Is the Holy Spirit God?
1/29/2026
Samuel Clifford
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."
1 John 5:7 KJV
1 John 5:7 KJV is a verse that is often debated concerning whether it was a part of the original manuscripts of 1 John or has been changed. That is why in other Bible versions it may say “water and blood” instead. Currently, I do believe the KJV rendering was in the original manuscripts. Yet, I'll have to give my reasoning for that some other time. Whether or not the verse is original though does not mean it is the only scripture that states the Holy Spirit is God. In this article, a few examples from the scriptures will be given that show the Holy Spirit is God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 KJV
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NASB1995
In verse 6:19 it states, "your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost," aka Holy Spirit. Meaning the Holy Spirit dwells inside of you. Then look at verse 20, "therefore glorify God in your body" this shows the Holy Spirit is God. It's equating the Holy Spirit, who dwells within you, with God, who dwells within you.
Acts 5:3-4
Furthermore, if we pay attention to the verses, Acts 5:3 says:
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" Acts 5:3 KJV
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?” Acts 5:3 NASB1995
Here Peter states Ananias had lied to the Holy Ghost. Now let's once again go to the following verse:
"Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God." Acts 5:4 KJV
“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”” Acts 5:4 NASB1995
Just as before with Paul, Peter here equates the Holy Spirit with God. He states in verse 3 that Ananias had "lied to the Holy Ghost" and then in verse 4 states Ananias had lied not unto men, "but unto God."
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
However, perhaps a greater example than those two verses is 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 which states:
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 KJV
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NASB1995
"Now the Lord is that Spirit," the Lord (God) is the Holy Spirit. Paul explains that the Spirit’s role is inseparable from Christ Himself (see v. 14). Faith in Jesus frees a person from sin, death, and the Mosaic Lawthough it certainly doesn’t remove the responsibility to obey God’s new revelation in Christ. The Spirit is truly the Lord, yet His indwelling presence brings freedom, not bondage (cf. Rom. 8:15).