PARAKLETOS: Introduction - meaning and derivation

This lovely word occurs only 5 times in the NT, and is used only by the apostle John, but it is well worth exploring, both for linguistic reasons, and because it is used as a title both for Jesus and for his Holy Spirit. As a title of Jesus, its meaning and translation are quite straightforward, and greatly encouraging. As a title for the Holy Spirit, on the other hand, it has evoked many and various translations, being rich in meaning but hard to capture in a single word.
To begin with, we will approach the word linguistically. It is derived from the verb ‘parakalo’; this is itself a compound of the simple verb ‘kalo’, which, conveniently for English speakers, simply means to ‘call’. ‘kalo’, like its compound, adds the suffix ‘-tos’ to form the verbal adjective, ‘kletos’, which is the equivalent of a past participle passive, and so means ‘called’. This word occurs 10 times in the NT, most memorably in Jesus’ words in Matthew 24. 14 (and also, according to some MSS, in 20. 16): “For many are called, but few chosen”. Paul also uses the word in the openings of Romans and 1 Corinthians, to describe himself as “called (to be) an apostle”. From this we can see that ‘parakletos’ is a passive adjective – an important point to remember when we look at it as a title of the Holy Spirit. The basic meaning of the compound verb ‘parakalo’ is to ‘call to one’s side’, or to ‘summon’, so that ‘parakletos’ means ‘called to one’s side’, or ‘summoned’. Greek can turn any adjective into a noun by prefacing it with the definite article, and this is how it is used in 4 of its 5 appearances in the NT, those which refer to the Holy Spirit: ‘the one who has been called to our side’.