How Many Spirits in the Godhead?

In Signs of the Times, July 25, 1878, D. M. Canright reasons, using trinitarian thinking, that there are six spirits. They include the Father (who is a spirit), the Son (who is a spirit), the Holy Ghost (who is a spirit), the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Son, and the Spirit of the Holy Ghost. If there are six spirits then, according to trinitarians, there are six divine persons. Also,

The Spirit is never called a person.

• The simple truth is that God is a real person, in bodily form; and the Holy Spirit is truly the Spirit of God, a divine influence proceeding from the Father and also from the Son, as their power, energy, etc. The Bible never in any case calls the Holy Spirit a person, though, it frequently does both the Father and Son.

No throne for the Spirit.

• Another fact having an important bearing upon this question, one which shows the utter falsity of the trinitarian creed that makes, the Holy Ghost equal with the Father and Son is that the Holy Spirit has no throne, and is never worshiped. Many times it is explicitly declared that both the Father and the Son have a throne, and are seated upon that throne. Rev. 3:21. "But the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it." Rev. 22:3. But where is the throne of the Holy Spirit ? Who ever heard of that? How astonishing, if the Holy Spirit is the same as the Father and the Son, and is one of the trinity, equal with them power, substance, and glory! How is it, we ask, that it has no throne while the others have?

We are not required to love the Spirit.

• Also we are required to love God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ; but no one is ever required to love the Holy Spirit. No such precept is given, nor is there any reference to it.

No love from the Father and Son to the Spirit, nor from the Spirit to the Father and Son.

• Another important fact is, that while very much is said about the great love that exists between the Father and the Son, how tenderly the Father loves the Son, and how devotedly the Son loves the Father, yet not one word is said about the Father's loving the Holy Ghost, nor that the Son loves the Holy Ghost, nor that the Holy Ghost loves either the Father or the Son. No such thought is ever expressed. How shall we account for this fact if the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, are three persons, alike and equal? How astonishing, we say, that so much is said about the mutual love between the Father and the Son, and yet, not one word is said about a similar love between the Holy Ghost and the other two persons! Why is it left out in this manner! The truth is evident. The Holy Spirit is not a person, not an individual, but is an influence or power proceeding from the Godhead.

The Spirit is never said to love man.

• Furthermore, it is never said that the Holy Spirit ever loves man; yet it is frequently declared how greatly both the Father and Son do love man. But no such thing is ever said of the Holy Ghost. How shall we account for this?

Concluded. D. M. Canright continued and concluded the above topic in the Signs of the Times, August, 8, 1878. One interesting thought in this concluding article is the following:

• It may be also observed in the Bible that the term, Spirit of God, is often used as synonomous with the breath of God, the hand of God, the finger of God, etc. The wicked are represented as consumed by the breath of the Lord, and also by the Spirit of the Lord, both meaning the same. Again, speaking of the creation of the heavens, it says, "By his Spirit he garnished the heavens;" also, "The heavens are the work of thy hands." Here hand and spirit evidently mean the same. So Jesus says, "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God." And again, "If I with the finger of God cast out devils," etc. The Spirit of God, then, we understand to represent the power of God.