Is the Holy Spirit a person or a force?

Chuck Smith, The Holy Spirit Study Guide, Chapter 1: Introduction to the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is thought by some to be an “essence” or “power” of God rather than a separate person, because ruach, the Hebrew word for Spirit, also means “breath,” and “pneuma,” the Greek word for Spirit, also means “wind” or “air.” We as Christians know He is a person. The early church scholar, Arias, caused division with his declaration that God the Father was the only true God, that Jesus was a created being, and the Holy Spirit was only an essence. This doctrine is known as the Arian heresy. Study notes condensed from his teaching by The Word For Today. From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.

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