When we read of the " Spirit abiding forever " witli disci- ples, it means that He will not, like Christ after His resurrec- tion, return to the Father, but will always be with God's peo- ple until Christ comes again.
The word "Comforter" is the same that is translated " Advo- cate," and applied to Christ Himself in 1 John ii. 2. This has caused much difference of opinion. The word is only used five times in the New Testament, and is four times ai^plied to the Holy Spirit.
Some, as Lightfoot, Bishop Hall, and Doddridge, maintain that our translation here is right, and that it is the office of the Spirit to comfort and strengthen Christ's people.
Others, as Beza, Lampe, De Dieus, Gomarus, Poole, Pearce, Stier, and Alford, maintain that the word here should have been rendered " Advocate," as in John's Epistle ; and that this word aptly expresses the office of the Spirit as pleading our cause, and making intercession for the saints, and helping them in prayer and preaching. (See Rom. viii. 26 ; Matt, x, 19, 20.) I decidedly prefer this latter view. Those who wish to see an able argument in its favor, should study Canon Lightfoot's volume on New Testament Revision (p. 55).
Lampe sensibly remarks that the word " another " points to the phrase meaning " Advocate " rather than " Comforter. That Jesus is our "Advocate" all allow. " Well," our Lord seems to say, " you shall have another 'Advocate ' beside myself." Why use the word " another " at all, if " Comforter " is the meaning ?
It is only fair to say that " the consolation of Israel " was a Jewish name of Messiah (Luke ii. 25,) and that some think that Christ was one Comforter and the Holy Ghost another. But I do not see much in this.
. — \^Even the Spirit of truth.] The Holy Ghost is most probably so called because He brings truth specially home to men's hearts, — because truth is His great instrument in all His opera- tions,— and because He bears witness to Christ the truth. Else- where we read, " It is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth." (1 John v. 6.)
[W7iom... world cannot receive. ..Icnoioeth Him.'] Here our Lord teaches that it is one great mark of the unbelieving and world- ly that they neither receive, nor know, nor see anything of the Holy Ghost. This is strikingly true. Many false professors and unconverted people receive Christ's name and talk of Him, while they know nothing experimentally of the operations of the Holy Spirit. It is written, " The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him ; neither can he know them." (1 Cor. ii. 14.)
[But ye hnow...dwdleth...shall he in you.] Our Lord's mean-
4
74