"God created humankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them."
Genesis 1:27
This was the first verse I read that really made me start to think about the Holy Spirit's true identity. Throughout my life I was taught that God is three persons in one: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The first two persons of the Godhead are obviously masculine but what about this other person called the Spirit? Everyone I know, including myself, has just taken for granted that the Holy Spirit is also masculine. But if mankind is indeed created in God's image, then where do women fit into the Godhead?
Since the Scriptures state that humanity is made in God's image it got me thinking. What if - like humans - God was masculine (Father), feminine (Holy Spirit), and offspring (Son of God Jesus)?
Over the last year I've been undertaking a study of the Bible in it's original languages regarding the identity of the Spirit of God. To me the identity of the 'Spirit' is one of the most, if not, the most interesting and mysterious topics in the whole bible. My research has brought me to the realization that the Spirit is indeed a feminine, not masculine, Spirit. Before you write me off as a heretic I encourage you to read this article with an open heart and mind as I build my case through the use of scripture; both from the Old Testament and New Testament books.
Gender Nouns
Before continuing we may need to refresh ourselves on the use of gender nouns and their meanings. There are three types of gender nouns:
Masculine nouns (MN) used for he, him, his etc.
Feminine nouns (FN) used for she, her, here's etc.
Neutral nouns (NN) used for person, they, it etc..
The verses I've quoted from the Bible will show how in the original languages the Godhead is defined as having both masculine and feminine characteristics. The words used to define the Spirit of God are almost exclusively feminine and neutral nouns. I propose that the near absence of masculine nouns is as important as the overwhelming presence of feminine nouns used to express the Spirit's identity.
"It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter."
Proverbs 25:2
The Old Testament
The Old Testament of the Bible is originally written in the Hebrew language. The first book of the OT is Genesis which tells us of the creation of the universe:
"Now the earth was without shape and empty, and darkness was over the surface of the watery deep, but the Spirit (FN ruwach) of God was moving over the surface of the water."
Genesis 1:2
It's interesting how Genesis 1 establishes that before creation began the Spirit of God existed. What's more interesting is that in Proverbs 8 the spirit of wisdom (FN chokmah) claims to be in existence and was 'brought forth' by God before creation as well. I believe that the spirit of wisdom in Proverbs 8 is in fact the same Spirit of God in Genesis 1:
"The Lord possessed me [wisdom] in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water...Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him."
Proverbs 8: 22-24; 30
The Oxford dictionary defines the word feminine as such: the characteristic quality or assemblage of qualities pertaining to the female sex, womanliness, female nature. Isaiah 11:2 uses seven separate feminine nouns in description of the Spirit of God resting upon Isaiah the prophet:
"And the Spirit (FN ruwach) of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom (FN chokmah) and understanding (FN biynah), the spirit of counsel (FN `etsah) and might (FN gebuwrah), the spirit of knowledge (FN da`ath) and of the reverence (FN yir'ah) of the Lord."
The number seven is an important number in the Bible as it has the symbolic meaning of 'completeness' or 'perfection'. I believe the verse is saying that Isaiah has the great privilege of having the fullness of the Spirit working through his life, and the fullness of that Spirit is the Feminine aspect of the Godhead.
Genesis 2 explains how God decided to bring forth the feminine being, Eve, out of the masculine being Adam for the purpose of being a helper and companion. What's strange is a masculine noun is used for the word helper:
"Then the Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper (MN ezer) suitable for him.""
Genesis 2:18
Now why is the Hebrew masculine noun ezer used when explaining the purpose of the feminine being Eve that God was about to create? The only reason I can think of is simply because the source of the feminine being, Eve, was Adam. Before Eve was a separate distinct creation from Adam the masculine and feminine nature of humanity were together in one single body/vessel. But it was not good for mankind to be alone so God separated the masculine and feminine into two vessels.
