The Holy Spirit Fills,

Baptized/Anointed with the Holy Spirit, etc.

Reasoning from the Scriptures states:

A comparison of Bible texts that refer to the holy spirit shows that it is spoken of as ‘filling’ people; they can be ‘baptized’ with it; and they can be “anointed” with it. (Luke 1:41; Matt. 3:11; Acts 10:38) None of these expressions would be appropriate if the holy spirit were a person.[1]

The WTBTS booklet, Should You Believe in the Trinity?, elaborates further, stating:

In harmony with this is the Bible’s general usage of “holy spirit” in an impersonal way, such as paralleling it with water and fire. (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8) People are urged to become filled with holy spirit instead of with wine. (Ephesians 5:18) They are spoken of as being filled with holy spirit in the same way they are filled with such qualities as wisdom, faith, and joy. (Acts 6:3; 11:24; 13:52) And at 2 Corinthians 6:6 holy spirit is included among a number of qualities. Such expressions would not be so common if the holy spirit were actually a person.[2]

Insights on the Scriptures, Vol. 2 notes:

Christians are spoken of as being baptized ‘in holy spirit.’ (Ac 1:5; 11:16)...It is most unlikely that such expressions would be made if the holy spirit were a divine person.[3]

Finally, the 9/1/84 edition of The Watchtower also states:

On the other hand, the Bible speaks of the spirit as being ‘poured out,’ and of people being “filled with holy spirit,” receiving the spirit as a “free gift,” and being ‘baptized in holy spirit,’ none of which would make sense if the holy spirit were a person. – Acts 2:4, 17, 38; 4:31; John 1:33[4]

The objections, so stated above, are that it is inappropriate to say that a person (or persons) may be filled, anointed or baptized with the Holy Spirit, that the Holy Spirit can be poured out and that the Holy Spirit can be a free gift if the Holy Spirit is a person.

The Holy Spirit Fills

WTBTS citation:

Luke 1:41

And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: (KJV)

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (NASB)

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (NIV)

Well, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant in her womb leaped; and Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, (NWT)

Yes, the Holy Spirit fills us and we should seek to be filled by him, as noted in the verses cited by Reasoning from the Scriptures.

But God also fills us:

Ephesians 3:17,19

[17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (KJV)

[17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (NASB)

[17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, [19] and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV)

[17] to have the Christ dwell through [YOUR] faith in YOUR hearts with love; that YOU may be rooted and established on the foundation, [19] and to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge, that YOU may be filled with all the fullness that God gives. (NWT)

We are not only filled with God, but we are filled with all the fullness of God. Please note as well that, according to Ephesians 3:17 above, Jesus also dwells in our hearts (highlighted in green). Jesus is certainly a person. God is certainly a person.

Please note the NWT’s “filled with all the fullness that God gives” (emphasis mine) in Ephesians 3:19 above. The word “gives” does not appear in the original Greek. This can be easily verified with the WTBTS Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures[5]. (Click on the link at the bottom of this page for more information.)

Ephesians 4:10

He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (KJV)

He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) (NASB)

He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) (NIV)

The very one that descended is also the one that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might give fullness to all things. (NWT)

Jesus (who descended and ascended) fills everything, or as the NIV renders it, Jesus fills “the whole universe.” Jesus is certainly a person.

Also, on the other side of the coin:

Acts 5:3

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? (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? (NASB)

Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?” (NIV)

But Peter said: “An·a·ni’as, why has Satan emboldened you to play false to the holy spirit and to hold back secretly some of the price of the field?” (NWT)

Although the NWT does not render this verse as so, Acts 5:3 clearly contains the Greek words plēroō (“fill”) and kardia (“heart”) in the Greek text. I consulted 72 translations.[6] 56 indicated that Satan filled the heart of Ananias and it should be noted that the majority of the 16 translations that differed[7] are contemporary English versions given to paraphrase rather than the more literal, word-for-word translations. Also note that the NWT translation of pseudomai as “play false to,” when “lie” is quite sufficient and “lie” is clearly indicated as the definition of pseudomai by both Strong’s and Thayer’s and translated as such in 64 of the 72 translations I consulted.[8]

In any event, the Greek tells us Satan filled the heart of the Ananias and according to the WTBTS, Satan is a person.

The fact that a subject is said to fill people does not demand that the subject is an impersonal force rather than a personal being.

