What is the difference between the Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost?

Answer

Among the various modern English translations of the Bible, only the King James Version uses the term “Holy Ghost,” appearing 90 times in the KJV. Conversely, the term “Holy Spirit” is found 7 times in the KJV. The reason behind the KJV translators’ choice to use “Ghost” in most instances and “Spirit” in a few remains unclear. The same Greek and Hebrew words are translated as “ghost” and “spirit” in different occurrences in the KJV. It is important to note that the KJV translators did not intend for “ghost” to convey the idea of “the spirit of a deceased person.” In 1611, when the KJV was first translated, the term “ghost” primarily referred to “an immaterial being.”

In more recent translations of Scripture, “Spirit” has largely replaced “Ghost.” This shift occurred partly due to the evolving meanings of words. During the times of Shakespeare and King James, “ghost” referred to the living essence of a person. Historical usage shows that “breath” or “soul” were often synonymous with “ghost.” Conversely, “spirit” typically denoted the essence of a departed person or a demonic/paranormal apparition. Over the course of approximately 300 years, the meanings of “ghost” and “spirit” interchanged with some exceptions.

The crux of the matter is that both “Holy Ghost” and “Holy Spirit” pertain to the Third Person of the Trinity, who is coequal and consubstantial with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19;Acts 5:3,4;28:25,26;1 Corinthians 12:4-6). This divine entity is the Father’s gift to His people on earth, tasked with initiating and completing the construction of the body of Christ «For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we

Be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. », (1 Corinthians 12:13). He is also the agency by which the world is convicted of sin, the Lord Jesus is glorified, and believers are transformed into His image (John 16:7-9; Acts 1:5, 2:4; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22). Whichever term we use, we remember that this Holy Ghost is God’s active breath, blowing where He wishes, creating faith through water and Word.