Paraklētos

The term paraklētos only occurs in the nt writings associated with the apostle John. In secular contexts, the Greek word indicated a legal representative or lawyer who would intercede before the court on behalf of someone else.

The Gospel of John assigns the title of paraklētos to the Holy Spirit (John 14:16–17; 14:26; 15:26). The word occurs four times in the context of Jesus’ farewell conversation with His disciples (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). During this discourse, Jesus promises the disciples that He will send another paraklētos to be in them and with them forever (John 14:16–17), implying that Jesus has already served as a paraklētos for His followers. Thus, as “another” like Jesus, the paraklētos will mediate the presence of Christ. The paraklētos’ role of mediating the presence of Christ is also suggested in Jesus’ post-resurrection promise to manifest Himself to those who love Him, an appearance that the world will not be able to see (John 14:17–21). The paraklētos’ task of teaching the disciples and reminding them of all that Jesus taught them (John 14:26) further mediates Jesus’ presence with the disciples after His resurrection and ascension, providing them with comfort and consolation in Jesus’ absence.

The connotations of paraklētos as one who acts as an advocate for another are present in the Gospel of John when the term was employed to describe one who was given to testify, argue or advocate alongside the disciples to the world concerning God’s saving truth, manifested in the person of Jesus (John 15:25–26). The paraklētos is further described as a prosecutor, exposing the world with respect to its sin of unbelief (John 16:7–11).

The only other occurrence of the word is in 1 John 2:1 where Jesus serves as a paraklētos, advocating in the court of heaven with the Father, on the sinner’s behalf.

David Seal