There is a New Testament Greek word that we often talk about when we study the Holy Spirit in John 14. Prior to John 14, Jesus is preparing His Apostles for His pending crucifixion. The Apostles are rightly unsettled by the news, but Jesus encourages them in John 14 to fully trust in Him. Jesus tells them that He is going, but will come back for them. Jesus also tells them that the Father will give them a “Helper” that will be with them while Jesus is not physically with them. Here is what Jesus tells the Apostles in John 14:16-18, “16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”
In our text Jesus speaks of a “Helper” that will be given to the Apostles. This “Helper” is the “Spirit of truth” or the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells them that the Spirit will dwell with them and be in them. The New Testament Greek word “Helper” in the NKJV, NASB, and ESV is also translated as Comforter in the KJV and Counselor in the NIV. The Greek word in question is parakaleo. The word literally means “to call to one’s side.” In addition to what we’ve already mentioned, sometimes parakaleo is translated as exhort, encourage, advocate, entreat, and console.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 parakaleo (or other forms of the word) is mainly translated as “comfort” to show us that God is the one who comforts. God is our comforter. In 1 John 2:1 we are told that Jesus is our “advocate” with the Father. The word translated as “advocate” is another form of parakaleo.
In 2 Corinthians 1:3 the Father is the parakaleo. In 1 John 2:1 the Son is the parakaleo. In John 14:16, the Spirit is the parakaleo. Through the Father, the Son, and the Spirit we have a Helper, Comforter, and Advocate.
In Hebrews 3:12-13, Christians are warned with these words, “12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” The word translated “exhort” in Hebrews 3:13 is yet another form of parakaleo and is also translated as “encourage” in the NIV and NASB.
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit “come along side” us and help, comfort, and advocate. In Hebrews 3:13, and elsewhere, the Christian is to “come along side” other Christians and be there for them. God has given us each other to help, comfort, and advocate for each other.
Christians are His hands and feet to be present in the lives of others who need someone to physically be there. We are to “come along side” one another and be a counselor when needed; to be an exhorter; to be an encourager; to be Jesus in their lives.
