We will look first at the one instance when this title is applied to Jesus: 1 John 2.1. Although there is no definite article, ‘parakletos’ is still used as a noun, in apposition to ‘Jesus’. This is its most straightforward usage, where there is no problem in finding the right translation: “If any one sins, we have as our advocate in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” ‘Advocate’ is derived from the Latin ‘advocatus’ (a past participle passive), which in turn is a literal translation of ‘parakletos’ – ‘called to one’s side’. The primary context of both words, as of ‘advocate’ today, is in the law-courts. In both Athens and Rome, a man (or woman) who was accused and brought to court could ‘summon to his side’ a friend who would sit with him and speak for him – an ‘advocate’. This developed into a system in which skilled orators would hire out their services to ‘friends’ who realised that they did not have the rhetorical skills to defend themselves adequately; the most famous of these advocates were the Athenian Demosthenes and the Roman Cicero. In this passage, therefore, John seems to envisage heaven as a court of law, with Christians who fall into sin being accused before the throne of God the Father. Who is the accuser ? This question is answered elsewhere in the writings of John, in Revelation 12.10: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before God day and night, has been hurled down’”. And what was it that evoked this triumphant cry ? Verse 9 answers both our questions: “The great dragon was hurled down, that ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (NIV). Against such an accuser, before such a judge, what can we say ? How are we to defend ourselves ? We are speechless, helpless, defenceless. But the great Advocate steps forward to defend us, “Jesus Christ the righteous”, and our cause is not lost after all.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
PARAKLETOS 1: Jesus our Advocate (a) the court of Heaven
We will look first at the one instance when this title is applied to Jesus: 1 John 2.1. Although there is no definite article, ‘parakletos’ is still used as a noun, in apposition to ‘Jesus’. This is its most straightforward usage, where there is no problem in finding the right translation: “If any one sins, we have as our advocate in the presence of the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” ‘Advocate’ is derived from the Latin ‘advocatus’ (a past participle passive), which in turn is a literal translation of ‘parakletos’ – ‘called to one’s side’. The primary context of both words, as of ‘advocate’ today, is in the law-courts. In both Athens and Rome, a man (or woman) who was accused and brought to court could ‘summon to his side’ a friend who would sit with him and speak for him – an ‘advocate’. This developed into a system in which skilled orators would hire out their services to ‘friends’ who realised that they did not have the rhetorical skills to defend themselves adequately; the most famous of these advocates were the Athenian Demosthenes and the Roman Cicero. In this passage, therefore, John seems to envisage heaven as a court of law, with Christians who fall into sin being accused before the throne of God the Father. Who is the accuser ? This question is answered elsewhere in the writings of John, in Revelation 12.10: “Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, ‘Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before God day and night, has been hurled down’”. And what was it that evoked this triumphant cry ? Verse 9 answers both our questions: “The great dragon was hurled down, that ancient serpent called the Devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray” (NIV). Against such an accuser, before such a judge, what can we say ? How are we to defend ourselves ? We are speechless, helpless, defenceless. But the great Advocate steps forward to defend us, “Jesus Christ the righteous”, and our cause is not lost after all.
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