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Major events in Jesus's life in the Gospels
Nativity Baptism Temptation Commission of Disciples and Apostles Sermon on the Mount Miracles Entering Jerusalem Temple incident Great Commandment Anointing Last Supper Promise of the Paraclete Arrest Before the High Priest Before Pilate Death & Resurrection Great Commission Ascension Second Coming Prophecy This box: view • talk • edit

For the school of Peter Abelard, see Oratory of the Paraclete.

Paraclete comes from the Koine Greek word παράκλητος (Parakletos) (Strong's G3875) meaning "one who consoles - a comforter" or "one who intercedes on our behalf - an advocate". According to Walter Bauer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature: "the technical meaning 'lawyer', 'attorney' is rare." The word appears a few times in the New Testament and, as a title for the Holy Spirit, is used in Christian Pneumatology and Trinitarian theology.

'Paraclete' appears in the New Testament in the Gospel of John (14:16, 14:26, 15:26, 16:7), where it may be translated in English as "Counselor", "Helper", or "Comforter". The Early Church identified the Paraclete as the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5,1:8,2:4,2:38) and Christians continue to use Paraclete as a title for God's Spirit.

In 1 John 2:1 "paraclete" is used to describe the intercesory role of Jesus Christ. And in John 14:16 Jesus says "another paraclete" will come to help his disciples, implying Jesus is the first paraclete.

In Matt 3:10-12 and Luke 3:9-17 John the Baptist says a powerful one coming after him: "will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (NIV)

Verses like these are often used by Christians in Trinitarian theology to describe how God is revealed to the world and God's role in salvation. According to trinitarian doctrine, the Paraclete or Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity who among other things provides guidance, consolation and support to people. Other titles for the Holy Spirit include 'Spirit of Truth', Lightfull Spirit of God Almighty, Holy Breath, Almighty Breath, Giver of Life, Lord of Grace, Helper, 'Comforter', 'Counsellor' and 'Supporter'.

Some early Christians may have believed that Jesus himself returned after his death to indwell his followers as the Spirit and Helper.

Some people including Montanus in the mid 2nd Century and Mani (210-276) claimed to be the promised paraclete of John 14:16.

Islam since the 7th Century have identified Muhammad as the Paraclete promised by Jesus. They draw on similarities between the words "Parakletos" and "periklutos", which can be translated as "Ahmad" and is another name used to refer to Muhammad in the Qur'an. The Quranic verse to which Muslims refer is:

"And remember, Jesus, the son of Mary, said: O Children of Israel! I am the apostle of Allah (sent) to you, confirming the Law (which came) before me, and giving Glad Tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name shall be Ahmad. But when he came to them with Clear Signs, they said, this is evident sorcery!" (Sura 61:6)

Muslims believe also that Muhammed will be the interceder in the judgement day, and it's commonly named "شفيع هذه الأمة" ie "interceder of this nation" (meant Islam nation). In Sahih_Bukhari:

"...Then I will be addressed: 'O Muhammad! Raise your head; intercede, for your intercession will be accepted, and ask (for anything). for you will be given." (Sahih Bukhari,Prophets book,hadith 556)

• Catholic Encyclopedia: Paraclete
• Jewish Encyclopedia: Paraclete
• Citations of Brown's Gospel of John on the Paraclete
• Islam4all cite argues that the Paraclete is not the Holy Spirit
• Paraclete High School