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Paraclete

The Paraclete (from the Greek paraklētos, meaning "one called alongside" or "advocate") is a term in Christian theology denoting the Holy Spirit as a divine helper, comforter, counselor, and intercessor for believers, as promised by Jesus in the New Testament. Etymologically derived from para ("beside") and kaleō ("to call"), the word emphasizes a supportive presence invoked for aid, originally carrying legal connotations of an advocate or defender in ancient Greek usage. In the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to the Paraclete as "another advocate" whom he will send from the Father after his departure, highlighting its roles in teaching all things, reminding disciples of Jesus' words, testifying about Christ, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and glorifying Jesus by declaring what is his (John 14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7). The term appears exclusively in Johannine literature, with four instances applying to the Holy Spirit and one in 1 John 2:1 designating Jesus himself as an advocate interceding for sinners before the Father. This depiction portrays the Paraclete as the continued embodiment of Christ's presence, empowering and guiding the early Christian community amid persecution and spiritual challenges. Beyond its scriptural usage, the Paraclete has influenced , hymnody, and , symbolizing divine consolation and advocacy, though interpretations vary across denominations in emphasizing its personal or functional aspects. The term is also interpreted in , where some scholars identify the Paraclete with the Prophet Muhammad as foretold by (Quran 61:6).

Etymology and Linguistic Roots

Greek Origins

The term Paraclete originates from the word paráklētos (παράκλητος), a verbal adjective derived from the preposition pará (παρά), meaning "beside" or "alongside," and the verb kaleîn (καλεῖν), meaning "to call." This combination literally conveys the sense of "one called alongside" or "called to aid," emphasizing proximity and summons for assistance. In usage, paráklētos primarily denoted a legal or who stands beside an individual in times of need, carrying connotations of an , intercessor, , or helper. The term evoked the image of someone summoned to provide , often in judicial contexts where they would plead or defend a cause, as seen in classical . Pre-Christian attestations of paráklētos were rare, with one notable instance in the Septuagint's translation of Job 16:2, where the plural paraklētores (παρακλήτορες) translates the Hebrew term for "comforters," describing Job's friends as ineffective sources of solace. The word's etymological roots trace back to classical Greek, where it appeared sporadically in legal writings such as those of , but it remained uncommon in broader literature until the Koine period, showing continuity in meaning without significant semantic shift. This scarcity highlights its specialized role prior to wider adoption.

Latin and Other Influences

The Greek term paraklētOS, meaning "one called alongside," was adapted into Latin through both transliteration as paraclitus and as advocatus, emphasizing its role in legal . Scholar Lochlan Shelfer (2009) argues that paraklētOS functions as a precise of the Latin advocatus, referring to an individual of elevated social status who intervenes on behalf of a in courts, thereby integrating Greek linguistic elements with established juridical . This adaptation underscores the term's alignment with concepts of and , where such figures were essential in navigating legal disputes. Potential influences on paraklētOS also extend to Hebrew and equivalents in intertestamental literature, particularly terms denoting intercessors or helpers. For instance, Aramaic Targums from this period employ borrowings like prqlyt (a direct adaptation of the Greek) alongside native concepts of divine assistance, echoing such as ezer ("helper") used for intercessory figures in texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls and . These parallels suggest a cross-linguistic exchange in the Hellenistic Jewish context, where Aramaic served as a bridge for translating and interpreting roles of and . Broader Indo-European linguistic parallels further illuminate the term's evolution, with its components tracing to Proto-Indo-European roots: *per- ("beside" or "forward") for the prefix and *kelə- ("to call" or "summon") for the verbal base, akin to constructions in other branches like pra-karoti (to make forward) or Latin vocare (to call). In Roman rhetoric, this legal connotation endured, as advocatus embodied the oratorical advocate who employed persuasive speech in forensic settings, preserving the term's associative power across Indo-European legal traditions.

