The traditional view, as I understand it, is that the Holy Spirit in
John 14, 15, and 16 comes along beside us to help us. What if,
instead, Jesus is saying that the Holy Spirit is coming along beside
him, i.e. Jesus, to help him do his work? This would greatly narrow
down the semantic domain of this word, would it not? All five
instances would basically describe the same type function.
I realize the etymology of the word, and the usage of PARAKALEW and
PARAKLESIS in the New Testament. Yet this concept would not be so far
afield from those words IMHO.
I admit that I'm at a disadvantage as my TDNT is still in transit from
the States. (Shipping books overseas takes even longer than it does
from North Carolina to Missouri, Carl!) I have Volumes 2, 3, and 4,
but this word is covered in Volume 5. So part of my question to the
list is: How is this word used in the secular and LXX? Does my guess
still hold water?
Of course, you can still tell me that I'm all wet. I'm more than
willing to listen.
Paul
Paul and Dee Zellmer, Jimmy Guingab
Ibanag Translation Project
Cabagan, Philippines
zellmer@faith.edu.ph