"The Paraclete equated with the Holy Spirit, is the only mediator of the word of the exalted Christ." - M.E. Boring
"2.2.2.4. Holy Spirit and the Paraclete
Having seen that pneuma here could only be the Holy Spirit, we proceed to investigate the relationship between the Spirit and the truth. We begin our investigation from the statements of Jesus, which tell the readers that the Paraclete is the Spirit of Truth (14:17; 15:26; 16;13) and that the Paraclete is the Holy Spirit (14:26).
Although the Paraclete theme is complex, a closer look at the declaration of Jesus regarding the sending of the Spirit/Paraclete reveals the relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Paraclete... Making a study on the Paraclete in the Fourth Gospel, in his doctoral dissertation, E. Franck notes that the Paraclete is connected with the Spirit. He holds the idea of the Paraclete as a divine, but abstract power. ‘The Spirit is the power, which renews, giving life and strength (ch. 3:5f; 6:63; 20:22). True worship is done in the Spirit (4:23)’. Regarding the Paraclete, Jesus says: ‘I will pray to the Father and he will give you another Paraclete, that may be with you for ever, the Spirit of truth...’ (14:16-17). It is clear here that the word ‘Paraclete’ is applied to the Holy Spirit/the Spirit of truth. However, John 14:26 does actually identify the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit...
There is a close resemblance between the Paraclete and Jesus in many aspects especially their function. These similarities in function are so striking that they cannot be taken as coincidences. For John these similarities should serve some purpose and logically, his purpose is to show the Paraclete to be the continuing presence of Jesus exercising a ministry that is parallel to that of Jesus himself even after he has gone from the world."
Benny Thettayil, In Spirit and Truth
Peeters (October 2007), page 139-147
Note: Speaking of the Johannine portrayal of Jesus and the Paraclete, M.E. Boring, “The Influence of the Christian Prophesy on the Johannine Portrayal of the Paraclete and Jesus,’ NTS 25 (1978-79) 114, 120, states regarding the equation of Paraclete and the Holy Spirit: “The Paraclete equated with the Holy Spirit, is the only mediator of the word of the exalted Christ”. Boring would make another equation by saying that Jesus was the first Paraclete and the second Paraclete is the Spirit.
The Paraclete Shri Mataji
"He resurrected himself so that you all could be resurrected, so you have to, today, thank Him for giving you the lead of resurrection and in this lifetime only, you are going to be resurrected and you are going to see, with your own eyes, your resurrection as the disciples saw the resurrection of Christ. This is being all promised and this must happen to all of you."
The Paraclete Shri Mataji
The Meaning of Easter, London, UK
Easter Sunday—April 6, 1980
"Jesus lived on this earth in one time in one area; the Paraclete dwells within every believer for all times (14:15-17). Thus the Paraclete is a more intimate and enduring presence. It should now be clear why in discussing Johannine ecclesiology, we may see the Paraclete concept as another facet of John’s emphasis on the relationship of the individual to Jesus. Just as Jesus represents on earth the Father who sent him, the Paraclete represents on earth Jesus ... Jesus said; 'Whoever has seen me has seen the Father' (14:9); it would be equally possible for the Johannine Jesus to say, 'Whoever has received the Paraclete has received me' (14:17)" (Brown 1984, 107)
"The supreme purpose of the Spirit's work is the glorification of Jesus (16:14). By the Paraclete, the fullness of the divine life that is brought in Jesus is made known and accessible to redeemed humanity." (Stevic, 2011, 289)
"Declare to all the nations now that I am the Holy Ghost and I have come for this special time, that is, the Resurrection Time."
The Paraclete Shri Mataji
Sydney, Australia—March 21, 1983
"The role of the Spirit becomes more explicit in the second promise of the Paraclete (25-26), as now [the Paraclete] is described specifically as the 'Holy Spirit.' The rudimentary Trinitarian implications of 14:25-26 are inescapable. The Father will send the Spirit in the name of Jesus. Therefore this spiritual revelation promised by Jesus is in fact the effort of God himself (in every dimension) working for our benefit. Jesus now emphasizes the conserving and teaching roles of the Spirit. The concept of 'remembering' occurs multiple times in the gospel (2:17, 22; 12:16; 14:26; 15:20; 16:4, 21) and is linked to the 'misunderstanding' of the disciples in the gospel. During the earthly ministry of Jesus, understanding was difficult. But now Jesus promises, the Spirit-Paraclete will recall the things he has done and said and fix them in the minds of his followers. We can see this at work in John’s own gospel. After Jesus cleansed the temple (2:13-23) John adds the editorial comment, “After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken” (2:22). It was the resurrection—and its gift of the Spirit—that now provided the meaning of Jesus’ deed. This inspiration thus does not bring forward new revelations about Jesus, but simple gives correct applications and meanings for what he did in history. Just as Jesus’ primary work was revealing the Father (1:18), so now the work of the Spirit-Paraclete is revealing the Jesus 'of history' to his followers." (Evans 2005, 129)
THE APOCALYPSE OF THE SPIRIT-PARACLETE
Fulfillment of the promised divine eschatological instruction
"It's better to tell you after Realization that I am the Holy Ghost – no doubt. I am the one about which Christ has talked."The Paraclete Shri Mataji
"Jesus therefore predicts that God will later send a human being to Earth to take up the role defined by John .i.e. to be a prophet who hears God’s words and repeats his message to man."
