“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10)
“But you have an injunction from the Holy One, and you know all things.” (1 John 2:20)
Finally, in a last-ditch effort, many Christians will also cite John 4:24 “God is Spirit”
This now raises its own problems. If the worshipers must worship in spirit (meaning this is now the Holy Spirit) then why add AND IN TRUTH? The Holy Spirit guides into all truth so that would be sufficient.
But its’ interesting, if Peter himself was filled with the Holy Spirit, was he not guided in asking the question?
Prima Quran 
Dear Sir
May I begin by saying that I sincerely admire much of your work, particularly regarding the various sectarian and creedal divisions within the Islamic religion.
However, If I may say so, I believe that your discussion on the Godhead of the All Holy and Life Giving Spirit, you have somewhat overlooked several passages in Scripture, as interpreted by our Fathers the Saints that fully attest to the Godhead of the Holy Spirit, and the role of the Holy Spirit in the process of Theosis, the goal of the Christian life. In the words of the blessed Didymus:
“The Holy Spirit renews us in baptism through his godhead, which he shares with the Father and the Son. Finding us in a state of deformity, the Spirit restores our original beauty and fills us with his grace, leaving no room for anything unworthy of our love. The Spirit frees us from sin and death, and changes us from the earthly humans we were, men of dust and ashes, into spiritual humans, sharers in the divine glory, sons and heirs of God the Father who bear a likeness to the Son and are his co-heirs and brothers and sisters, destined to reign with him and to share his glory. In place of earth the Spirit reopens heaven to us and gladly admits us into paradise, giving us even now greater honour than the angels, and by the holy waters of baptism extinguishing the unquenchable fires of hell.”
God Love You
Tobias
Tobias,
Know that respectful comments will always be welcomed here. I know that this blog challenges many beliefs that are cherished not only by Christians but also fellow Muslims.
“If I may say so, I believe that your discussion on the Godhead of the All Holy and Life Giving Spirit, you have somewhat overlooked several passages in Scripture, as INTERPRETED by our Fathers the Saints that fully attest to the Godhead of the Holy Spirit,”
I respect that they are interpreted but the fact they are interpreted by your particular denomination of Christianity says something does it not?
I do not know if you are aware but there was a recent debate beween a Muslim speaker, Mohamed Hijab and a Christian speaker, David Wood. In the debate Mohamed Hijab challenged the Christian speaker to produce one church father that for 300 years said the things about the Holy Spirit that are in the Nicene creed.
This Christian responds with the name Tertullian.
You see I just published an article about the issue of interpretation of the Qur’an. That there is a group of Muslims that one us to believe in people who have interpretative authority but there really is no text in the Qur’an that gives a special class of people interpretative authority.
May God Love You and open your heart to the truth.
P.S For further insight on this subject I would highly recommend the writings of St Basil the Great, may his prayers be with us.
I hope this reaches you in good health and good faith.
This should answer your inquiry about why I follow the Ibadi school: https://primaquran.com/2018/11/24/why-i-now-follow-the-ibadi-school/
As a Christian, I found your discussion very interesting. We have several ideas about the Holy Spirit in common but I see the disconnect in our upbringing within our different religious traditions and understanding. I would welcome your perspective on a post I wrote some time ago about the HS @ http://yourspiritualinspiration.com/2019/02/09/holy-spirit-controversy-spiritual-meditations/ You will find that am not a strict “Tri-Theist”.
Thank you for your comment. I read your entry. I did find some interesting information there. I am thankful when I am not sent a 700 page pdf file. Praise be to Allah.
I have often thought about the debates between “Oneness Pentacostals” and Tri-Theist. Wouldn’t it serve the oneness movement well when interacting with the other side to present an argument along these lines:
“O.K You say the economy of the Trinity is Father, Son, Holy Spirit and this relates to the economy. Howevery if they are truly persons what is the name of the Father, what is the name of the Son, what is the name of the Holy Spirit?”
Certainly to be a person you would think it would be accompanied by a name.
Also, I have a suggestion on something you might want to consider to amend/change on your entry.
You write:
“In contrast to God the Father and Jesus Christ, who are consistently compared to human beings in Their form and shape, the Holy Spirit is frequently represented, by various symbols and manifestations, in a completely different manner—such as breath (John 20), wind (Acts 2), water (John 4), oil (Psalms 45), a dove (Matthew 3) and an “earnest,” or down payment, on eternal life (2 Corinthians 1).”
If would probably remove the “a dove (Matthew 3” as a contrasting point with “In contrast to God the Father and Jesus Christ, who are consistently compared to human beings in Their form and shape.”
Those who oppose your view will give you a very difficult time in regards to it.
So in the end are we seeing a ‘new’ or maybe from your perspective a reclaimatioin of the old understanding in Christianity?
So instead of a ‘Trinity’ is the Godhead from your perspective a ‘binity’? That there are only two persons in the Godhead?
I hope that you and your family have an enjoyable weekend ahead.
Thank you for your perspective and the correction re: the HS dove. I will update that. Yes, like other beliefs, there are an amazing number of Christian denominations, each seeming to emphasis different aspects of the faith. As long as they all teach according to Jesus’ teachings I don’t have an issue with the differences.
Re: names God the Father answered the question of His name by saying He is Yahweh (translated ‘I am Who I am’). So not really a name. We all know the Son is Jesus and the Holy Spirit is God’s spirit – not a personage with a name.
Yes, our beliefs are more authentic when they adhere to the teachings of Jesus (the old Christianity) and reduce the man made concepts and traditions accumulated over the last 2000 years.
I will continue to read your posts as I am interested in all belief systems and I assume you have a deep knowledge of Islam. Perhaps we can develop an interfaith connection that will bring greater understanding.