paracletus

Latin > English

paracletus paracleti N M :: advocate, defender, protector, helper, comforter; (appelation for Holy Ghost)

Wikipedia EN

Paraclete (Greek: παράκλητος, Latin: paracletus) means advocate or helper. In Christianity, the term "paraclete" most commonly refers to the Holy Spirit.

Paraclete comes from the Koine Greek word παράκλητος (paráklētos). A combination of "para" (beside/alongside) and "kalein" (to call), the word first appears in the Bible in John 14:16. John Muddiman and John Barton further explain the development of the meaning of this term;

The word parakletos is a verbal adjective, often used of one called to help in a lawcourt. In the Jewish tradition the word was transcribed with Hebrew letters and used for angels, prophets, and the just as advocates before God's court. The word also acquired the meaning of 'one who consoles' (cf. Job 16:2, Theodotion's and Aquila's translations; the LXX has the correct word parakletores). It is probably wrong to explain the Johannine parakletos on the basis of only one religious background. The word is filled with a complex meaning: the Spirit replaces Jesus, is an advocate and a witness, but also consoles the disciples.

The term is not common in non-Jewish texts. The best known use is by Demosthenes:

Citizens of Athens, I do not doubt that you are all pretty well aware that this trial has been the center of keen partisanship and active canvassing, for you saw the people who were accosting and annoying you just now at the casting of lots. But I have to make a request which ought to be granted without asking, that you will all give less weight to private entreaty or personal influence than to the spirit of justice and to the oath which you severally swore when you entered that box. You will reflect that justice and the oath concern yourselves and the commonwealth, whereas the importunity and party spirit of advocates serve the end of those private ambitions which you are convened by the laws to thwart, not to encourage for the advantage of evil-doers. (Demosthenes, On the False Embassy 19:1)

In the Greek New Testament the word is most prominent in the Johannine writings. It appears in the Gospel of John where it may be translated into English as "counselor", "helper", “advocate”, or "comforter".

The New Testament Studies, a peer-reviewed academic journal published by Cambridge University Press, describes a "striking similarity" between the defined attributes of what the Paraclete is, and is to do, and what the outcome of Christian prophecy has spoken to, explaining the Paraclete as the post-Passover gift of the Holy Spirit. "The Paraclete represents the Spirit as manifested in a particular way, as a pneumatic Christian speech charisma. Every verb describing the ministry of the Paraclete is directly related to his speech function."

The early church identified the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit. In first-century Jewish and Christian understanding, the presence of the Holy Spirit is to claim rebirth of prophecy.

During his period as a hermit in the mid-12th century, Peter Abelard dedicated his chapel to the Paraclete because "I had come there as a fugitive and, in the depths of my despair, was granted some comfort by the grace of God."

Latin > English (Lewis & Short)

părā̆clētus: (ĕ scanned short, Prud. Cath. 5, 160; id. στεφ. 10, 430) or părā̆clī-tus (ĭ scanned short, Prud. Perieg. 2622), i, m., = παράκλητος.
I An advocate, defender, helper, protector, comforter, Tert. Verg. Vel. 1; id. Anim. 55; Res. Carn. f.: Vulg. Johan. 14, 16; 15, 26.—
II One of the œons of Valentinian, Tert. adv. Val. 8.

Latin > German (Georges)

paraclētus, ī, m. (παράκλητος), der Beistand, Schützer, Lehrer, Tröster, Fürbitter, Tert. de vel. virg. 1 u.a. Eccl.

Translations

Bulgarian: закрилник; Dhivehi: ބާރްޤަލީޠު‎; Dutch: parakleet; Esperanto: parakleto; French: paraclet; German: Paraklet; Ancient Greek: παράκλητος; Modern: παράκλητος; Latin: paracletus; Persian: فارقلیط‎; Polish: paraklet; Portuguese: paráclito, paracleto; Russian: паракле́т; Spanish: paráclito; Swedish: paraklet; Turkish: paraklit