ACC ~ John 14 v16

THE SON CONTINUES TO ASK FOR THE SPIRIT IN US

BEDE: If we too, dearly beloved, love Christ perfectly in such a way that we prove the genuineness of this love by our observance of his commandments, he will ask the Father on our behalf, and the Father will give us another Paraclete. He will ask the Father through his humanity and will give [us another Paraclete] with the Father through his divinity. We must not suppose that it was only before his passion that he was asking on behalf of the church and that now, after his ascension, he is not also asking, since the apostle speaks of him, “who is at the right hand of God who also intercedes for us.” [1] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 2.17. [2]

[1] Rom 8:34.

[2] CS 111:165*.

CHRIST WILL NOT LEAVE THEM ALONE

CHRYSOSTOM: This promise shows once again Christ’s consideration. Because his disciples did not yet know who he was, it was likely that they would greatly miss his companionship, his teaching, his actual physical presence, and be completely disconsolate when he had gone. Therefore he said, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor,” meaning another like himself. … They received the Spirit after Christ had purified them by his sacrifice. The Spirit did not come down on them while Christ was still with them because this sacrifice had not yet been offered. But when sin had been blotted out and the disciples, sent out to face danger, were preparing themselves for the battle, they needed the Holy Spirit’s coming to encourage them. If you ask why the Spirit did not come immediately after the resurrection, this was in order to increase their gratitude for receiving him by increasing their desire. They were troubled by nothing as long as Christ was with them, but when his departure had left them desolate and very much afraid, they would be most eager to receive the Spirit. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 75.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:274**.

TWO DIFFERENT BUT EQUAL COMFORTERS

GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS: The Spirit came after Christ so that we would not lack a Comforter. But he is called “another” Comforter so that you might acknowledge his co-equality. For this word another defines an alter ego, a name of equal lordship, not of inequality. We do not use the word another for different kinds of things but for those that are consubstantial. ON PENTECOST, ORATION 41.12. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 7:383**.

DO NOT CONFUSE THE SON WITH THE SPIRIT

AMBROSE: It was good that he said “another” so that you might not think that the Son is the Spirit, for there is a unity of the name and no Sabellian [1] confusion of the Son and of the Spirit. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 1.13.136. [2]

[1] The Sabellians, anxious to maintain the unity of God, denied the differences in persons and identified the Son with the Father.

[2] FC 44:85**. CSEL 79:74.

THE SPIRIT AND JESUS ARE BOTH ADVOCATES

AUGUSTINE: But when Jesus says, “I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete,” he intimates that he himself is also a Paraclete. For Paraclete is in Latin called advocatus [advocate]. And it is said of Christ, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” [1] TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 74.4. [2]

[1] 1 Jn 2:1.

[2] NPNF 1 7:335**; CCL 36:514.

THE COMFORTER IS GOD

AUGUSTINE: The apostle says that the Comforter—the title given to the third person of the Trinity—is God. In his epistle to the Corinthians he says, “God, who comforts those who are cast down, comforts us.” [1] The Holy Spirit who comforts those who are cast down is therefore God. … Or if they rather take these words of the apostle as applying to the Father or the Son, let them no longer, then, separate the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son or make the Holy Spirit appear less than the Son, when it is his peculiar [office] to offer comfort. DISCOURSES AGAINST THE ARIANS 19. [2]

[1] 2 Cor 7:6.

[2] PL 42:697-98.

NO DIFFERENCE IN NATURE

LEO THE GREAT: For the Only Begotten of God himself desired no difference to be felt between himself and the Holy Spirit in the faith of believers and in the efficacy of his works because there is no diversity in their nature. LETTER 16.4. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 12:28**.

THE HOLY SPIRIT COMFORTS IN A DIFFERENT WAY

DIDYMUS THE BLIND: But the Holy Spirit was another Comforter differing not in nature but in operation. For whereas our Savior, in his office of mediator, and of messenger and as high priest, made supplication for our sins, the Holy Spirit is a Comforter in another sense, that is, as consoling our griefs. But do not infer from the different operations of the Son and the Spirit a difference of nature. For in other places we find the Holy Spirit performing the office of intercessor with the Father, as when “the Spirit himself intercedes for us.” [1] … And the Savior … pours consolation into those hearts that need it, as in Maccabees, he strengthened those of the people who were brought low. [2] ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 27-28. [3]

[1] Rom 8:26.

[2] 1 Macc 14:14.

[3] PL 23:127.

THE SPIRIT LIGHTENS THE LOAD OF THE AFFLICTED

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: I will confer the grace of the Holy Spirit, he says, so that you may always have it with you to teach you the truth. He speaks of another Advocate, as of another instructor, a comforter. This is a doctrine for those in dire straits because the Spirit, through its grace, will make the afflictions inflicted on them by people lighter. And, as a consolation, through its gifts, it will enable them to easily endure their afflictions. This is what actually happened. Indeed, the more his disciples feared death before, the more they rejoiced in tribulations after the descent of the Spirit. He calls it “Spirit of truth” since it teaches nothing but the truth, nor can it ever change to the contrary in order to teach anything different from the truth. He says “another” in relation to himself, for while he was among them, he certainly filled the same role for them. In addition they received from the Holy Spirit the confirmation of all those things that he had taught them when he was present. Thus our Lord said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you. And you will be my witness in Jerusalem, in all Judea and among the Samaritans, and all nations.” [1] COMMENTARY ON JOHN 6.14.15-17. [2]

[1] Acts 1:8.

[2] CSCO 4 3:271-72.

Jn