Chapter XXXIV of the Westminster Confession of Faith begins with a study of the being of God the Spirit: who He is. Clearly set forth is the orthodox affirmation that the Holy Spirit is fully divine, the third person of the Triune Godhead.

There have always been those who have denied that the Spirit of God is a person. The Arians, Socinians, Unitarians, and numerous Neo-orthodox and Neo-liberal scholars claim Him to be little more than the power, influence, or energy of God. This false teaching denies the existence of the Spirit, and destroys the doctrine of the Trinity. But orthodox theology has always maintained that the Spirit is a person: a living, substantive entity. He is not merely an abstract force. In Luke 1:35; 4:l4; Acts 10:38; Romans 15:13; and 1 Corinthians l5:13, the Bible distinguishes the Holy Spirit and His power. The personality of the Holy Spirit scripturally evidences itself in the following ways.