Should all pronouns referring to God be capitalized?

Answer

Many individuals grapple with this question. Some, viewing it as a display of respect for God, capitalize all pronouns that pertain to God. Others, adhering to English style conventions, do not capitalize pronouns related to the divine. So, who is correct? The answer is neither. It is neither right nor wrong to capitalize or not capitalize pronouns that refer to God. It is a matter of personal belief, preference, and context. Certain versions of the Bible capitalize pronouns that refer to God, while others do not.

In the original biblical languages, capitalizing pronouns referring to God was not a concern. In Hebrew, there was no concept of uppercase and lowercase letters. There existed only an alphabet without capitalization. In Greek, both uppercase and lowercase letters were present. Nevertheless, in the earliest Greek New Testament manuscripts, the text was entirely in uppercase letters. When God inspired the human writers of Scripture to pen His Word, He did not prompt them to emphasize pronouns referring to Him. Therefore, it can be inferred that God is not displeased if we do not capitalize pronouns that refer to Him.

If you choose to capitalize pronouns that refer to God to demonstrate reverence for His name, that’s commendable! Keep doing so. If you capitalize pronouns that refer to God to enhance clarity regarding the reference, that’s excellent! Keep doing so. If you opt not to capitalize pronouns that refer to God because you believe in adhering to proper English grammar, syntax, or style, that’s admirable! Continue to uphold your conviction. Once again, this is not a matter of right versus wrong. Each individual should follow their own conviction, and we should refrain from judging those with differing perspectives.