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Tim Maas
The English word "paraclete" derives directly from the Greek word (expressed in English characters) "parakletos", which, in turn, is composed of the prefix "para-" (meaning "close" or "beside") and the verb "kaleo" (meaning "to make a call or judgment"). Perhaps the more common English words that would come closest in meaning would be "advocate" or "interceder". The idea being expressed is from a legal context of someone who stands beside an individual who is appearing before a judge, and who pleads that person's case before the judge in a more knowledgeable, effective, and compelling manner than the individual would be capable of. This is the role performed by God the Holy Spirit, as described by Paul in Romans 8:26-27. As Paul says, human beings do not always know the things that they should ask God for in prayer (especially things in the spiritual realm), or know how to express those requests verbally. However, because the Holy Spirit is Himself God (with God's omniscience), He fully knows our needs (even those we cannot put into words), and can also present our requests and pleadings as Christians to God the Father in a more compelling, forceful, and God-centered manner than we are capable of. (As Paul says, the Holy Spirit pleads our needs and requests in sympathetic groanings that are too deep to be expressed in words.)
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