Two Advocates

The word “Advocate” comes from the Greek word Parakletos, which is a compound of pará (“from the side of”) and kaléō (“to call”). In the original biblical text, it is a legal term referring to someone who comes alongside a person on trial to handle all matters related to the case. Their job is to speak on behalf of, defend, comfort, and teach the person.

Parakletos appears several times in the New Testament and is difficult to translate into other languages, as no single word fully captures its rich and precious meaning. In the New Testament, Parakletos is sometimes translated as “advocate” (1 John 2:1) and sometimes as “Counselor” (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). Both words convey the meaning of a comforter and an intermediary. The Lord Jesus is our Advocate. When we stumble and sin, He intercedes for us before the Father as our mediator, helper, and intercessor (1 John 2:1; Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25). The Holy Spirit is our “another Advocate.” He is with us always, and when we are weak, discouraged, foolish, or ignorant, the Holy Spirit is our helper, guide, and encourager (Romans 8:26-27).

John Calvin, the famous theologian and leader of the Reformation, emphasized that Christ is the mediator between believers and God, while the Holy Spirit is the mediator between Christ and people. Their ministries have a continuous connection, with God establishing these two Advocates to have distinct roles for our spiritual benefit. The work of the Holy Spirit closely follows the revelation of Christ:

1、Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, helping us to know God the Father. The Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, helping us to know the Lord Jesus.

2、Jesus lived a holy life and obeyed the Father’s will to accomplish our redemption. The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father to apply this redemption, placing us into Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, so that we might be miraculously born again.

3、Jesus rebukes us and speaks to us outwardly, so that we may be blessed. The Holy Spirit rebukes us inwardly, helping us to understand what the Lord has said and what blessings we have received.

When Jesus was about to leave His disciples to go to the Father, they were sorrowful and did not want Him to leave. But Jesus said it was for their benefit that He went, “For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7). When Jesus was physically present among the disciples, though He was still all-powerful, they often perceived Him in the flesh and limited Him to His physical form. This greatly restricted the release of His power and reduced their opportunities to receive His power and blessings. Now that the Holy Spirit has come, He can live in the heart of every believer as a real and vibrant presence, bringing various kinds of help through prayer. Therefore, we must know the Holy Spirit and rely on Him to benefit our spiritual life.

We thank God! He knows our needs and has prepared two mediators, two Advocates, to guard and help us in all things until our bodies are redeemed in peace and He fulfills His wonderful purpose for us!

The Bible records:

[1 John 2:1] My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

[John 14:16-17] And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

[John 14:26] But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

[John 15:26] But when the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

[John 16:7] Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Edited and compiled based on the Chinese Union Version Bible and Comprehensive Biblical Interpretation.