The Holy Spirit comes alongside believers

The Greek word used to refer to the Spirit by John is paraklētos, often translated as Counsellor. It is not used by any other NT author but was widely used before John. Given that the word is capable of several translations, it may be more appropriate to use the transliteration of the Greek (paraclete) rather than offer a translation. 

Nevertheless, several translations could help define characteristics of the Spirit. Fundamentally, the metaphor is intended to leave the reader awestruck by the comprehensive nature of the conscientious compassion of the Spirit for believers.

The term paraklētos is made up of two elements that may provide an insight into its meaning, referring to one who has been called (kaleō) alongside (para) another. Although the breakdown of a word and its etymology may not necessarily reveal its best translation in a given era or context, it can provide some insight into its meaning. 

The word paraklētos was used in various ways in the first century, and these will be explored later. However, a fundamental role of the Spirit is to be ‘alongside’ believers, and he is thus best able to comprehensively support them. He is never so far from them that if they stumble, he will not be able to catch them. 

The term is not intended to define the exact location of the Spirit in relation to the believer. John is not attempting to determine the physical proximity of the Spirit to believers in spatial terms, but to identify that he is as close to them as possible. 

Indeed, in John 14:17, the Spirit is defined as being in the believer while Paul speaks about the believer being in the Spirit (Eph. 2:18). On other occasions, different metaphors will be used of the Spirit in relation to believers in an attempt to explore more fully the comprehensive care of the Spirit for those to whom he is committed. This term paraclete should therefore be understood as offering further reinforcement for this truth.

Several commentators have suggested that John uses the term to identify the Spirit as fundamentally being a comforter or consoler of believers. However, the references in John do not easily reflect this. Indeed, although the initial reference to the Spirit being sent may have been encouraging to the disciples who feared loneliness without Jesus, once the resurrection had occurred, there was no hint of their being despondent or in need of consolation. 

On the contrary, they were anticipating the promise of Jesus being fulfilled in Jerusalem and regularly visited the temple, praising God as they did (Luke 24:53). Thus, although the rsv translates paraklētos as ‘comfort’ (Acts 9:31), there is little to indicate on that occasion that the believers needed comforting by the Spirit. On the contrary, the believers were not discouraged or downhearted but encouraged because the church was being built up (Acts 9:31). 

One reason for the notion of the Spirit being a comforter may go back to the translation of the term by Wycliffe from the Latin comfortare, though even this actually means ‘to be strengthened’ rather than ‘to be comforted’. It is more accurate to view the Spirit as mentoring, counselling, inspiring and encouraging believers, although this may undoubtedly, on occasions, include the act of providing comfort.