The NIV’s translation “one who speaks” is the Greek παρακλητον, appearing five times in the New Testament. The other four passages all refer to the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete or Comforter (Jn 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). This is not surprising, since the Holy Spirit is also an intercessor (Rm 8:27). The derivative παρακλησις, appears 29 times and is usually translated as “comfort” or “consolation” (2Co 1:3). Bauer concludes: “...Latin translators commonly rendered it, in its New Testament occurrences, with ‘advocatus.’...But the technical meaning ‘lawyer,’ ‘attorney’ is rare. In the few places where the word is found in pre-Christian and extra-Christian literature it has for the most part a more general meaning: one who appears in another’s behalf, mediator, intercessor, helper...In our literature the active sense helper, intercessor is suitable in all occurrences of the word” (Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament, 2nd ed., p. 618). Hence, the word has little juridical meaning; rather, it portrays one who speaks tenderly and humbly to the master on behalf of the penitent sinner. This coincides with the understanding that Christ appeases the Father’s wrath upon sin. (Robert A. Sungenis, Not By Bread Alone: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for the Eucharistic Sacrifice [2d ed.; State Line, Pa.: Catholic Apologetics International Publishing, Inc., 2009], 82 n. 80)
