This word occurs 5 times in the New Testament, all in the writings of John. Four instances are in the Gospel and one in the First Epistle. In the Gospel the in the Epistle, 1 John 2:1. “Paraclete” is simply the Greek word transferred into English. The translation of the word in English Versions of the Bible is “Comforter” in the Gospel, and “Advocate” in the Epistle. The Greek word is παράκλητος, paráklētos, froth the verb παρακαλέω, parakaléō. The word for “Paraclete” is passive in form, and etymologically signifies “called to one’s side.” The active form of the word is παρακλήτωρ, paraklḗtōr, not found in the New Testament but found in Septuagint in Job 16:2 in the plural, and means “comforters,” in the saying of Job regarding the “miserable comforters” who came to him in his distress.
In general the word signifies: (1) a legal advocate, or counsel for defense, (2) an intercessor, (3) a helper, generally. The first, or technical, judicial meaning is that which predominates in classical usage, corresponding to our word “advocate,” “counsel,” or “attorney.” The corresponding Latin word is advocatus, “advocate,” the word applied to Christ in English Versions of the Bible in the translation of the Greek word paraklētos, in 1 John 2:1. There is some question whether the translation “Comforter” in the passages of John’s Gospel in the King James Version and the Revised Version is warranted by the meaning of the word. It is certain that the meaning “comforter” is not the primary signification, as we have seen. It is very probably, however, a secondary meaning of the word, and some of its cognates clearly convey the idea of comfort in certain connections, both in Septuagint and in the New Testament (Genesis 37:35; Zechariah 1:13; Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3, 1:4). In the passage in 2 Corinthians the word in one form or another is used 5 times and in each means “comfort.” In none of these instances, however, do we find the noun “Paraclete,” which we are now considering.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Paraclete, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Helper, Comforter
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.