Early Historical Contexts

In Classical Greek Usage

In classical Greek, the term paráklētos (παράκλητος), meaning "one called to aid," appears infrequently and is confined almost exclusively to legal and forensic contexts, where it refers to a or summoned to support a party in . According to the , it functions substantively as a ", ," with attestations limited to judicial rather than broader literary or everyday usage. A prominent example occurs in Demosthenes' Oration 19 ("On the False Embassy," 343 BCE), section 1, where he employs the plural tōn paraklētōn to describe advocates whose "importunity and party spirit" advance private ambitions at the expense of public in Athenian proceedings. Here, Demosthenes critiques these figures for undermining the of , portraying them as influential supporters who intercede on behalf of litigants or speakers. The paráklētos served as a procedural helper in Athenian oratory and jurisprudence, often providing rhetorical assistance, counsel, or even supplementary speeches to bolster the primary litigant's case, though this role differed from the modern defense attorney by emphasizing collaborative aid over adversarial representation. Another attestation appears in a fragment of Lycurgus (Fr. 102), reinforcing its application to courtroom supporters. Before the Hellenistic era, paráklētos shows no significant presence in philosophical or religious texts, highlighting its niche forensic role within classical Athenian legal practice.

In Jewish Traditions

In Jewish traditions, the concept of the paraclete, derived from paraklētós meaning "" or "intercessor," was adopted during the without a direct equivalent in , largely through the influence of the Septuagint's Greek translations and broader Greco-Roman legal terminology. This adaptation reflected ideas of before in a divine setting, where human or figures pleaded for , , or covenant renewal amid judgment. Such notions emerged prominently in literature, emphasizing advocacy as a mechanism for Israel's and , often patterned after legal prayers that invoked scriptural merit or patriarchal legacy. Philo of Alexandria, a key figure in Hellenistic , employed paraklētós to describe divine or human mediators who facilitate moral and soteriological progress. In De Specialibus Legibus I.237, he portrays the paraclete as an aid to the soul's ethical advancement, interceding in heavenly contexts to secure , while critiquing corrupt human advocates. Philo further connects this to priestly roles, suggesting the high priest's virtuous son serves as a paraclete to procure pardon for sins on behalf of the world (Vita Mosis II.134). These usages blend and influences with , positioning the or conscience as intercessory forces that bridge humanity and the divine. In later , such as the and midrashim, paracletic expanded to include human figures like and angels, as well as abstract entities like , functioning as defenders in or . is depicted as a paradigmatic who pleads 's case post-Golden Calf, standing "in the breach" and arguing from to avert destruction (Exodus Rabbah 42-44; Numbers 14:11-19; Babylonian , 88b). Angels, particularly archangels like , serve as patrons interceding against accusers during crises (1 Enoch 9:1-6; Testament of Levi 5:1-7). and charity are explicitly termed "paracletes," with charity hailed as a "great paraclete" reconciling to ( Peah 4:21; Babylonian , 32a, citing Job 33:23-24). These motifs underscore a where intercessors invoke merit to shift toward mercy, especially in contexts like the festival.

The Paraclete in Christianity

Biblical Appearances

The term Paraclete (Greek: paraklētos) appears five times in the Johannine literature of the New Testament, referring to a divine advocate or helper. In John 14:16, Jesus promises, "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever," indicating a future companion sent by the Father at Jesus' request. This is followed in John 14:26 by the identification of the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit: "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." The references continue in John 15:26, where Jesus states, "When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me," emphasizing the Paraclete's role in bearing witness. In John 16:7, Jesus explains the necessity of his departure: "But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you." The final occurrence is in 1 John 2:1, applying the term to Jesus himself: "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." These passages occur within ' farewell discourse in the Gospel of John, particularly John 14:15-27, where he prepares his disciples for his impending departure and the subsequent arrival of the Paraclete to provide ongoing guidance and presence after his . The Greek term paraklētos (Strong's G3875), meaning one called alongside to aid, is used consistently across all five instances, denoting an intercessor or counselor without variation in form.

