Bible Dictionary: Advocate

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Smith's Bible Dictionary

Advocate

or Paraclete , one that pleads the cause of another. (1 John 2:1) Used by Christ, (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7) to describe the office and work of the Holy Spirit, and translated Comforter , i.e. (see margin of Revised Version) Advocate, Helper, Intercessor. This use of the word is derived from the fact that the Jews, being largely ignorant of the Roman law and the Roman language, had to employ Roman advocates in their trials before Roman courts. Applied to Christ, (1 John 2:1)

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Gr. parakletos), one who pleads another's cause, who helps another by defending or comforting him. It is a name given by Christ three times to the Holy Ghost (John 14:16; 15:26; 16:7, where the Greek word is rendered "Comforter, " q.v.). It is applied to Christ in 1 John 2:1, where the same Greek word is rendered "Advocate," the rendering which it should have in all the places where it occurs. Tertullus "the orator" (Acts 24:1) was a Roman advocate whom the Jews employed to accuse Paul before Felix.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) One who pleads the cause of another. Specifically: One who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a counselor.

2. (n.) One who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument; a pleader; as, an advocate of free trade, an advocate of truth.

3. (n.) Christ, considered as an intercessor.

4. (n.) To plead in favor of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.

5. (v. i.) To act as advocate.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ADVOCATE

ad'-vo-kat (parakletos): Found in 1 John 2:1, "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." The Greek word has several shades of meaning:

(1) a legal advocate;

(2) an intercessor,

(3) a helper generally.

In the passage before us the first and second meanings are included. Christ in heaven intercedes for Christians who sin upon earth. The next verse declares that He is the "propitiation for our sins" and it is His propitiatory work which lies at the basis of His intercession. The margins of the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version give as alternative readings Comforter, Helper, Greek Paraclete. Beyond doubt however, "advocate" is the correct translation in the passage in the epistle. The same Greek word also occurs in the Gospel of John (John 14:16, 26; John 15:26; John 16:7) referring not to Christ but to the Holy Spirit, to whom Christ refers as "another comforter" whom He will send from the Father. In the Gospel various functions are ascribed to the Spirit in relation to believers and unbelievers. The word in the Gospel is inadequately translated "Comforter." The Spirit according to these passages, is more than Comforter and more than Advocate.

See PARACLETE; COMFORTER; HOLY SPIRIT.

E. Y. Mullins

Greek

3875. parakletos -- called to one's aid
... to one's aid. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: parakletos Phonetic
Spelling: (par-ak'-lay-tos) Short Definition: an advocate, comforter, helper ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3875.htm - 7k

4489. rhetor -- a public speaker
... of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: rhetor Phonetic Spelling: (hray'-tore)
Short Definition: an orator Definition: an orator, public speaker, advocate. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4489.htm - 6k

3870. parakaleo -- to call to or for, to exhort, to encourage
... call") refers to believers that . [3870 (), the root of 3875 (" advocate"),
likewise has overtones.]. Word Origin from para and kaleo ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3870.htm - 10k

1558. ekdikos -- exacting penalty from, avenging
... os) Short Definition: avenging, an avenger Definition: avenging, subst: an avenger
(the word occurs frequently in the sense of a special advocate [champion] of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1558.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

4807. Merib Baal -- perhaps "Baal is advocate," a son of Jonathan
... Merib Baal. 4808 . perhaps "Baal is advocate," a son of Jonathan. Transliteration:
Merib Baal Phonetic Spelling: (mer-eeb' bah'-al) Short Definition: Merib-baal ...
/hebrew/4807.htm - 6k

7717. sahed -- a witness
... 7716, 7717. sahed. 7718 . a witness. Transliteration: sahed Phonetic Spelling:
(saw-hade') Short Definition: advocate. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/7717.htm - 5k

1781. dayyan -- a judge
... Word Origin from din Definition a judge NASB Word Usage judge (2). judge. From diyn;
a judge or advocate -- judge. see HEBREW diyn. 1780, 1781. dayyan. 1782 ...
/hebrew/1781.htm - 6k

Library

The Advocate Promised.
... Chapter XIV. The Advocate Promised. 15. If ye love me keep my commandments.
This is not a command, but a declaration that if his ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/the advocate promised.htm

Whether it is Lawful for an Advocate to Take a Fee for Pleading?
... OF INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF COUNSEL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
it is lawful for an advocate to take a fee for pleading? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is lawful for 9.htm

