, much like physical fire (Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:3).
“John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'” (Luke 3:16 ESV)
18. Clothing
Being clothed with power from on high refers to receiving spiritual power and virtues from the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). We “put on” the Lord Jesus Christ when we follow the Spirit’s leading (Romans 13:14).
“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, ‘you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.'” (Acts 1:4-5 ESV)
19. Guarantee/Seal/Deposit
The Spirit is given to believers as a guarantee and seal of their salvation. He is the first installment and deposit of the full inheritance promised by God (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13-14).
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14 ESV)
20. Voice
The Holy Spirit speaks to convict people of sin and teach believers spiritual truth. His voice guides us as the Good Shepherd (John 16:13, Acts 8:29, 10:19).
“The Holy Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over and join this chariot.'” (Acts 8:29 ESV)
“While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Simon, three men are looking for you.'” (Acts 10:19 ESV)
21. Dove
A dove represents the gentle descent and presence of the Holy Spirit, as pictured at Jesus’ baptism (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10). The dove symbolizes purity, new beginnings, hope, new life and the Holy Spirit.
“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him…” (Matthew 3:16 ESV)
22. Hand of the Lord
The hand of the Lord often refers to the Holy Spirit as the One who guides, protects and does supernatural works. The Spirit sets people apart for God’s service and empowers them (Ezekiel 3:14, 8:3).
“But the Spirit of the Lord took control of Ezekiel and brought him back to Babylonia, to the people living in exile there beside the Kebar River. And that’s where the Spirit gave Ezekiel many more visions.” (Ezekiel 3:14 NLT)
23. Finger of God
The Holy Spirit is described as the finger of God, representing His active and powerful work in Creation, spiritual rebirth and the writing of the 10 Commandments (Psalm 8:3, Luke 11:20).
“But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20 ESV)
24. Seven Spirits of God
The book of Revelation describes the Holy Spirit as the seven Spirits of God, a symbolic reference to His completeness, perfection and fullness (Revelation 1:4, 4:5, 5:6).
“John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne…” (Revelation 1:4 ESV)
In summary, the many names and symbols of the Holy Spirit in Scripture reveal different aspects of His nature and ministry. He is fully God, actively working in Creation and in the lives of believers. The Spirit applies Christ’s salvation to us, guides us into truth, sanctifies us, and gives us spiritual power and virtues. He is our Comforter, Counselor, Helper and Advocate. By understanding the names and symbols of the Holy Spirit, we gain a broader view of who He is and how He works.