Theological and Scholarly Interpretations

In patristic theology, the Paraclete is consistently identified as the , sent by as "another Paraclete" (John 14:16), with himself understood as the first and primary Paraclete whose visible presence would be succeeded by the Spirit's abiding role. This interpretation, emphasizing the Spirit's function as , teacher, and sanctifier, is articulated in early writings, where the Paraclete's mission continues and glorifies ' work among the disciples. Scholars such as have further elucidated this in the Johannine context, portraying the Paraclete as the ongoing presence of , enabling the community's witness after his departure. Similarly, George Johnston argues that the Spirit-Paraclete exalts as the final , operating as divine power that interprets and applies his teachings to believers. Lawrence J. Lutkemeyer reinforces this by highlighting the Paraclete's role in convicting the world and perfecting the disciples through sanctification. Scholarly debates surrounding the Paraclete often center on its prophetic dimensions, particularly whether it facilitates ongoing or primarily provides ecclesial guidance within the . Eugene M. Boring's analysis posits that the Paraclete's portrayal draws from early Christian prophetic traditions, functioning as a speaking agent that testifies to , declares future events, and empowers the 's proclamation, thus bridging the with the post-resurrection era. This view underscores the Paraclete's verbs of speech and action—such as teaching, reminding, and glorifying—as reflective of prophetic ministry, enabling believers to receive and interpret new insights aligned with ' words (:26; 16:13-14). While some interpretations limit the Paraclete to internal communal edification, others, like Boring's, emphasize its outward prophetic thrust, influencing how the guides the amid eschatological tensions. Historically, the Paraclete concept has informed Christian institutions and , extending its theological implications into practical devotion. In the 12th century, founded the Abbey of the Paraclete near Nogent-sur-Seine around 1122 as an for scholarly retreat, later entrusting it to and her nuns after his tenure as abbot of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys; the name invoked the as , symbolizing solace amid Abelard's personal trials and the abbey's role in preserving theological discourse. In liturgical tradition, the Paraclete appears in the , a Catholic prayer of reparation composed in 1797 by the Jesuit priest Luigi Felici, where the invocation "Blessed be the , the Paraclete" affirms the Spirit's consoling and sanctifying presence in .

The Paraclete in Islam

Quranic References

In Surah (61:6), the records , son of , addressing the Children of and announcing a messenger to come after him named , confirming previous scriptures like the and bringing glad tidings. The name derives from the root ḥ-m-d, signifying "the most praised" or "the praiseworthy," and is understood in Islamic tradition as an epithet for Prophet Muhammad. This verse forms the primary Quranic basis for linking the Paraclete concept to , with some scholarly interpretations positing an etymological connection to the Greek term paraklētos (Paraclete, meaning "" or "") from the Gospel of John. Specifically, it is argued that paraklētos may represent a corruption of periklytos, an adjective meaning "famous," "illustrious," or "much praised," which aligns semantically with through early Greek- linguistic exchanges. However, this theory lacks support in surviving ancient manuscripts and is disputed by most biblical scholars, who interpret the Paraclete as the . The Quran contains no direct equivalent to "Paraclete," reflecting its revelation in without borrowing foreign terms; instead, potential influences are traced to Christian texts, where paraqlīṭā (a rendering of Paraclete) appears in pre-Islamic translations of the Gospels, possibly informing the prophetic announcement. Beyond 61:6, the Quran offers implicit allusions to the Paraclete-like role of a future through broader references to divine guidance and succession among prophets, such as in Al-Ahzab (33:40), which describes as the "," implying a culminating figure for humanity. Similarly, mentions of the (Rūḥ al-Qudus) aiding prophets like in Al-Baqarah (2:87) and Al-Ma'idah (5:110) evoke themes of advocacy and support, though these are tied to ' era rather than a post- . In contrast to the Christian biblical Paraclete as a spiritual entity, the Quranic framework emphasizes as a human delivering .

