In our inquiry concerning the import of the phrase, "the holy spirit," in scripture it may be of some consequence to bear in mind, that there is one peculiarity in our English Bible, which distinguishes it from other modern European translations; that while the Greek testament has but one word for Spirit, which is translated by one word,――in German by Geist, in Dutch by Geest, in French by Esprit,――the same is rendered by our translators into English by two words at their option, namely, _Spirit_ and _Ghost_. And in what cases did they choose the latter word? It would seem that they translated by Holy Ghost and not by holy spirit whenever they supposed the phrase had reference to an intelligent, divine Being and not to a gift, endowment, or power received from God. Thus it is, that the phrase has got an established meaning; which shows indeed the judgment of our old translators 250 years ago, but proves nothing as to the true meaning. It might then be well, if the old word Ghost were laid aside. Indeed they have not chosen to say, Gala. 4:6, "the Ghost of his Son," nor in v. 27, "born after the Ghost," but have used the word "Spirit." If one should take up his New Testament and read in English in Matthew's first chapter concerning Mary,――"she was found with child of the _Holy Ghost_," and then again, "that which is conceived of her is of the _Holy Ghost_," he would be likely to attach a meaning to the scripture, which he reads, different from the truth. For as the Testament was written in Greek, we may learn from that language, the translation should not have been "the Holy Ghost," and not even "_the_ Holy Spirit," but "_a_ holy spirit," for here the word for spirit has no article before it in the Greek, as would be requisite if "_the_ Spirit" were meant; and the meaning is, as learned critics have showed, simply, "a divine energy or power." Just so in Mark 1:8 and Luke 1:35, the same Greek phrase has no article; and the apostles do not allude to a great personage or supposed well known, mighty Being, called "_the_ Holy Ghost," but refer only to God's miraculous power in respect to the birth of Christ. The verse in Luke 1, proves this――"a holy spirit shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee,"――both phrases referring to the same energy of almighty God.