Baptized with the Holy Spirit

WTBTS citation:

Matthew 3:11 (parallel passage Mark 1:8)

Iindeedbaptizeyouwithwateruntorepentance:buthe that comethaftermeismightierthan I,whoseshoesI amnotworthyto bear:heshall baptizeyouwiththe HolyGhost,andwith fire: (KJV)

"As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. (NASB)

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. (NIV)

I, for my part, baptize YOU with water because of YOUR repentance; but the one coming after me is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize YOU people with holy spirit and with fire. (NWT)

Acts 1:5

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence (KJV)

for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." (NASB)

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (NIV)

because John, indeed, baptized with water, but YOU will be baptized in holy spirit not many days after this.” (NWT)

Acts 11:16

Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

"And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' (NASB)

Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' (NIV)

At this I called to mind the saying of the Lord, how he used to say, ‘John, for his part, baptized with water, but YOU will be baptized in holy spirit.’ (NWT)

Yes, we are baptized with the Holy Spirit.

But we are also baptized into Jesus Christ:

Romans 6:3

Know ye not,thatso many of us aswere baptizedintoJesusChristwere baptizedintohisdeath? (KJV)

Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? (NASB)

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (NIV)

Or do YOU not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (NWT)

We are baptized into Christ (who is a person) so being baptized with the Holy Spirit would hardly demand impersonality.

The fact that we are baptized with Holy Spirit does not, therefore, demand that the Holy Spirit is an impersonal force rather than a personal being.

The Holy Spirit & Fire

John the Baptist also tells us that Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Holy Spirit is also described as tongues of fire at Pentecost (Acts 2:3,4). Since fire isn’t a personal being, JWs argue the Holy Spirit isn’t a personal being, either.

But God is also said to be fire, and associated with fire, in the Old Testament:

Deuteronomy 4:24

For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God. (KJV)

"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (NASB)

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (NIV)

For Jehovah your God is a consuming fire, a God exacting exclusive devotion. (NWT)

Exodus 13:21

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: (KJV)

The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. (NASB)

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (NIV)

And Jehovah was going ahead of them in the daytime in a pillar of cloud to lead them by the way, and in the nighttime in a pillar of fire to give them light to go in the daytime and nighttime. (NWT)

God is certainly a person, though Yahweh has been said to be fire and associated with fire. Nor is the Holy Spirit devoid of personality because he has been said to be and/or associated with fire.

The fact that a subject is said to be fire or associated with fire does not demand that the subject is an impersonal force rather than a personal being.

The Holy Spirit & Water

The WTBTS also contends that Bible writers drew a parallel with water baptism and baptism with the Holy Spirit in verses cited in Acts 1:5 and Acts 11:16 above. Please note the word “but” in each of these verses. A parallel involves illustrating similarity between two subjects. A contrast involves illustrating differences between two subjects. The word “but” indicates that water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit are being contrasted against each other.

John Gill states:

John's baptism was water baptism, an immersion of persons in water: he was the first administrator of it, and therefore is here mentioned by name; and his, and the baptism of the Spirit, are opposed...[9]

They are “opposed,” or set in contrast to each other.

In fact, all the commentaries I consulted for both Acts 1:5 and Acts 11:16[10] indicated these verses contrasted the lesser baptism of water against the greater baptism of the Holy Spirit. Not one indicated water baptism was a parallel for baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Contrary to the insistence of the WTBTS, a parallel is not demanded for the baptism of water and the Holy Spirit.

Even if the Holy Spirit were parallel to water, God is also spoken of as and associated with water.

Jeremiah 2:13

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (KJV)

"For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water. (NASB)

"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (NIV)

‘because there are two bad things that my people have done: They have left even me, the source of living water, in order to hew out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns, that cannot contain the water.’ (NWT)

Jeremiah 17:13

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. (KJV)

O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even the LORD. (NASB)

O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water. (NIV)

O Jehovah, the hope of Israel, all those who are leaving you will be put to shame. Those apostatizing from me will be written down even in the earth, because they have left the source of living water, Jehovah. (NWT)

God is called water and he is definitely a person.

Psalms 36:8, 9

[8] They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. [9] For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. (KJV)

[8] They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. [9] For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. (NASB)

[8] They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. [9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. (NIV)

[8] They drink their fill of the fatness of your house; And of the torrent of your pleasures you cause them to drink. [9] For with you is the source of life;
By light from you we can see light. (NWT)

We shall also drink from God, as a river and he is called the fountain of life. (Also note: the NWT translates mâqôr as source whereas the KJV, NASB and NIV translate mâqôr as fountain. Mâqôr is translated as fountain, spring or well in 41[11] out of 43[12] translations or notes the correct translation in a footnote. The definitions indicated by Strong’s and BDB define mâqôr as a fountain, the word is consistently translated as “fountain” by the KJV throughout the Bible...The NWT’s variation is, in my opinion, completely unwarranted and unnecessary.)

John 7:37, 38

[37] In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. [38] He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (KJV)

[37] Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. [38] "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, `From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.' " (NASB)

[37] On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (NIV)

[37] Now on the last day, the great day of the festival, Jesus was standing up and he cried out, saying: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. [38] He that puts faith in me, just as the Scripture has said, ‘Out from his inmost part streams of living water will flow.’” (NWT)

We should come to Jesus and drink. Jesus is a person.

