The title “Holy Ghost” has rubbed me the wrong way since I’ve grown spiritually. Why?
“Of the modern English translations of the Bible, it is only the King James Version of the Bible which uses the term ‘Holy Ghost.’ It occurs 90 times in the KJV. The term ‘Holy Spirit’ occurs 7 times in the KJV. There is no clear reason as to why the KJV translators used Ghost in most places and then Spirit in a few. The exact same Greek and Hebrew words are translated ‘ghost’ and ‘spirit’ in the KJV in different occurrences of the words. By ‘ghost,’ the KJV translators did not intend to communicate the idea of ‘the spirit of a deceased person.’ In 1611, when the KJV was originally translated, the word ‘ghost’ primarily referred to ‘an immaterial being.’ “With recent Scripture translations, ‘Spirit’ has replaced ‘Ghost’ in most instances. Some of this came about because words don’t always hold their meanings. In the days of Shakespeare or King James, ghost meant the living essence of a person. Looking back, we see that ‘breath’ or ‘soul’ were often used as synonyms of ‘ghost.’ During these times, spirit normally meant the essence of a departed person or a demonic or paranormal apparition. As language evolved, people started saying ‘ghost’ when speaking of the vision of a dead person while ‘spirit’ became the standard term for life or living essence, often also for ‘soul.’ With slight exceptions, ‘ghost’ and ‘spirit’ changed places over some 300 years.”
Got Question (emphasis added)
Much of what we see with the KJV is language of that day, of course, which doesn’t line up with language of today. The English used is not the same as the English we speak today, therefore, the original intent may be difficult to understand. In other words, English speakers do not use the same words and euphemisms as was used during the time period of the translation in 1611 when it was completed, therefore, we, today, may misunderstand the proper interpretation of the text. One area we see this is the usage of ghost and spirit.
The original Greek text uses the words phantasma and pneuma.
Phantasma is used in only one narrative in Scripture—when Jesus walks on water, and the disciples are afraid (Matthew 14:26; Mark 6:49). The KJV uses the term “spirit” here (as explained above). However, in today’s English language, we know this more commonly as a “ghost.” Although both words can be synonymous, the term ghost is more heavily associated with that of a demonic, paranormal apparition.
Pneuma, on the other hand, is used multiple times in reference to the Holy Spirit as well as the breath of life (human), the will and rationale of life (human), the soul (human), the animation of the body (human), and angelic and demonic spirits—those which are “higher than man but lower than God” (Blue Letter Bible). This term seems to mean more of the essence of a being, rather than a dead person or demonic, paranormal apparition.
With this in mind, using modern English understanding, I feel it isn’t wise to use the term “ghost” for the Holy Spirit, because we connote the term “ghost” with the dead and demonic, paranormal apparition/phantasms/phantoms.
Using modern English, it isn’t wise to use the term ‘ghost’ for the Holy Spirit, because we connote the term ‘ghost’ with the dead and demonic, paranormal apparition /phantasms/ phantoms.
What does our modern English understand these terms as today?
Per Merriam Webster (emphasis added):
Ghost (phantoms/phantasms/apparitions)—
a product of fantasy: such as (a): delusive appearance : ILLUSION (b): GHOST, SPECTER (c): a figment of the imagination
something (as a ghost) that seems to be there but is not real
a ghostly figure
an unusual or unexpected sight : PHENOMENON
SPIRIT, DEMON
a disembodied soul especially : the soul of a dead person believed to be an inhabitant of the unseen world or to appear to the living in bodily likeness
the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people
Spirit—
a supernatural being or essence: such as (a) capitalized : HOLY SPIRIT (b): SOUL
the immaterial intelligent or sentient part of a person
the activating or essential principle influencing a person
temper or disposition of mind or outlook especially when vigorous or animated
a person having a character or disposition of a specified nature
the feeling, quality, or disposition characterizing something
a special attitude or frame of mind
a force within a human being thought to give the body life, energy, and power : SOUL
(b): a being whose existence cannot be explained by the known laws of nature
*Though, it still also connotes an often malevolent being that is bodiless but can become visible
specifically : GHOST, in a lesser sense.
In either case, taking modern English and its language usage into consideration, spirit is a better term to use in reference to the Holy Spirit. We do NOT want to associate God the Holy Spirit, Who is the living and active God, as a dead essence or in any way connected with demonic, paranormal apparitions!
References
Got Questions. January 4, 2022. What is the difference between the Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost? Retrieved February 29, 2024 from https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-Ghost.html
G5326 – phantasma – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5326/kjv/tr/0-1/
G4151 – pneuma – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4151/kjv/tr/0-1/
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Phantasm. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phantasm
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Phantom. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phantom
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Apparition. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apparition
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Ghost. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghost
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Spirit. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved February 29, 2024, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spirit