Advocate

In the Gospel According to John 14:15–21 (NABRE), we encounter Jesus’ well-known description of the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, Paraclete, or helper. This view of the Holy Spirit is essential to the Evangelist’s view of the role of the third person of the Most Holy Trinity, so it’s worthwhile to take a closer look at exactly what the words “advocate” and “paraclete” mean.

The word παράκλητος (parakletos) enters English as paraclete. The Greek word consists of the prefix παρά (para), meaning “beside” or “next to,” and κλητός (kletos), meaning “called” or “invited.” A paraclete literally is “one who is called” or “one who is invited beside.” This word served as a legal term designating one’s defender. The word advocate likewise comes from Latin advocare, “to call to,” another legal term meaning “defender.”

When Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete or Advocate, there are two possible meanings. First, Jesus could be referring to someone called beside us, possibly as a helper. More likely, however, especially in light of the Evangelist John’s tendency to use legalistic language, Jesus means to use the word Paraclete or Advocate in its legal context.

If so, who do you think might be prosecuting us? How is it that the Holy Spirit defends us? What can we do to help the defense build a strong case on our behalf?

related topics: blasphemy; Paraclete; Pentecost; spirit; Trinity

you also may like our study of the Gospel According to John
The Gospel According to John: An Encounter with Grace & Truth, a 25-lesson Catholic Bible study with an imprimatur, examines the Fourth Gospel’s view of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, with special emphasis on the institution of the sacraments of the Church as the means by which Christians are purified and made holy. This recently revised study includes maps and additional commentary, and takes a closer look at the way in which Jesus relates to individual men and women. Click on the book’s cover to view a sample lesson.

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