By Randall L. Broad
Read: 2 Samuel 7:1-8:18; John 14:15-31; Psalm 119:33-48; Proverbs 15:33
Today we encounter in our daily reading the first two translations of the term paráklētos (John 14:16; 14:26) found in the New Testament. Usually people read scripture without any knowledge of the original language and in most cases this is a reasonable practice. Modern versions have been translated by well-educated scholars and academics trained in the original language and thoughtfully guided by the same Holy Spirit as the original authors. However in the case of the five paráklētos verses it is essential the reader be familiar with the original term to better understand the depth of the ultimate truth John records–the ministry and purpose of the Holy Spirit is Christ-centered.
Today’s reading is part of a much longer discourse recorded only in the gospel of John. In this discourse, Jesus reveals what is going to happen to Him in the days ahead; how the Apostles are to strengthen and encourage one another; and the power they will receive to carry the message of the gospel to the ends of the earth. Though they will not fully understand the things He is telling them until the day of Pentecost, the passage known as the Farewell Discourse (John 13-17) is intended to instruct, encourage, and exhort them to be strong in the face of the future challenges and difficulties they will face. At the heart of His message is the idea that though he is going away; he is not leaving them alone–he is sending another (v. 14:16) to abide with them (vv. 14:16-17), to teach them (14:26), to testify about Him (v. 15:26), and convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement (vv. 16:7-11).
The one being sent is the Spirit of Truth; he is another paráklētos.
The Gospel of John uses the term paráklētos four of the five times it will appear in the Bible–all in the New Testament.
16And I will ask the Father, and He will
give you another Advocate to be with
you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him,
because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you do know Him, for He abides
with you and will be in you.
John 14:16-17 (NIV)
26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.
John 14:26 (NIV)
26“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit
of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27And
you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:26-27 (NIV)
7But very truly I tell you, it is for your
good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
8When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin
and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because people do not
believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the
Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and about judgment,
because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12“I have
much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he,
the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not
speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what
is yet to come. 14He will glorify me because it is from me that he
will receive what he will make known to you. 15All that belongs to
the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he
will make known to you.”
John 16:7-15 (NIV)
In the New International Version above the term paráklētos
(Koine Greek) is translated as ‘advocate’ (also NLT, BSB, NET); but in other
English translations the term used is ‘helper’ (ESV, NASB, NKJV, GNT);
‘comforter’ (GEN, KJV, ASV, DBT, ERV); or ‘counselor’ (CSB, HCSB).
In essence … none of these terms are enough when substituted singularly for the term paráklētos. They all fail to fit satisfactorily in one verse or more. Thus some translations (c.f. NLT) will offer alternative possibilities in the footnotes but these options allow the reader to choose their own meaning when the extra information is intended to reflect the fullness of the original Greek. The term chosen often reveal intentions more in line with the meaning the denomination wants to convey than the full meaning of the word. The reality is all these terms leave us with an incomplete understanding of the true meaning of the Greek language; yet taken collectively they express the essential relationship Jesus is promising us with the Holy Spirit–who is our advocate (vv. 16:7-11), counselor (vv. 14:26; 15:26; vv. 16:7-11), and comforter (vv. 14:16-17; 14:26; & 15:26). Though the word ‘helper’ fits semantically into each verse it is too vague a term to fully reflect the true meaning and purpose of paráklētos.
Throughout history pastors, theologians, and scholars have used Paráklētos (Koine Greek), Paracletus (Medieval Latin) or Paraclete (15th century French); as names for the Holy Spirit. Yet the way John uses this term in his gospel and the understanding of the word in the time in which he lived does not support this conclusion–Paráklētos is a better title for the Holy Spirit than a personal name. A Paráklētos is what Christ was amongst the Apostles; and it is what the Holy Spirit has been amongst us. It describes the role Christ served while with the Apostles and the role the Holy Spirit will serve amongst the disciples after Pentecost: indwell them and be God’s empowering presence among them “forever” (John 14:16-17); fulfill Jesus role as a teacher or rabbi (John 14:26); testify about the Father and the Son (John 15:26); and prepare the world for the second coming (John 16:7-11). The only time paráklētos is used outside of the Farewell Discourse, John uses it as a reference to Jesus Christ:
1My little children, I am writing these
things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father—Jesus
Christ, the Righteous One. 2He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for
our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (NIV)
1 John
2:1-2
Nearly every English translation uses the term paráklētos as a reference to Jesus Christ in this epistle and the ones that don’t paraphrase it rather than directly translate the term. In John’s gospel, Jesus is speaking and He is not referring to himself but rather promises … I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth (vv. 14:16-17). The use of the determiner “another” in verse seventeen implies someone other than himself–a second paráklētos. We see it in the gospel and the epistle clearly tells us Jesus is also our paráklētos and this term is more than a personal name for the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:1-2).
In three of the verses the promise of the Holy Spirit is also followed by the phrase Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). Spirit of Truth more closely describes the indwelling of New Testament believers and the Old Testament understanding of the ‘Spirit of God’ that came upon prophets, kings, and those chosen to serve God’s people. In these verses there are some important things we can understand about the Spirit of Truth–the Holy Spirit. He is sent by both the father and Jesus (14:26; 15:26), and is sent to illuminate the Spiritual significance of God’s work in Christ (14:26; 15:26; 16:9). The Holy Spirit is the substitute presence in the New Testament believers’ lives and will bring to remembrance all the things Jesus taught his disciples (14:26); testify about Jesus to his followers (15:26), convict the world of sin, unrighteousness, and judgment (16:8-11); and guide the disciples into all truth and reveal what is to come (16:13). Spirit of truth clearly refers to the Holy Spirit and is used by Jesus himself as a name for the Spirit of God. Paráklētos better reflects the work, ministry, and activities of both Jesus Christ and the Spirit.
Walk with the Lord …
Ephesians
1:17
(RLB250525)
© Copyright 2020: Randall L. Broad
Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.
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