Last Sunday’s Bible reading was about the Holy Spirit as the “Paraclete,” which was translated in the Gospel of John as “Advocate.” My Greek lexicon indicates the base word means “divider” or “intercessor” or perhaps one who stands beside another. As an attorney, an advocate for my clients, I immediately recognized this as the concept of “defender,” the opposite of the Satan, the tester, the tempter, the prosecutor. (Think of the crime shows where authorities are allowed to use misdirection and even falsehood to try to get people to tell the truth and show their true colors; that’s the job description of the Satan.)
Our on-going Bible study on Revelation is moving through a prophecy of horrible events to be inflicted by God’s angels on the earth and its people before Jesus rides in on a white horse (literally) to clean up the mess, initiate the final judgment, and inaugurate a new world order to be enjoyed only by true believers, so I envision a celestial courtroom with God on the throne (bench) and the Satan and the Paraclete as prosecutor and defense attorney arguing whether a soul will go to bliss or everlasting torment.
One inclusive language rendition of the concept of “Trinity” refers to the Holy Spirit (feminine in Greek) as “Comforter,” but, to the extent that one believes the prophecy in Revelation, the Holy Spirit as Paraclete becomes even more important: the understanding that God does not require us to stand trial alone, but provides a divine defender to intercede, protect and advocate on our behalf. I would call that an example of grace.
Lyn Pickhover, Pondering