What is Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost?

I saw a question someone asked about what is “Blaspheming against the Holy Ghost.”

They referenced hearing what two theologians said it might be. I have included my response below for you, as it might be interesting and edifying.

A good rule of thumb, if someone calls themselves a theologian, whatever they are saying is probably wrong.

Why? Because often, they are more philosophers steeped in the tradition of adhering to a certain preferred set of “thinkers” and “thinking.” They’ve so focused their study on the nuances of scripture that often, nothing is absolute. Especially what the scripture says—it’s all up in the air; some say this, some say that. What is left is uncertainty. Yet, in the end, what the scripture says is actually what it means.

Interesting, intriguing, and maybe plausible. At its root, it’s philosophy. All of this often distracts from the simple meaning of the text.

Apostolics are the anomaly in this world of theology because, as a whole, historically, we have rejected the ambivalence and sometimes the hostility towards the actual written text.

I have consumed a lot of theological conversations and writings over the 35 years of being a serious student of scriptures and looking for answers.

Think of the Jews and their tradition, which is 95% of Christianity. They, as a group, reject absolute truth.

Most people out there, those I have enjoyed listening to, talk a lot of great stuff, but when you get to the nitty-gritty of scripture, they very often hold in higher regard what they think, or what some other person said about that scripture, than what the scripture actually says.

To the actual definition of blaspheme, it refers to the sin of specific blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.

What does the word blaspheme mean?

What does ‘against the Holy Ghost’ mean?

What is the context?

“Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.”

It was in response to those accusing Jesus of casting out devils through the power of the devil.

Strong’s has a line that mirrors what you thought it was:

“of those who, by contemptuous speech, intentionally come short of the reverence due to God or sacred things.”

I believe we would all do well not to mock or be too quick to be critical of what is a work of the Holy Ghost.

A simple way to define a thing is to read the actual text and, if need be, dig down into the meaning of the actual words. Specifically, look at the context of the scripture locally and how it fits into the Biblical narrative.

What are some examples?

I think a few potentially exemplified this:

Cain

Lot

Korah

Hophni and Phinehas

Saul

Balaam

Ananias and Sapphira, specifically, failed to hallow what was happening when they conspired to lie for clout.

Every one of them was very close to the righteous but failed to reverence, were flippant, and God judged them harshly.

If you were to study each of these, you see a spirit and attitude that ranges from ambivalence to hostility.

I believe a sense of “fear” concerning the things of God is proper and should be something we seek to communicate.

Let me tell you what I think “blaspheme against the Holy Ghost is.”

When a person who has received the baptism of the Holy Ghost walks away from God and mocks, denies, and becomes an enemy of the work and people of God.

That person will never feel conviction or a need to repent again because of this sin; there is no more grace that would draw them or call them to repent.

I suspect very few have committed the sin of blaspheming against the Holy Ghost. 

However, it is a tool the devil will use to keep them in a perpetual state of condemnation.

My rule is, “Do you feel bad for what you did? Do you want to repent of it? If so, that is a testament that God is still dealing with your heart, and if he is dealing with you, he is drawing you to repent so he will forgive you for what you have done. You have not committed the unforgivable sin.

A scripture that I think puts a point on this discussion.

Jude 1

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Context,

5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,

15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.

19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.