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The Holy Spirit embodies the mutual eternal love of the Father and the Son. The Greek term for the Holy Spirit is "Paraclete", which means advocate or intercessor, thereby connoting a driving force for good. The Holy Spirit is God's present activity in our midst. When we sense God's leading, God's challenge, or God's support or comfort, we say that it's the Holy Spirit at work. <ref>[http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2311269/ We Believe in the Holy Spirit.]</ref>
The Holy Spirit embodies the mutual eternal love of the Father and the Son. The Greek term for the Holy Spirit is "Paraclete", which means advocate or intercessor, thereby connoting a driving force for good. The Holy Spirit is God's present activity in our midst. When we sense God's leading, God's challenge, or God's support or comfort, we say that it's the Holy Spirit at work. <ref>[http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.2311269/ We Believe in the Holy Spirit.]</ref>
The apostles credit the Holy Spirit with giving them the courage to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in a very hostile world. Scriptural references to the Holy Spirit are in both the Old and New Testaments, and include Proverbs 8:22-31, John 16:12-15, and Romans 5:1-5.
The apostles credit the Holy Spirit with giving them the courage to spread the good news of Jesus Christ in a very hostile world. Scriptural references to the Holy Spirit are in both the Old and New Testaments, and include Proverbs 8:22-31, John 16:12-15, and Romans 5:1-5.
A formal doctrine of the Holy Spirit did not begin to be developed until the early third century. Tertullian (c.160-c.225) and the Montanist heresy showed the need to distinguish between true and false activities of the Holy Spirit. Origen of Alexandria (c.185-c.254) taught that the Spirit worked primarily within the Church, whereas the Word (Christ) worked within the whole of creation...
The doctrine of the Spirit was further elaborated by [[Saint Augustine|St. Augustine]] in his important work ''De Trinitate'' ''("On the Trinity"),'' in which the Holy Spirit is seen as the bond of union and love between the Father and the Son. <ref> [http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/beliefs/holy_spirit.htm The Holy Spirit in Christian Theology.] </ref>
The essential Christian teachings about the Holy Spirit are summarized in the [[Nicene Creed]]:
The essential Christian teachings about the Holy Spirit are summarized in the [[Nicene Creed]]: