Comforter

one of the titles by which the Holy Spirit is designated in the New Testament, Joh 14:16; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26. The name has no doubt a reference to his peculiar office in the economy of redemption; namely, that of imparting consolation to the hearts of Christ’s disciples, which he effects by “taking of the things that are Christ’s,” and explaining them; or, in other words, by illuminating their minds as to the meaning of the Scriptures, assuring them of the Saviour’s love, bringing to their recollection his consolatory sayings, and filling their souls with peace and joy in believing them.—The word has also been rendered Advocate, Helper, Monitor, Teacher, &c. The first does not apply to the office of the Spirit; and the others are not so well supported by the connection of our Lord’s discourse, which favours the translation, Comforter; because whatever gracious offices the Holy Spirit was to perform for the disciples, the great end of all was to remove that sorrow which the approach of the departure of Christ had produced, and to render their joy full and complete.

Comforter (Paracletus). The word thus rendered is applied to Christ in 1Jn 2:1. Indeed, in that famous passage in which Christ promises the Holy Spirit as a paraclete to His sorrowing disciples, He takes the title Himself: ’I will send you another paraclete’ (Joh 14:16), implying that He was Himself one, and that on His departure He would send another. The question then is, in what sense does Christ denominate Himself and the Spirit sent from Him and the Father, paraclete? Origen explains the term where it is applied to the Holy Spirit by ’Consolator,’ while in 1Jn 2:1, he adopts the signification of ’Deprecator.’ Others would translate it ’teacher.’ But as both of these renderings are open to serious objections, the balance is in favor of a third sense, which is that of ’assistant,’ ’helper,’ ’advocate’ (intercessor). This view is supported by Rom 8:26, and, which is still more to the purpose, is appropriate to all the passages in the New Testament where the word occurs. The Authorized Version renders the word by ’advocate’ in 1Jn 2:1, but in other places (Joh 14:16; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:7) by ’comforter.’ How much better, however, the more extensive term ’helper’ (including teacher, monitor, advocate) agrees with these passages than the narrow term ’comforter,’ may be shown by a single instance. Jesus says to His disciples, ’I will send you another paraclete’ (Joh 14:16), implying that He Himself had been such to them. But He had not been in any distinguishing sense a ’comforter’ or ’consoler,’ because, having Him present with them, they had not mourned (Mat 9:15). But He had been eminently a helper, in the extensive sense which has been indicated; and such as He had been to them—to teach, to guide, and to uphold—the Holy Spirit would become to them after His removal.

Greek PARACLETE, an advocate, teacher, or consoler. This title is given to our Savior: "We have an advocate (paraclete) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," 1Jn 2:1 . But more frequently it designates the Holy Spirit. He is the "other Comforter," succeeding Christ, the great promised blessing of the Christian church, Joh 14:16,17,26 15:1-27 16:1-33 Luk 24:29 Mal 1:4 . The English word Comforter does not adequately describe the office of the Paraclete, who was not only to console, but to aid and direct them, as Christ had done. The disciples found the promise fulfilled to them. The Comforter aided them when called before councils; guided them into all truth respecting the plan of salvation; brought to their remembrance the words and deeds of Christ; and revealed to them things to come. His presence was accompanied by signal triumphs of grace, and made amends for the absences of Christ. The church is still under the dispensation of the Comforter, and still he convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of the judgement to come.\par

Comforter. Joh 14:16. The name given, by Christ, to the Holy Spirit. The original Greek word is Paraclete, and means first Advocate, a defender, helper, strengthener, as well as comforter.

SEE PARACLETE.

Comforter. The rendering of the Greek paracletos, which strictly means "one called to another;" hence a "helper." The Greek term is applied to Christ: "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1Jn 2:1. Usually it designates the Holy Spirit. He is the "other Comforter," or "Helper," succeeding Christ, the great promised blessing of the Christian church. Joh 14:16-17; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Luk 24:49; Act 1:4. The English word Comforter does not adequately represent the Greek word paracletos, nor fully describe the office of the Holy Spirit. The disciples found the promise fulfilled to them. The Spirit aided them when called before councils; guided them into all truth respecting the plan of salvation; brought to their remembrance the words and deeds of Christ; and revealed to them things to come. His presence was accompanied by signal triumphs of grace, and made amends for the absence of Christ. He is therefore not only a Comforter, but is also a Teacher, Witness, Reprover, and Guide. Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:8; Joh 16:13-14. He is "another Comforter," not in the sense of a different kind of a Comforter or Helper, but of an additional one. The church is still under the guidance of the Comforter. The Holy Spirit still convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

See HOLY SPIRIT.

COMFORTER (παράκλητος).—A term applied to Christ in (Revised Version margin) of 1Jn 2:1, and four times (Joh 14:16; Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:7) to the Holy Spirit. For the meaning of the original and the probable source from which St. John derived it, see art. ‘Paraclete’ in Hasting’s Dictionary of the Bible iii. 665–668. The active sense is confined to ecclesiastical usage, and may have been emphasized by translators, from its appropriateness to the circumstances amidst which the word first occurs in Joh 14:16; but the passive sense may still be traced in relation to the Father and the Son, the Spirit being called and sent by Them to the help of men, as well as for the purpose of witnessing for God at the tribunal of the human reason (Joh 15:26). The English term is, however, quite inadequate. Whilst there is a suggestion of actual consolation in Joh 14:16, the principal points of St. John’s teaching are that the mission of the Spirit is contingent upon the departure of Christ (Joh 16:7), is thenceforward continuous and permanent (Joh 14:16), and includes functions in regard to both classes of men, the disciples and ‘the world.’ The latter He will convict (Joh 16:8-11) in respect of the three decisive matters of sin, righteousness, and judgment. With still a significant preference for words of an intellectual bearing, He will continue and complete the instruction begun by Christ (Joh 14:26), and guide the disciples ‘into all the truth’ (Joh 16:13). See art. Holy Spirit. The predominant cast of these phrases, almost all pointing to mental processes, is in itself a sufficient evidence of the unfitness of the term ‘Comforter,’ for which ‘Paraclete’ (wh. see) might with advantage be substituted.

R. W. Moss.

COMFORTER.—See Advocate.

kum´fẽr-tẽr: This is translation of the word παράκλητος, paráklētos, in the Johannine writings. In the Gospel it occurs in Joh 14:16, Joh 14:26; Joh 15:26; Joh 16:7, and refers to the Holy Spirit. The word means literally, “called to one’s side” for help. The translation “Comforter” covers only a small part of the meaning as shown in the context. The word “Helper” would be a more adequate translation. The Spirit does a great deal for disciples besides comforting them, although to comfort was a part of His work for them. The Spirit guides into truth; indeed, He is called the Spirit of truth. He teaches and quickens the memory of disciples and glorifies Christ in them. He also has a work to do in the hearts of unbelievers, convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment (Jn 14 through 16). The Comforter remains permanently with disciples after He comes in response to the prayers of Christ. The word paraklētos does not occur elsewhere in the Scriptures except in 1Jn 2:1. In Job 16:2 the active form of the word (paraklētos is passive) is found in the plural, where Job calls his friends “miserable comforters.” The word “Comforter” being an inadequate, and the word “Helper” a too indefinite, translation of the word in the Gospel of John, it would probably be best to transfer the Greek word into English in so far as it relates to the Holy Spirit (see PARACLETE).

In 1Jn 2:1 the word paraklētos refers to Christ: “If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Here the translation Advocate is quite correct. As the next verse shows the writer has in mind the intercession of Christ for Christians on the basis of His mediatorial work: “And he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world” (1Jn 2:2). See ADVOCATE; HOLY SPIRIT; PARACLETE.