Paraclete

For the school of Peter Abelard, see Oratory of the Paraclete.

Paraclete comes from the Koine Greek word παράκλητος (paraklētos, "one who consoles, one who intercedes on our behalf, a comforter or an advocate"). It may reflect a translation of the Hebrew word מְנַחֵם‎ (m^ənaḥḥēm "comforter"). According to Walter Bauer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature: "the technical meaning 'lawyer', 'attorney' is rare." The word appears a few times in the New Testament and, as a title for the Holy Spirit, is used in Christian Pneumatology and Trinitarian theology.

'Paraclete' in Christianity

'Paraclete' appears in the New Testament in the Gospel of John (14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7, 20:22) where it may be translated in English as "Counselor", "Helper", or "Comforter". The Early Church identified the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5,1:8,2:4,2:38) and Christians continue to use Paraclete as a title for the Spirit of God.

In 1 John 2:1 "paraclete" is used to describe the intercessory role of Jesus Christ. And in John 14:16 Jesus says "another paraclete" will come to help his disciples, implying Jesus is the first paraclete.

In Matt 3:10–12 and Luke 3:9–17 John the Baptist says a powerful one coming after him: "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NIV)

Verses like these are often used by Christians in Trinitarian theology to describe how God is revealed to the world and God's role in salvation. According to trinitarian doctrine, the Paraclete or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who among other things provides guidance, consolation and support to people. Other titles for the Holy Spirit include 'Spirit of Truth', Lightfull Spirit of God Almighty, Holy Breath, Almighty Breath, Giver of Life, Lord of Grace, Helper, 'Comforter', 'Counsellor' and 'Supporter'.

Rene Girard, a Christian anthropologist / philosopher, argues that Paraclete ought to be translated as the Defense Attorney who is defending human beings against the assaults of Satan (the Prosecuting Attorney, the Accuser, the fomenter of violence). See Girard's book, I See Satan Fall Like Lightning, pages 189-90, for his argument.

Other uses of 'Paraclete' in Christianity

Some persons including Montanus in the mid-2nd century and Mani (210-276) claimed to be the promised paraclete of John 14:16.

The leading authority on classical Greek (Liddell, which is of course slightly different than biblical Koine Greek) portrays the word Paraclete as an antonym for Diabolos, characterizing the former as a defender and the latter as an accuser. The 'clete' syllable derives from the same etymological origin as 'ecclesia' - the infinitive of which means "to call". By the 'ecclesia', the church is called to assemble. Similarly, the Paraclete is "called" to the side of the one on trial.

The paraclete is to pneuma (the spirit) to hagion (the pure one) often translated as the Holy Spirit. A pneuma can be an emissary, or messenger (angel), but is always a being without a body. At the Baptism of Jesus at the Jordan River, a pneuma (Spirit) descended and remained on Jesus throughout his ministry. Jesus cast out demons by the pneuma. He told Nicodemus "the pneuma moves where he wants to and you are hearing his voice, but do not know where he comes from or where he is going." Before he died, he told his followers that they knew the Pneuma (for he had been speaking through Jesus for three years). Jesus said when he reached heaven, he would petition the father to send another pneuma (pure spirit) to be in them throughout the age. As the first emissary came from God to help Jesus, the second emissary would be commissioned, or sent, by Jesus to help his followers throughout the age. Since Jesus was "The Truth," the second Spirit would be the to pneuma tes aletheias the emissary of Jesus -the Spirit of the Truth.

Two Paracletes are mentioned in the Gospels: they are God. The second paraclete, the Holy Spirit, was sent to clarify the message of Jesus, the parables, and dark sayings, and difficult prophecies about his return. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, enlightens us about the doctrines of salvation, rituals, and prophecies. He came to give a roadmap of the future, and to help the followers understand the words that Jesus spoke.

Paraclete in Islam

Some Muslims identify Muhammad as "the Paraclete" promised by Jesus to his followers in the Gospel of John as another counselor that would come after him : "And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another counselor..." . Muhammad's title "Al-Amin," translated by some as "the Trustworthy," might be compared to the Gospel epithet for the Paraclete as the "Spirit of Truth" . But Muslim scholars disagree that Muhammad is sent as an aswer for Jesus' prayer. But Muhammad, being a physical human, cannot be matched with "Spirit" of truth.

But verse 16 and 17 are often quoted incompletely. John 14:16 tells that Paraclete will be with Christians forever and John 14:17 tells that Paraclete is not visible and live within followers of Jesus.

John 14:26 refers to the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit: "But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things ..." (International Standard Version).

Though Holy Spirit is Angel Gabriel according to Islam and Muhammad is not sent in Jesus' name, it is highly unlikely to place such claims by secular or liberal theologians.

See also

• Holy Spirit
• Christianity and Islam
• Paraclete High School

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Paraclete
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Paraclete