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It’s no surprise that Bible translators sometimes struggle.
Their task is to take the words of ancient languages – Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic – and transform them into the everyday parlance of contemporary people living in entirely different cultures.
For example, there’s the Karre language of equatorial Africa.
How could the translators find a modern equivalent for the word Paraclete, which is one of the New Testament’s most important names for the Holy Spirit?
According to Ian Coffey in his book Deep Impact, a group of translators happened to notice a line of porters carrying items and bundles on their heads as they made their way through the bush. They noticed there was always one man who didn’t carry anything. They assumed he must be the boss.
In fact, that porter had a special role. If anyone in the line collapsed from exhaustion, he would pick up their load and carry it for them. In the Karre language he was known as “the one who falls down beside us.”
And just like that, the translators knew they had found the perfect translation for a crucial Greek word.
The Holy Spirit is the “shy” member of the Trinity. But that doesn’t mean the Spirit is far away or inaccessible.
Jesus said, during the course of the Last Supper, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Paraclete to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17).
Notice that Jesus says “another” Paraclete. He is the original. The Holy Spirit is Jesus’ stand-in, so to speak. In Jesus’ absence – since none of us was privileged to be alive during his ministry on earth – the Spirit now comes alongside us “forever.”
What service does the Spirit render?
Paraclete is a mashup of the Greek preposition para (“alongside”) and the verb kaleo (“to call”). God’s Spirit is “called alongside” God’s people. This coming alongside happens within our hearts.
In Jewish tradition, a paraclete might be an angel providing protection. Or a prophet reminding people of God’s presence and power. A paraclete was also someone who might stand beside us in a court of law – an advocate who testifies on our behalf so we might receive appropriate justice and mercy.
In his commentary on the Gospel of John, Bible scholar Dale Bruner admits that he wrestled long and hard with how to render Paraclete in English.
His wife Kathy suggested True Friend – the kind of person you can call at 3:00 am and expect to hear a sympathetic voice, not to mention a readiness to come running. A true friend is also the kind of person who has permission to confront us whenever necessary, to help us face up to the truth about ourselves – a description entirely consistent with Jesus’ designation of the Paraclete as “the Spirit of truth.”
Bruner notes that Martin Luther influenced generations of scholars by translating Paraclete as “Comforter.”
Nowadays we think of “comfort” as providing words of encouragement or consolation after a difficult experience.
But the original meaning of the word is much more powerful. In Latin, com (“with”) combines with fortis (“strength”) to mean “coming [to someone] with the gift of strength” before a difficult experience. A comforter is someone who readies us and steadies us for whatever challenges lie ahead.
And that makes the Holy Spirit the Comforter Supreme – the True Friend who Falls Down Beside Us whenever we are in need.
Are you exhausted?
Stressed out?
Crushed in spirit?
Flat on your face?
Take heart.
The Helper is on the way.