Also, note in John 7:38, whoever believes in Jesus Christ will become a source of living water. Christian believers are certainly people.

The fact that a subject is said to be water or associated with water does not demand that the subject is an active force rather than a personal being.

Anointed with the Holy Spirit

WTBTS citation:

Acts 10:38

HowGodanointedJesusofNazarethwith the HolyGhostandwith power:whowent aboutdoing good,andhealingallthat were oppressedofthedevil;forGodwaswithhim. (KJV)

"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (NASB)

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. (NIV)

namely, Jesus who was from Naz´a·reth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil; because God was with him. (NWT)

The language of Romans 6:3 in the section above is very near that of Acts 10:38. We’re baptized into Jesus Christ, into his death. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit, with power. Jesus, in Romans 6:3, is paired with death, but this certainly does not remove personality from Jesus. Similarly, in Acts 10:38, the Holy Spirit is paired with power, but this doesn’t remove personality from the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, for more information on Jesus’ anointing we should look to Luke 4:18:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (KJV)

"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, (NASB)

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, (NIV)

With that they called them and charged them, nowhere to make any utterance or to teach upon the basis of the name of Jesus. (NWT)

In Luke 4:18, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 61:1:

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (KJV)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; (NASB)

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, (NIV)

The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening [of the eyes] even to the prisoners; (NWT)

Jesus also quotes from Isaiah 42:7, adding to the list of offices, tasks he was appointed to perform. Isaiah clearly elucidates that God had anointed the Messiah to achieve certain purposes set forth by Yahweh God.

Vincent Word Studies also expounds on anointing:

Anointing was applied to kings (1Sa 9:16; 1Sa 10:1), to prophets (1Ki 19:16), and to priests (Exo 29:29; Exo 40:15; Lev 16:32) at their inauguration. “The Lord's anointed” was a common title of the king (1Sa 12:3, 1Sa 12:5; 2Sa 1:14, 2Sa 1:16). Prophets are called “Messiahs,” or anointed ones (1Ch 16:22; Psa 105:15)...Hence the word” Christ” was representative of our Lord, who united in himself the offices of king, prophet, and priest.[13]

In his commentary on Luke 4:18, Albert Barnes says:

Anciently kings and prophets and the high priest were set apart to their work by anointing with oil...Hence, those who were set apart to the work of God as king, prophet, or priest, were called the Lord’s anointed, 1Sa 16:6; Psa 84:9; Isa 45:1. Hence, the Son of God is called the “Messiah,” a Hebrew word signifying the “Anointed,” or the “Christ,” a Greek word signifying the same thing. And by his being “anointed” is not meant that he was literally anointed, for he was never set apart in that manner, but that “God had set him apart” for this work; that “he” had constituted or appointed him to be the prophet, priest, and king of his people.[14] (emphasis mine)

John Gill agrees with Barnes, saying “...for it was with the Holy Ghost he was anointed, as to be king and priest, so likewise to be a prophet: hence he has the name Messiah, which signifies anointed…”[15] So, in saying the Holy Spirit anointed Jesus or Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit (and power), we should understand that Jesus was set apart, was appointed or assigned to the tasks God had set for him. The focus here is not on the physical ritual and oil used in the Old Testament to anoint with. Rather, the focus is that God assigned Jesus, appointed him as the Christ. This is demonstrated by the Greek word used for anoint in Acts 10:38, chriô. Chriô is used in the New Testament 5 times[16] and never refers to oil and physical anointing. Chriô speaks of appointing, assigning or consecrating. For instance:

2 Corinthians 1:21

Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; (KJV)

Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, (NASB)

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, (NIV)

But he who guarantees that YOU and we belong to Christ and he who has anointed us is God. (NWT)

Christians are anointed by God, according to 2 Corinthians 1:21, but we are not physically anointed with oil. We are appointed, assigned to God’s service.

Another word altogether, aleiphô, is used in the New Testament (9 times[17]) to refer to physical anointing with oil. For example:

Mark 16:1

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. (KJV)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. (NASB)

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. (NIV)

So when the sabbath had passed, Mary Mag´da·lene, and Mary the mother of James, and Sa·lo´me bought spices in order to come and grease him. (NWT)

So aleiphô refers to literal, physical anointing with oil, but that word is not used in reference to the Holy Spirit in Acts 10:38 cited by the WTBTS or Acts 4:18. Chriô, which refers to assigning or appointing, is used instead. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words states, “chriô is more limited in its use than aleiphô; it is confined to ‘sacred and symbolical anointings;’ of Christ as the ‘Anointed’ of God...”[18] and the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states, “The thought is to appoint, or qualify for a special dignity, function or privilege.”[19] As such, we should not consider the anointing spoken of in Acts 10:38 as a literal, physical anointing.[20]