Paraclete

From BibleWiki

The term "Paraclete" does not occur in the King James Version of the Bible, the translators used the term "Comforter". This is the English form of the Greek "parakletos", a name given by Jesus to the Holy Spirit, and which may also be translated as Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Teacher or Helper. The word is derived from the Greek words "para", which means alongside and "kaleo', which means to call, invite, or summon. Advocate is probably the English word that most accurately represents the meaning of the original Greek. This term was part of the language of the Greek courts and indicated the defense counsel or attorney, as opposed to the "diablos" - the accuser or prosecutor.

The name was used by the Apostle John to describe Jesus. The word spirit, in the Christian context, originated from the Hebrew word "ruah" which means sigh or breath. The word represents a divine influence or inspiration, a sign of the presence of God. The Apostle Paul translates the Hebrew "ruah" to the Greek "pneuma" which means breeze, wind, air or breath. He expanded on the definition to represent an atmosphere of divinity which would fill the life of the Christian and was fond of adding the adjective holy to the term. In all of the accounts of The Last Supper, John is the only Apostle who tells us of Jesus' promise to send an advocate, a comforter, who would be with us forever when Jesus could no longer be a visible presence in the world. The Paraclete represents the mission of the Holy Spirit as the internal aspect of Jesus' life on Earth. The Paraclete's purpose would be: to continue to teach based on Jesus' wisdom: expand the wisdom of his teachings throughout the world; help the disciples to grow in understanding the truth as Jesus taught it; be a permanent presence in their lives, as opposed to the presence of Jesus which was taken away; and be invisible and inward. Like Jesus, the Paraclete came into the world through the Father; came in the name of the Father; would be with and in the disciples; did nothing on his own authority; and stands as a witness to the Father and the Son.