GHOST.—Used in the Gospels only in the phrases ‘giving up the ghost’ and ‘Holy Ghost’: a survival of the meaning commonly associated with it in the times of the translators, when it was used as equivalent to ‘spirit’ (Germ. Geist). The usage of the word ‘ghost’ as equivalent to ‘spirit’ has become archaic. The meaning now uniformly given to it makes its continued use in our Revised Version NT 1881, OT 1885 inexpedient. This was recognized by the American Revisers, who substituted ‘Holy Spirit’ in every instance for ‘Holy Ghost.’ See, further, artt. Holy Spirit, Spirit.
A. Mitchell Hunter.