Bible Studies

Who is the another comforter that Jesus prays the father to send?

by lee thriepland
08/05/18
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Who is the another comforter that Jesus prays the father to send?

John 14- 16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

It is the interpretation of the trinitarian that the comforter is the Holy spirit the 3rd being of the trinity identifiably not the father or the son but just as the father and the son are God the Holy Spirit is also God.

The first thing that needs to be noted is when Jesus introduces the comforter are the words of Jesus when he states not just a comforter but another comforter. This would indicate that there was already a comforter.

The Greek word translated as comforter is 
Παράκλητον Paraklēton (strong's 3875)

Paraklēton Παράκλητον is used just 5 times in the bible...all in the writings of John. It is translated 4 times as the comforter in the gospel of John 
(john 14-16)

John 14-26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15-26 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16-7 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

But once it is translated as advocate

1 John 2-1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

What we see is that Jesus christ is the advocate. Jesus was the Παράκλητον Paraklēton, so Jesus was the preceding comforter that was before the another comforter that was to come.

We also see clearly from John 14-26 that the (another ) comforter that is to come is the holy Ghost/spirit

If we simply stop here then it's not really difficult to see why the trinitarian would conclude they must be 2 separate beings. But there is so much more actually stated in these verses which need to be looked at in more detail.
We know that the first comforter is Jesus and we know the 2nd comforter is the holy spirit but if we continue on to the very next verse in john 14 where the comforter is introduced Jesus gives us more information about the another comforter the and tells us who holy spirit is.

John 14-17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Jesus says that it is the spirit of truth 
Jesus is the truth 

John 14-6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

He also says that it is the one that dwelleth with them. Jesus is the one who dwelt with them.

John 14-25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
The greek word translated as present is μένων·menōn strong's 3306 which is from the same word μένω menó strong's 3306 that is translated as dwelleth in John 14-17 μένει menei strong's 3306

Just as Jesus says that HE won't leave them comfortless, HE will come to them and HE will be in them

John 14-18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Jesus states HE will manifest to them

John 14-21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Manifest is the same word used of Gods manifestation in 1 timothy 3-16

Jesus stated that HE will be with them till the end of the world

Matthew 28-20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

Jesus also stated that he was going away to prepare a place but would come again

John 14-2 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also

The Greek translated as mansions is μοναὶ monai 3438

John 14-23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

The Greek translated as abode is μονὴν monēn 3438 moné μονή 3438

The fathers and the sons mansions/abodes are believers which is why it states that there are many

So the another comforter the holy spirit is actually the spirit of Jesus himself that is the comforter that will be sent. The Holy spirit is the spirit of Jesus .

It is the spirit of the resurrected Jesus

John 7-37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

We die with Christ and are raised to another

Romans 7-4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to ANOTHER, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.

The another is the one raised from the dead, the resurrected Jesus.

The 2nd comforter is not another person, the 3rd person of the trinity it is the spirit of the son and that spirit is sent by God.

Galatians 4-6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

The Bible states there is only one spirit

Ephesians 4-4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

It is the spirit of God 

1 Corinthians 2-12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

The spirit of Jesus is the spirit of God GIVEN to Jesus by God.

John 3-34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 

God stated he would put HIS spirit upon Jesus in prophecy

Isaiah 42-1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles

Quoted in Matthew

Matthew 12-28 Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Jesus said that the spirit of the Lord was on him

Luke 4-18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

The spirit of God is not God the spirit , God IS the spirit

2 corinthians 3- 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The spirit is not separate from the father it is the spirit OF the father

Matthew 10-20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

John 20-17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

So the holy spirit is ultimately the father's spirit that he gave to his son Jesus

John 15-26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Romans 8-11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

The father dwelt in Jesus

John 14-10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works

This does not make Jesus anymore God than it makes us as Jesus dwells in us therefore the father dwells in us

Romans 8-9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

It is through Jesus that one spirit dwells in believers and through that one spirit we have access to the father.

Ephesians 2-18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Romans 6-11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 corinthians 3-16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Which is why Jesus said

John 14-6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

It is THROUGH the spirit of the resurrected Jesus that the spirit of one true God...God the father dwells in us.