The idea of future compensation for present sufferings is not wanting in the ' consolation in Christ.' In His Father's House are many man- sions, on entering which He goes to prepare a place for His disciples, where they shall both behold, and be partakers of. His glory (Jn 14= 17-"=^). The same idea of a compensating ' weight of glory ' for ' light affliction which is but for a moment ' (2 Co 4") is involved in the parable where Abraham says of Lazarus, ' Now he is comforted ' (Lk 16=^). On the other hand, those who are now satisfied with their riches and have no hunger for righteous- ness, the men of the world who have their portion in this life, ' liave received their consolation ' (Lk e"-"' ==).
See also following article.
Arthur Pollok Sym.
COMFORTER (Trapd/tXTjros).— A term applied to Christ in RVm of 1 Jn 2', and four times (Jn W^- -'' 15*" 16') to tlie Holy Spirit. For the meaning of the original and the probable source from which St. .John derived it, see art. ' Paraclete ' in Hast- ings' DB iii. 665-668. The active sense is con- fined to ecclesiastical usage, and may have been emphasized by translators, from its appropriate- ness to the circumstances amidst which the word first occurs in Jn 14'* ; but the passive sense may still be traced in relation to the Father and the Son, the Spirit being called and sent by Tliem to the help of men, as well as for the purpose of witnessing for God at the tribunal of the human reason (Jn 15™). The English terra is, however, quite inadequate. Whilst there is a suggestion of actual consolation in Jn U'", the principal points of St. John's teaching are that the mission of the Spirit is contingent upon the departure of Christ (Jn 16'), is thenceforward continuous and permanent (Jn 14'"), and includes functions in re- gard to both classes of men, the disciples and ' tlie world.' The latter He will convict (Jn le'") in respect of the three decisive matters (if sin, rii;ht- eousness, and judgment. With still :i sii^nilii-ant preference for words of an iiiti-lli-ilnal licuing. He will continue and com|>k4c' tht- iiisi ruction begun by Christ (.In 14=«), and guide the disciples
'into all the truth' (Jn 16'=). See art. HoLY Spirit. The predominant cast of these phrases, ahuost all pointing to mental processes, is in itself a sufficient evidence of the unfitness of the term ' Comforter,' for which ' Paraclete' (wh. see) might with advantage be substituted.
R. W. Moss. COMING AGAIN.-Though He had appeared in the world to found the kingdom of God and fulfil
the Messianic hope in its true spiritual meaning [see Advent], Jesus repeatedly gave it to be understood that the object of His mission would
not be perfectly attained in that first coming among men. There was to be a break in His visible connexion with earthly att'airs (Mt 16=') ; He would depart for a time (Jn 14" 16') ; but He ]n'oraised that He would come again to continue His work and carry it on to complete fulfilment. As the clouds of danger gathered, and a violent death loomed in view, He began to speak with growing frequency of a marvellous and triumphant return, in which His living presence and power would be gloriously revealed. His sayings on this subject, however, are not always easy to inter- pret ; they do not all refer to the same event ; we find in them traces of His having in His mind more than one coming, and, in several cases, it is only by a careful study of the context that we can discover to which coming His words were meant to point.
The comings of which Jesus spoke from time to time may be distinguished as follows :
1. His coming after His death to make patent to the disciples His continued and exalted life, and thereby to establish their faith in Him as their ever-living Lord. He predicted a meeting with them in Galilee (Mt 26»=, Mk U^), and indicated that though for a little while they should not see Him, yet after a little wliile again they should see Him (Jn 14'9 16").
2. His coming to enter into fellowship with the disciples in a closer spiritual reunion. As the Risen One, He was to return to them and abide Avith them continually (Jn 14*--), manifesting His presence through the Paraclete, the Spirit of truth, and guiding, teaching, sustaining them by His gracious working in their hearts (U'"- " 15=* 16'''). It would appear that in this sense Jesus regarded His coming again as a vital experience, to be shared by all believers in all after generations, thus foreshadowing His abiding presence through the Spirit in the Christian Church.
3. His coming to remove the disciples from their toils and struggles on earth, and take them to the place He would prepare for them in His Father's house (Jn 14=- '), that where He was they might be also.
i. His coming at the great crises of history to bring to their disastrous issues the sins of societies, nations, and religious institutions, and to vindi- cate His power over all the corrupt agencies in the world that oppose His truth. In the solemn dis- course on the future recorded in Mt 24 and Mk 13, there are certain passages which, as usually inter- preted, convey the impression that the destruction of Jerusalem and the fall of the Jewish State was one such momentous crisis that Jesus had par- ticularly in view (Mt 24'»-=-^-«, Mk iS'^-^s- =«■ so ; cf. Lk 19«-" 21=<'-=»- ^- 35 23=«-»), although His words may be recognized as covering also all other marked epochs in history, in which His triumphant glory and the impotence of all the world-powers that come into conflict with Him are made clear. The course of events which was to culminate in the ruin of Jerusalem was to be the first startling revelation of His victorious energy in asserting His supremacy in the affairs of men and nations ; and this is apparently suggested, in vivid figura-