My daughter’s youth minister’s father (known to all as Lou or Dad) died last week. At his memorial service his brother described him as a true paraclete; he explained he did not mean an angel, but rather a helper of the angels. He was a man known for quietly contributing to the youth ministry from behind the scenes. The teens loved him; many described this middle-aged man as their friend and the first person to befriend them in the group. This intrigued me. I didn’t know the word and I didn't know Lou. Certainly he must have been quite special to be an adult so treasured by teens. Paralegal was called to mind, a helper of a lawyer but what is a “clete”. Maybe in Lou's case it is a teen but I knew that wasn’t really true so off to the web….
Christian (most especially Catholic) doctrine and Muslim doctrine have different interpretations. While Christians believe “the comforter” of the Gospel of John is the Holy Ghost of the Trinity (Father, Son and the Holy Ghost), Muslims believe “the comforter” is the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh). In the “Islamic Voice” it is explained that the language used in the time of Christ was Syriac for which no ancient manuscripts are available today. Early translations were into Greek, Hebrew and Arabic and later to English and other modern languages. As with so many terms in the Bible, the meaning of the phrase "the comforter" and the word "paraclete" is truly open to many opinions.
“Paraclete” seems to have come into use as an adjective for organizations that help others in some way, many quite far from the Bible’s or the Qur’an’s use of the word. I found examples such as the Paraclete Center, a (“new organization responding specifically and exclusively to the educational needs of South Boston's youth and families”) and the Paraclete Charter Service which (“provides "limousine" and charter service to the San Juan Islands from Skyline Marina”) and The Paraclete Group (who state “Our Mission is to help you do business better.”). There are also numerous commercial ventures connected to religious media who use the word Paraclete in their name.
In The Paraclete Group's web page they give the following definition: "paraclete (par' a klet) n. {from the Latin Paracletus or from the Greek Parakletos; to call to one, to exhort, encourage; come along beside.}. An advocate; one called upon to aid or support."
In Lou’s case I think his brother meant a helper, one who was always ready to lend a hand and heart to another, especially to the teens who so adored him.
My original w/u sources were comparative religion essays.
In an attempt to go to the original sources I came up with nothing in the Bible or the Quran searching for "comforter" or "paraclete" in the searchable web versions I made use of. However, using the term "counselor" which one of the essays named as an interpretation of "comforter" I found in the Gospel of John the following:
"And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you."
"I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you."
"But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
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source:
Bible: Revised Standard Version
http://www.hti.umich.edu/r/rsv/
I was unable to find any reference to comforter, paraclete or counselor in a searchable Quran. I did find 6 references to Muhammad. See below:
The Family of Imran
3.144 And Muhammad is no more than an apostle; the apostles have already passed away before him; if then he dies or is killed will you turn back upon your heels? And whoever turns back upon his heels!s, he will by no means do harm to Allah in the least and Allah will reward the grateful.
The Clans
33.40 Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Apostle of Allah and the Last of the prophets; and Allah is cognizant of all things.
Muhammad
47.2 And (as for) those who believe and do good, and believe in what has been revealed to Muhammad, and it is the very truth from their Lord, He will remove their evil from them and improve their condition.
The Victory
48.29 Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah, and those with him are firm of heart against the unbelievers, compassionate among themselves; you will see them bowing down, prostrating themselves, seeking grace from Allah and pleasure; their marks are in their faces because of the effect of prostration; that is their description in the Taurat and their description in the Injeel; like as seed-produce that puts forth its sprout, then strengthens it, so it becomes stout and stands firmly on its stem, delighting the sowers that He may enrage the unbelievers on account of them; Allah has promised those among them who believe and do good, forgiveness and a great reward.
Qaf
50.1 Qaf. I swear by the glorious Quran (that Muhammad is the Apostle of Allah.)
source:
The Koran
http://www.hti.umich.edu/k/koran/
www.islamicvoice.com/october.97/comp.htm
This is obviously a case of node what you don't know. The deeper I dig, the more confused I become. Obviously scholars of religion and languages work for lifetimes on these issues.