Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost?

 

 

Why do most Traditionalists say "Holy Ghost" and most modern Christians say "Holy Spirit?"

First off, it stems from the Latin "spiritu sancto" and the two words, taken separately, can be translated to "Holy" and "Spirit." However, we are not taking them separately when we say "Holy Ghost" or the poorer translation of "Holy Spirit." Why is this a "poorer translation?" Simply stated, "Holy" and "Ghost" are from German epistemology, which is literally "heiliger Geist" and from there the English derives "Holy Ghost." To use "Holy Spirit" we're translating "heiliger" to Holy, but going back to the Latin "spiritu" to get "Spirit" - so it's a mixed translation and strictly speaking, not as properly translated.

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-german/holy-ghost
 
So is it "wrong" to say "Holy Spirit?" Well, again, "technically" no - the two words can be translated that way, but again, when taken separately. If we were consistent in translating "spiritu" to "spirit" then "sancto" should also be left as the more Latin root, and thus be "sanctified." But, "Sanctified Spirit" doesn't have that ring or flow to it. I repeat, "Holy Spirit" is not "wrong," it is just not as "proper" as "Holy Ghost." Or, another way of putting it, "Holy Ghost" is a "better" translation.
 
In the Latin Mass we say, "Santos, Sanctos, Sanctos" - which the English translation is "Holy, Holy, Holy" and again, alone - "sanctos" is properly translated to "holy."


Prayer Request


Well, it's been a tumultuous 2 weeks for me. A week ago Monday I had a colonoscopy - and the doctor found a cancerous growth in my colon. Surgery is scheduled for August 11th to remove a section of my colon, a fairly large section. There is a non-cancerous polyp (perhaps pre-cancerous) that was too big to remove during colonoscopy; and there is a cancerous mass. Both are on the right side, one higher than the other, but this means there will be a rather large incision, then 5-7 days in the hospital for recovery. He will also remove the lymph nodes in that area and have them biopsied. 

So far, pathology looks good - there is nothing pointing to the cancer spreading, but we won't know that for sure until pathology comes back post-surgery. If pathology comes back clean - then I will be cancer free and it will just be a matter of healing/recovery and back to work. Of course, the opposite is true, if it does not come back with an all-clear, then we will be talking chemotherapy and radiation with oncology.

So, I thank you in advance for your prayers and support!

In JMJ,

Scott<<<

 

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