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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").^[1] 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) 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.

Paraclete according to Islamic sources and scholars

Some Muslim scholars have argued that the Paraclete, the "other Counselor" is actually referring to Prophet Mohammed. The first one probably being Ibn Ishaq, but also Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi, contemporaries include Dr. Munqidh Saqqar ^[2], Abu Islam (with his own TV Channel in egypt), Kais Al-Kalby^[3], Jamal Al-Badawi^[4]. More modern scholars including Maurice Bucaille, in his book, 'The Bible, Christianity and Science' argue this point more specifically. He argues a consensus Greek translation would translate the term 'Paraclete' as Intercessor. This is based upon the use of the term amongst Hellenstic Jews of the 1st century C.E. The term Intercessor is exactly the description given of the Prophet Mohammad in the Quran. Indeed within the Muslim faith, he is commonly known as the Intercessor, this role to become apparent during the Day of Judgement. In addition, John's gospel states on two occasions that Jesus claimed the Paraclete would exalt him, he will bear witness to me(John 15,26) and when the spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me...(John 16,13-14). Prophet Mohammed continuously praised his predecessor, hence the reason why Jesus is held in such high esteem amongst the Muslim faith. Mohammed is also believed to have been illiterate at the time of divine revelation and this latter verse in John's gospel is seen as confirmation of the identity of the Paraclete, as Mohammed's role is seen purely as a mortal vassal for the Word of God. Thus the Quran is considered to be the unaltered Word of God itself, as revealed via one who does not speak on his own authority. According to Bucaille: "According to the rules of logic therefore, one is brought to see in John's Paraclete a human being, possessing the faculties of hearing and speech formally implied in John's Greek text. Jesus therefore predicts that God will later send a human being to take up the role defined by Jesus via John, i.e. to be a prophet who delivers God's word without any individual ability nor authority, repeating God's message to man."

See also

• Holy Spirit
• Christianity and Islam
• Paraclete High School

External links

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Paraclete
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Paraclete

References