Paraclete

  • Thread starter Thread starter carlysrose
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

carlysrose

Guest
If “Paraclete” is a name given for the Holy Spirit, then why did Jesus insinuate there was more than one?

“I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete.” - John 14.16
 
carlysrose said:
If “Paraclete” is a name given for the Holy Spirit, then why did Jesus insinuate there was more than one?

“I shall ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete.” - John 14.16
Click to expand...
Paraclete means advocate—think “defense lawyer.”

He (Christ Himself) is one Advocate, the Holy Spirit is “another.”
 
Paraclete, meaning literally “called to one’s side”. It is taken to mean “comforter”, “intercessor” or “advocate”.

I have heard that passage being explained as a reference to Christ Himself, by Christ Himself. In other words, Jesus suggests He may ask His Father to provide that His Spirit return after His death, resurrection and ascension. Taken that way, it is quite logical that Jesus would ask His Father to allow Him to continue to grace us directly after His earthly ministry is complete.

Also read 1 John 2:1
My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.
Click to expand...
A reminder that Christ Himself is our Advocate to the Father, and the Apostles understood this.
 
From the Catechism:

692 When he proclaims and promises the coming of the Holy Spirit, Jesus calls him the “Paraclete,” literally, “he who is called to one’s side,” advocatus.18 “Paraclete” is commonly translated by “consoler,” and Jesus is the first consoler.19 The Lord also called the Holy Spirit "the Spirit of truth."20
 
TimothyH said:
Jesus is the first helper/advocate/paraclete.

The Holy Spirit is “Another”.

-Tim-
Click to expand...
So there are multiple paracletes. That poses a problem though, because there is only one Holy Spirit.
 
carlysrose said:
So there are multiple paracletes. That poses a problem though, because there is only one Holy Spirit.
Click to expand...
No. It isn’t a problem at all.

I cannot follow your logic here, so I’ll try to explain it again.

Christ is a Paraclete.

The Holy Spirit is a Paraclete.

Just because we have more than one Paraclete does not mean that there are multiple Holy Spirits.

Maybe I see where you’re coming from. Just maybe.

I think you might be confused because of the word “Paraclete.”

Think of it this way, that word can be either a common noun or a proper noun.

As a proper noun the Holy Spirit is “The Paraclete.” There is only one.

As a common noun, Christ is A Paraclete and the Holy Spirit is A Paraclete.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top