Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PARACLETE

Transliteration of Gk. paráklētos, derived from the verb meaning “to call alongside,” often for the sake of exhorting or encouraging. Therefore, some have interpreted the term as “Comforter.” Others have pointed to the use of paráklētos in Greek and Hellenistic legal contexts, entailing a judicial meaning similar to “Advocate.” This sense is certainly present in 1 John 2:1, which states that Jesus Christ acts as the sinning believer’s paráklētos before the Father. The remaining NT occurrences all appear in the “Farewell Discourses” of the Gospel of John (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). An editorial comment inserted at John 7:39 identifies this Paraclete with the Holy Spirit, who was to come after Jesus’ glorification. The Evangelist portrays the Paraclete as a teacher of truth, a reminder of Jesus’ teachings, a witness to Jesus, and a source of conviction in the world. Such activities may suggest a general meaning such as “Helper” or “Supporter.” Various parallels to the Paraclete have been suggested, including Michael and the Spirit of Truth from Qumran documents, the angelus interpres of apocalyptic literature, and the successor motif in the OT (Joshua/Moses, Elisha/Elijah). Such parallels may illuminate the character of the Paraclete, but primary emphasis should fall upon the Johannine contexts.

Bibliography. R. E. Brown, “The Paraclete in the Fourth Gospel,” NTS 13 (1966-67): 113-32; K. Grayston, “The Meaning of PARAKLªTOS,” JSNT 13 (1981): 67-82; G. Johnston, The Spirit-Paraclete in the Gospel of John. SOTSMS 12 (Cambridge, 1970).

Paul Anthony Hartog

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

PARACLETE

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)