Holy Spirit in Christianity

===Old Testament===
{{One source|section|date=June 2014}}
What the Hebrew Bible calls "Spirit of God" and "Spirit of Elohim" is called in the [[Talmud]] and [[Midrash]] "Holy Spirit" (''ruacḥ ha-kodesh''). Although the expression "Holy Spirit" occurs in Ps. 51:11 and in Isa. 63:10–11, it had not yet acquired quite the same meaning which was attached to it in rabbinical literature: in the latter it is equivalent to the expression "Spirit of the Lord". In Gen.1:2 God's spirit hovered over the form of lifeless matter, thereby making the Creation possible.<ref>See: Darshan, Guy, [https://www.academia.edu/41189353/Rua%E1%B8%A5_Elohim_in_Genesis_1_2_in_Light_of_Phoenician_Cosmogonies_A_Tradition_s_History_JNSL_45_2_2019_51_78 "Ruaḥ 'Elohim in Genesis 1:2 in Light of Phoenician Cosmogonies: A Tradition's History,"] Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages 45:2 (2019), 51–78.</ref><ref name="je">{{cite web|title=Holy Spirit |url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/7833-holy-spirit|access-date=2020-08-10|website=www.jewishencyclopedia.com}}</ref> Although the ''ruach ha-kodesh'' may be named instead of God, it was conceived of as being something distinct; and, like everything earthly that comes from heaven, the ''ruach ha-kodesh'' is composed of light and [[fire]].<ref name=je/> The most characteristic sign of the presence of the ''ruach ha-kodesh'' is the gift of prophecy. The use of the word "ruach" (Hebrew: "breath", or "wind") in the phrase ''ruach ha-kodesh'' seems to suggest that Judaic authorities believed the Holy Spirit was a kind of communication medium like the wind. The spirit talks sometimes with a masculine and sometimes with a feminine voice; the word ''ruacḥ'' is both masculine and feminine.<ref name=je/>