In John 14, we read that the Father will send to the disciples a ‘Comforter,’ or in some translations, an ‘Advocate.’ Both are attempts to translate the Greek word paraklete. But what exactly is a paraklete? 

This is a little difficult to understand, as a paraklete was something very peculiar to Greek jurisprudence. In any Greek trial or lawsuit, it was not enough to bring evidence in favor of one’s case, and to make a logical argument for one’s cause in rhetorically effective ways. These were very important, of course, just like they are in a modern American courtroom. 

But one thing that was quite different was that, in addition to rational argumentation, evidentiary exhibits, and passionate pleas, one would have to bring forth witnesses to testify that the one’s client was also favored by the gods. Making an argument that the gods themselves sided with one side against the other was considered to be key to making one’s case; and the witness called forth to make such an argument was called a paraklete. 

This seems rather pagan, but the Church understood what was implied by this term when applied to the Holy Spirit. 

In the same way that an ancient Greek paraklete would argue that his client was found to be just (that is, justified!) before the gods, so too does the Holy Spirit argue against the world that Jesus Christ was found to be just before the Father in heaven. For this reason, the Spirit is said to be sent in order to convict the world of their sin. This is not primarily a reference to convicting them of their individual transgressions against the Law, though this too is certainly the case, but rather a reference to their being convicted of murdering the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ, whom the Father has clearly found to be righteous through the Resurrection. 

It is, therefore, the Holy Spirit that pleads the case of Christ’s righteousness, first before us, to create faith in us, and bring us to repentance for crucifying the Christ, then within us to the Father, as we receive Christ’s own righteousness in Baptism, along with the Holy Spirit that first preached it to us.  

For this reason, it is written that the Holy Spirit prays with groanings that cannot be heard, for it speaks Jesus’ justification, now made our own, to the Father, for our forgiveness, life, and salvation.