M. Bucaille, The Bible, the Qur'an, and Science
"And when Jesus foreannounced another Comforter, He must have intended a Person as distinct and helpful as He had been."
F. B. Meyer, Love to the Utmost
"The Paraclete has a twofold function: to communicate Christ to believers and, to put the world on trial"
Robert Kysar, John The Meverick Gospel
"But She—the Spirit, the Paraclete...—will teach you everything."
Danny Mahar, Aramaic Made EZ)
"Grammatical nonsense but evidence of the theological desire to defeminize the Divine."
Lucy Reid, She Changes Everything
"The functions of the Paraclete spelled out in verses 13-15... are all acts of open and bold speaking in the highest degree."
David Fleer, Preaching John's Gospel: The World It Imagines
"The reaction of the world to the Paraclete will be much the same as the world’s reaction was to Jesus."
Berard L. Marthaler, The Creed: The Apostolic Faith in Contemporary Theology
Bultmann calls the "coming of the Redeemer an 'eschatological event,' 'the turning-point of the ages."
G. Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament
"The Paraclete equated with the Holy Spirit, is the only mediator of the word of the exalted Christ."
(M.E. Boring) Benny Thettayil, In Spirit and Truth
"The divine Paraclete, and no lessor agency, must show the world how wrong it was about him who was in the right."
Daniel B. Stevick , Jesus and His Own: A Commentary on John 13-17
Stephen Smalley asserts that "the Spirit-Paraclete ... in John’s Gospel is understood as personal, indeed, as a person."
Marianne Meye Thompson, The God of the Gospel of John
"The Messiah will come and the great age of salvation will dawn (for the pious)"
Eric Eve, The Jewish context of Jesus' Miracles
"The remembrance is to relive and re-enact the Christ event, to bring about new eschatological decision in time and space."
Daniel Rathnakara Sadananda, The Johannine Exegesis of God
"The Spirit acts in such an international situation as the revealer of 'judgment' on the powers that rule the world."
Michael Welker, God the Spirit
The Paraclete's "appearance means that sin, righteousness, and judgment will be revealed."
Georg Strecker, Theology of the New Testament
"While the Spirit-Paraclete is the true broker, the brokers they rely on are impostors."
T. G. Brown, Spirit in the writings of John
"The pneumatological activity ... of the Paraclete ... may most helpfully be considered in terms of the salvific working of the hidden Spirit."
Michael Welker, The work of the Spirit
"The pneuma is the peculiar power by which the word becomes the words of eternal life."
Robert Kysar, Voyages with John: Charting the Fourth Gospel
"The gift of peace, therefore, is intimately associated with the gift of the Spirit-Paraclete"
Francis J. Moloney, The Gospel of John
"This utopian hope, even when modestly expressed, links Jesus and the prophets to a much wider history of human longing."
Harvey Cox, The Future of Faith
"Because of the presence of the Paraclete in the life of the believer, the blessings of the end-times—the eschaton—are already present"
Robert Kysar, John
"They are going, by the Holy Spirit’s power, to be part of the greatest miracle of all, bringing men to salvation."
Robert E. Picirilli, The Randall House Bible Commentary
"The Kingdom of God stands as a comprehensive term for all that the messianic salvation included... is something to be sought here and now (Mt. 6:33) and to be received as children receive a gift (Mk. 10:15 = Lk. 18:16-17)."
G. Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament
NOTE: If this page was accessed during a web search you may wish to browse www.adishakti.org/ where this topic or related issues are discussed in detail to promote global peace, religious harmony, and spiritual development of humanity:
Disclaimer: Our material may be copied, printed and distributed by referring to this site. This site also contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available to our readers under the education and research provisions of "fair use" in an effort to advance freedom of inquiry for a better understanding of religious, spiritual and inter-faith issues. The material on this site is distributed without profit. If you wish to use copyrighted material for purposes other than "fair use" you must request permission from the copyright owner.