Whether an Advocate is Bound to Defend the Suits of the Poor?
... OF INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF COUNSEL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether an
advocate is bound to defend the suits of the poor? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether an advocate is bound.htm

Whether an Advocate Sins by Defending an Unjust Cause?
... OF INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF COUNSEL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether
an advocate sins by defending an unjust cause? Objection ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether an advocate sins by.htm

Christ Our Advocate
... XVII. CHRIST OUR ADVOCATE. "And if any man sin we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ, the righteous. ... I propose to inquire,. I. What is an advocate? ...
/.../finney/sermons on gospel themes/xvii christ our advocate.htm

The Work of Jesus Christ as an Advocate,
... THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST AS AN ADVOCATE,. ... 1 John 2:1""And if any man sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.". ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the work of jesus christ.htm

"We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous. ...
... "We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.". 1 John
2:1.""We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.". ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxvi we have an.htm

Whether it is Fitting that the Law Should Debar Certain Persons ...
... OF INJUSTICE IN JUDGMENT ON THE PART OF COUNSEL (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether it is fitting
that the law should debar certain persons from the office of advocate? ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is fitting that.htm

"My Little Children, These Things Write I unto You, that Ye Sin ...
... not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,". ... not. And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father," &c. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxi my little children.htm

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
... Sermon XXV. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,",. 1 John
2:1.""And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,", &c. ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxv and if any.htm

Thesaurus

Advocate (7 Occurrences)
... It is applied to Christ in 1 John 2:1, where the same Greek word is rendered "Advocate,"
the rendering which it should have in all the places where it occurs. ...
/a/advocate.htm - 11k

Comforter (14 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary The designation of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16, 26;
15:26; 16:7; RV marg., "or Advocate, or Helper; Gr. paracletos"). ...
/c/comforter.htm - 14k

Paraclete
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) An advocate; one called to aid or support; hence,
the Consoler, Comforter, or Intercessor; -- a term applied to the Holy Spirit. ...
/p/paraclete.htm - 17k

Orator (3 Occurrences)
... (2) As the rendering of rhetor, the title applied to Tertullus, who appeared as
the advocate of the Jewish accusers of Paul before Felix (Acts 24:1). The ...
/o/orator.htm - 9k

Ortion
... (2) As the rendering of rhetor, the title applied to Tertullus, who appeared as
the advocate of the Jewish accusers of Paul before Felix (Acts 24:1). The ...
/o/ortion.htm - 8k

Aenon (1 Occurrence)
... Helper, Greek Paraclete. Beyond doubt however, "advocate ' is the correct
translation in the passage in the epistle. The same Greek ...
/a/aenon.htm - 8k

Lord (59401 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) A title bestowed on the persons above named; and also, for honor, on certain
official persons; as, lord advocate, lord chamberlain, lord chancellor ...
/l/lord.htm - 61k

Ascension (1 Occurrence)
... 1. Epistles: Nothing is recorded of the actual Ascension, but 1 John 2:1 says that
"we have an Advocate with the Father." The word "Advocate" is the same as ...
/a/ascension.htm - 34k

Intercession (12 Occurrences)
... Christ intercedes for us, without us, as our advocate in heaven, according
to the provisions of the everlasting covenant. The Holy ...
/i/intercession.htm - 52k

Zechariah (55 Occurrences)
... 12-14, except 13:7-9, were composed by some unknown contemporary of Jeremiah in
the 7th century BC On the other hand, there are also those who advocate a late ...
/z/zechariah.htm - 70k

Bible Concordance

Advocate (7 Occurrences)

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be for ever with you--the Spirit of truth.
(WEY)

John 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will teach you everything, and will bring to your memories all that I have said to you.
(WEY)

John 16:7 "Yet it is the truth that I am telling you--it is to your advantage that I go away. For unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
(WEY)

Acts 16:21 and set forth customs which it is not lawful for us to accept or to observe, being Romans."
(See RSV)

1 Timothy 4:3 forbidding marriage and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
(See NAS)

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
(KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Job 16:19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high.
(See NAS NIV)

Subtopics

Advocate

Advocate or Paraclete

Advocate: Figurative

Advocate: Tertullus

Related Terms

Comforter (14 Occurrences)

Paraclete

Orator (3 Occurrences)

Ortion

Aenon (1 Occurrence)