Meaning: The quote you've provided is from Joseph Rutherford, a prominent figure in the history of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious movement. In this quote, Rutherford is expressing the belief that the Holy Spirit is the invisible power of Jehovah, and that it operated upon the minds of honest and devoted individuals to guide them in the writing of the Bible.

Rutherford's perspective on the Holy Spirit reflects the theological views of Jehovah's Witnesses, who interpret the concept of the Holy Spirit in a distinctive manner. According to Jehovah's Witnesses, the Holy Spirit is not a separate person within the Godhead, as is commonly taught in mainstream Christian theology, but rather an impersonal force or power through which God accomplishes his will.

Rutherford's assertion that the Holy Spirit is "holy because he is holy" aligns with the understanding that the Holy Spirit is a manifestation of God's own holiness and divine nature. This view is rooted in the belief that Jehovah, the God of the Bible, is the epitome of holiness, and therefore anything associated with him, including the Holy Spirit, shares in that holiness.

Furthermore, Rutherford's statement implies that the influence of the Holy Spirit was instrumental in the process of inspiring the human authors of the Bible. According to this perspective, the Holy Spirit operated upon the minds of these individuals, guiding and directing them in the writing of the sacred texts. This aligns with the broader theological belief in the divine inspiration of the Bible, wherein the authors were considered to have been inspired or "moved" by the Holy Spirit to convey God's message.

The concept of divine inspiration is central to the authority and significance of the Bible within the Jehovah's Witnesses tradition. It is believed that the Holy Spirit's influence ensured the accuracy and reliability of the biblical texts, even as they were written by fallible human beings. This understanding of inspiration also underpins the Jehovah's Witnesses' approach to interpreting and applying the teachings found in the Bible.

Rutherford's assertion that the Holy Spirit operated upon the minds of "honest men who loved and who were devoted to righteousness" reflects the idea that the recipients of divine inspiration were individuals of moral integrity and sincere devotion to God. This emphasis on the character of those chosen to receive divine guidance aligns with the belief that God's spirit works in harmony with individuals who demonstrate such qualities.

In summary, Joseph Rutherford's quote encapsulates the Jehovah's Witnesses' distinctive understanding of the Holy Spirit as the invisible power of Jehovah, operating to inspire and guide the human authors of the Bible. This perspective reflects the movement's broader theological views on the nature of God, the authority of the Bible, and the role of divine inspiration in the transmission of sacred teachings.