This description by Jesus is vital to keep in mind, because John 14—16 contains Christ’s teaching on the Holy Spirit, and the language that Jesus uses is easily misunderstood. A great many people wind up seeing a third God being in these chapters. Trinitarians commonly grab proof-texts from these chapters, but when we examine all that Christ says here, as well as the rest of God’s word, we find that there is no reason to invent a third God being called “the Holy Spirit.” Jesus tells us the language is figurative so we will consider them more carefully, and so we don’t end up confusing ourselves.
If you would turn to chapter 14, we will look at some of the Holy Spirit verses. The trouble starts in John 14:16, where Jesus says, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” The word “Helper” in the Greek is Parakletos, and it can also mean “advocate,” “intercessor,” or “aide.” It basically means, “One who goes alongside of.” Now, because of the figurative language, it sounds like Christ is talking about something separate from Himself, and many people simply stop there. But Jesus continues in verse 17, and says that the disciples already know this Helper, the Spirit of Truth, and that He has been dwelling with them. That word “know” indicates they already had experience with this Helper—there was already a relationship. He wasn’t a stranger.
In verse 18, then, He explains a bit more when He says, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.” This is the second time He says He would come to them. Back in verse 3, He tells them that even though He was going away, He would come to them again. In verses 16-18, then, He explains how He would come to them. He would return to them as a Helper or Advocate or Aide who would actually be in them. Incidentally, the word “another” in verse 16 does not mean “something different.” Rather, it means, “another of the same kind.” Trinitarians see a third being here, but all this says is that when Christ came to them, it would be in a way and in role that was similar to what He had already done, but it would not be exactly the same. He would come to them spiritually. But this did not make sense to them until it actually happened on Pentecost.
