What gender is the Holy Ghost

[CV75]

1 hour ago, MustardSeed said:

And I think society shaped the scriptures and presently shapes our world (heavenly) view. 

In part; I think additional things also shaped the scriptures; this is why we generally hold them up as canon (the inspired and covenant part) while tolerating errors in translation (Bible) or weakness of the writers (Book of Mormon). especially tolerating our own blind spots! and accepting the principle of ongoing prophetic and personal revelation that may provide exception or enlightenment to something the scriptures say. Even more factors in the world around us affect our individual and communal views of heavenly things and how we manage the scriptures. Despite what society has shaped for us (and speaking for me), the Lord came into our world in the meridian of time so that the Holy Ghost can shape our (my) heavenly views, often countering and changing our (my) paradigms.

It seems to me the choice of pronouns in any given verse, like any word, used in scripture could have emerged from linguistic and societal norms and expectations, correctly received inspiration, mistranslation, weakness in the writers, etc. and can be subject to revision or reinterpretation by ongoing revelation. This is why I believe the Holy Ghost works with fallible people of good faith no matter what they believe or how they came to believe it.

I just realized you started this thread! So I looked up my original reply: Posted yesterday at 05:11 PM

I could have just as well have answered it this way: I don't think there is any doctrine on this, but if Genesis sets the pattern for pronouns and gender, "man" would refer to both Adam and Eve, signifying that all divine roles and work is carried out by a two-gender partnership or a duo (and this is not a new doctrine). The "divine councils" such as the Grand Council before and the Church of the Firstborn are occupied by people of both genders. This would render the Holy Ghost to consist of a male and female duo or companionship, as Heavenly Father (with Mary), and Jesus and (maybe with Mary holding one kind of partnership with the Father and another kind with the Son). This present work (fallen mortality) is far from fully divine in its expression by design, which is why God has been willing to work within that constraint. 

[MustardSeed]

1 hour ago, CV75 said:

think there is any doctrine on this, but if Genesis sets the pattern for pronouns and gender, "man" would refer to both Adam and Eve, signifying that all divine roles and work is carried out by a two-gender partnership or a duo (and this is not a new doctrine). The "divine councils" such as the Grand Council before and the Church of the Firstborn are occupied by people of both genders. This would render the Holy Ghost to consist of a male and female duo or companionship, as Heavenly Father (with Mary), and Jesus and (maybe with Mary holding one kind of partnership with the Father and another kind with the Son). This present work (fallen mortality) is far from fully divine in its expression by design, which is why God has been willing to work within that constraint. 

Lovely. 

[talmonprof]

Up near the top of this thread, someone quoted John 16:7 regarding the holy ghost wherein christ refers to the holy ghost as a male, however when we look at the greek this was translated from in an interlinear source such as this ( https://www.abarim-publications.com/Interlinear-New-Testament/John/John-16-parsed.html ) we find that the word translated here as "he"  is 

αυτος

When I clicked further on this word it goes here:

 

is https://www.abarim-publications.com/DictionaryG/a/a-u-t-o-sfin.html

 

It seems to me that this is non-conclusive as a masculine identifier for the Holy Ghost.

 

What do you guys think?

 

[jcake]

I'm really enjoying this topic!  Some years ago I, without realizing it, referred to the Holy Ghost as she in a sunday school class.  Of course I was excoriated for it.  I didn't even have a strong idea or belief in that, it just came out.  Now, after all the years, I feel slightly vindicated.  The gender of the Holy Ghost has always seemed pretty ambiguous, to me.

[Calm]

On 8/2/2024 at 9:40 AM, talmonprof said:

What do you guys think?

 

Even English at times will use “he” or “him” for a generic sex, neuter label because it sounds awkward to use “it” for a person.  I understand Greek does it often as well.  I don’t believe in that verse “he” in the sense it is talking about a male rather than being clear it is referring to a person can be assumed. 

But I have no experience in Greek, just reading some commentaries. 

Edited August 9, 2024 by Calm

[The Nehor]

It is also possible the Holy Ghost is not of the same species as us and/or God and that species may have no gender…or six genders.