AP

John 15:26  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.

The word ‘Advocate’ translates the Greek word ‘parakletos’ which literally means to ‘be called alongside’, so a ‘Paraklete’ is ‘one called alongside’.  It therefore has several different applications in English.  It is the title Jesus gave to the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity.

He ‘comes alongside’ us for a whole host of very good reasons, and so is translated in many different ways in our English Bibles, all of which are quite legitimate and significant: ‘Comforter’ (KJV); Helper (NEB, NKJV, ESV); ‘Counsellor’ (RSV, NIV1984); ‘Advocate’ (JB, NRSV, NIV2011, NLT), and ‘Friend’ (TEV/GNB, The Message, NASB).

Jesus’ words to his disciples, on this his last night with them before his death on the. cross, give us a wonderful insight into our understanding of the Biblical Doctrine of the Trinity.  Jesus, the Son, knows that he is returning the Father, from whose presence he had come to earth in obedience to the Father’s will, to die in our place as our Saviour, and, in returning to heaven promises that he will, with the Father, send the Holy Spirit into all whom the Father has called and for whose sins the Son will die, to do all the things a ‘paraklete’ does: to be our friend and to turn us from being his enemies into being his friends, to counsel and guide us in the ways of God in the path of truth (as opposed to the ways of man in a world so much under the influence of Satan, the ‘father of lies’ – John 8:44), to comfort us in times of trial and discouragement, to help us in times of weakness, to advocate for us at the bar of God’s justice when our sins condemn us, even to convict us of our sin and its consequences when we go astray (John 16:8), and ultimately to point us to Jesus as Saviour.  Perhaps this wide range of parakletic application is why we need so many English translations to get the full picture of the Holy Spirit’s work!

I, for one, can testify that during the seven decades I have known Jesus as my own Saviour I have experienced the Holy Spirit’s ministry to my stumbling, fumbling heart in all the capacities covered by the English translations, and I am so thankful for the way he keeps pointing me to Jesus.  “Our blest Redeemer, ere he breathed his tender last farewell, a Guide, a Comforter, bequeathed with us to dwell.  He came in tongues of living flame to teach, convince, subdue; unseen as rushing wind he came, as viewless too.  He comes sweet influence to impart, a gracious, willing guest, while he can find one humble heart wherein to rest.  And every virtue we possess, and every victory won, and every thought of holiness, are his alone.  Spirit of purity and grace, our failing strength renew; and make our hearts your dwelling place, and worthier you.”  (Harriet Auber)

– Bruce Christian