Jesus states in the book of John that the purpose of the Spirit of God is to be a helper/companion unto mankind, just as Eve was a helper/companion unto Adam. The Greek noun Jesus uses in John 14 for helper is parakletos; But just like Eve, I believe a masculine noun is used in description of a feminine being. I propose its used for the same reasoning as Eve also.
The New Testament
The New testament is originally written in Greek. The first four books of the NT are called "The Gospels" and are about the life of Jesus told from different accounts. Let's start in the gospel of John where Jesus explains to his disciples the purpose of the Holy Spirit so we can finish the connection to Genesis 2:18:
"But the helper (MN parakletos), the Holy Spirit (NN pneuma), whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, …"
John 14:26
So if we take the original Hebrew and Greek Scriptures we are able to make a correlation between mankind being created in the image of God. The Feminine being Eve, and the Feminine Spirit of God both being brought forth to be helpers for humanity.
One thing I'd like to add here is that Genesis explains how Eve was created from Adam's rib. The rib comes from the side of Adam which displays to us that Eve and Adam are equals in every right. If Eve was made from Adam's head, the feminine would be above the masculine. If Eve was made from Adam's foot, the feminine would be below the masculine. I believe that Eve was specifically taken from Adam's side to show us that we are identical in God given rights and authority. The masculine and feminine are equals.
Let's continue on to the gospel of Luke where the Spirit interacts with Jesus as he is being baptized in water:
"and the Holy Spirit (NN pneuma) descended on him in bodily form like a dove (FN peristera). And a voice came from heaven, "You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight."
The dove is a delicate, gentle and feminine symbol for the Spirit. Water is also used frequently as a symbol of the Spirit but for the sake of this blog I'll only quote this example:
"On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, 'From within him will flow rivers of living water.'" (Now he said this about the Spirit (pneuma), whom those who believed in him were going to receive, for the Spirit (pneuma) had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)"
John 7:37-39
So here we see plain as day that water is a symbol of the Spirit. Whether you believe Jesus was God in the flesh or not, let's just focus on what the scriptures are promoting here. Let's fast forward to the death of Jesus on the cross and see what is recorded:
"But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs [Roman protocol to speed up death]. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed out immediately."
John 19:33-34
Wow. From the side of Jesus/God flowed blood and water. The Spirit, symbolized by water, was brought forth from God's side. That is an astounding connection to the story of Eve being brought forth from the side of Adam! What's even crazier is that the scriptures state that one of the titles of Jesus is the second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-49).
The final verse I'd like to show you is from Luke 1 where a messenger from God meets with Mary and tells her that she will be the vessel for the Son of God:
"The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit (NN pneuma) will come upon you and the power of the Most High (MN hypsistos) will overshadow you. For that reason the holy child shall be called the Son of God.'"
Luke 1:35
So according to the Luke 1 there are three things said to be happening here:
The Spirit will come upon Mary.
The power of the Most High will also overshadow Mary.
The result of this coming together of the feminine and masculine aspects of God shall bring forth the offspring/son of God through Mary.
The Godhead had everything planned out ahead of time and was going to do all of the work as far as conception was concerned. Mary's job was to have faith and a willing heart, then the Son of God would be carried in her womb.
"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by it's own fruit..."
Luke 6:43-44
I hope this article has at the very least opened up your heart and mind to the idea that the Spirit of God is most likely the feminine aspect of the Godhead. What if this idea is correct? What fruit would this idea bear into the world today if we cultivated it? Would it be good fruit or bad fruit? What kind of world would we live in if we taught our children that men and women are made in the image of God? That God is the Father, the Son and the feminine Spirit? Perhaps women would become more honored and respected in our culture. Maybe women wouldn't have to deal with as much injustice, inequality and discrimination like they have been dealing with for thousands of years and counting. I can speak for myself that this new paradigm has already helped me to look at the women in my life with more honor, love and respect. So far, that is a good tasting fruit.
Cheers friends.