Historical and Interpretive Developments

In the early Islamic tradition, interpretations of the Paraclete began to evolve shortly after the Quranic reference in Surah As-Saff (61:6), where is depicted as announcing a messenger named . By the , the scholar (d. 150/767) played a pivotal role in linking the Paraclete from the to , adapting an Arabic version of :23–16:1 to portray the figure as "al-Munḥamanna" (the praised one) or a , thereby identifying it as a of as the foretold comforter. This adaptation drew from a source but reframed the Paraclete's role to align with Islamic prophetic succession, emphasizing 's arrival as the fulfillment of divine promise without initially alleging textual corruption. As Islamic scholarship developed, debates emerged regarding potential textual interpolations in the Christian gospels, influenced by the broader Quranic notion of scriptural alteration () in verses such as 5:13 and 5:41. These discussions shaped views on why the explicit of as the Paraclete was obscured, with some early scholars positing semantic misinterpretations rather than outright changes, while later medieval thinkers increasingly invoked to explain discrepancies between the Quranic announcement and text. Ahadith further reinforced this prophetic succession, such as narrations in collections like those of al-Bukhari and Muslim describing as the final messenger who completes the line of prophets from to , thereby supporting the Paraclete's identification as his successor without direct reference to gospel alterations. In medieval exegesis, variations in highlighted a firm rejection of the Christian identification of the Paraclete as the , favoring instead. The prominent scholar ibn Jarir (d. 310/923) in his comprehensive commentary, Jami' al-Bayan fi Ta'wil al-Qur'an, interpreted "Ahmad" in 61:6 as one of 's names, underscoring the Paraclete's human prophetic attributes—such as teaching and testifying—over pneumatological ones, solidifying this view in Sunni traditions. Additionally, Ali (d. c. 860), an early Muslim scholar and convert from , argued through that the numerical value of "Paraclete" in corresponds to " ibn Abd Allah," thus affirming the figure as the prophesied prophet.

Comparative and Modern Perspectives

Interfaith Comparisons

The concept of the Paraclete manifests shared themes of advocacy and divine assistance in , positioning it as a post-Jesus and who empowers believers in truth and . In both faiths, this figure addresses the absence left by Christ's departure, offering ongoing against spiritual adversity and facilitating access to divine . These parallels a common prophetic succession motif, where the Paraclete-like entity continues Jesus's of and consolation. A core divergence lies in the Paraclete's identity and nature: Christianity identifies it as the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, an eternal divine advocate who indwells believers for empowerment and intercession, as depicted in John 14:16–26. Islam, conversely, associates the Paraclete with the prophet Muhammad, the human messenger foretold as Ahmad in Quran 61:6, who provides final guidance through the Quran without Trinitarian implications. This contrast highlights Christianity's emphasis on immanent divine presence versus Islam's focus on prophetic finality. Historical contentions over these interpretations fueled 9th-century Christian-Islamic polemics, particularly around John 14–16 and Quran 61:6. Early Muslim scholars like Ibn Isḥāq (d. 150/767) adapted Aramaic Gospel texts to portray the Paraclete as Muhammad, the "spirit of truth" announcing justice. By the 9th century, ʿAlī al-Ṭabarī (d. c. 860) advanced this in apologetic works, claiming biblical prophecy of Muhammad to counter Christian exclusivity, while Christians rebutted it as a distortion of the Holy Spirit's role. These debates reflected broader efforts to legitimize each tradition's claims using shared scriptures. Non-Western perspectives broaden this analysis beyond Western-centric frameworks. views the Paraclete () as actively interceding in the , descending to sanctify the and foster theosis, uniting the in divine and emphasizing over . In Sufi Islam, Muhammad's intercessory role—tied to his identification as —extends to mystical , where the Prophet aids believers' spiritual ascent and pleads on , mirroring the Paraclete's comforting through a prophetic lens.

Contemporary Applications and Debates

In recent Christian-Muslim interfaith dialogues post-2020, the Paraclete's interpretation has surfaced as a key point for reconciliation, with scholars advocating comparative to bridge differing views on its identity. For instance, at the Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies' Scriptural Reasoning sessions in , participants engaged with Johannine texts including the Paraclete promises, exploring mutual understandings to reduce historical tensions. A 2025 analysis highlights ongoing Muslim claims that the Paraclete in John 14:26 refers to , contrasted with Christian rejections, yet proposes these debates as opportunities for peace-building through shared ethical emphases on advocacy. Such forums, including Vatican-supported initiatives under , extend Francis-era efforts by incorporating scriptural motifs like the Paraclete to foster amid global conflicts. Emerging debates in global highlight Pentecostal emphases on the Paraclete as the Spirit's active , particularly in non- settings where it drives and charismatic renewal. Pentecostal theologians underscore the Spirit's role in empowering marginalized communities, as seen in and Latin American movements, yet critique older sources for underrepresenting these dynamics. These debates reveal gaps in prior scholarship, particularly the scarcity of non- perspectives on the Paraclete's role in modern religious .

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