ORIGEN, c. 185-254, teacher in Alexandria, widely traveled, most prolific writer of the Pre-Nicene Church, ordained a presbyter (elder) by bishops of Caesarea in Palestine. Tortured during Decian persecution and died later from those injuries, as a Confessor in the church. (See David Bercot, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, Scroll Publishing. )
ALL of these Ante-Nicene Christian writers and apologists were men of reknown, learned men, well-traveled, lived during the first 3 centuries of Christianity, and many spoke several languages. In other words, they were not spurious characters. They led the church in various parts of the world and had the backing of the Church proper. And, the CHURCH PROPER was UNIFIED in those centuries.
Many were martyrs for CHRIST as they led the flock and many others died of wounds received as they were tortured for CHRIST, as did today's writer, Origen.
Their accounts and records need to be taken seriously and the modern Christian Church proper would do well to adjust their practices and theology in accordance to the Writings of these Apologists. Some were taught by the Apostles and some , later, by men who were taught by those God-fearing Brothers.
In the case of PARAQLITA , such quandries about translation could have been quickly put to right by consulting the Early Church Writings to see how the historic Christian Church translated John 14:16 and 26, John 15:26, and John 16:7, plus I John 2:1 because.... it's all in there!
The astute reader will realize, of course, that these Christian apologies were written MUCH EARLIER than the Peshitta. [We will look at the Peshitta time frames in a later blog.]
ANTE-NICENE FATHERS, VOL 4 ORIGEN, DE PRINCIPIIS, BOOK 2, CHAPTER 7 , SECTION 4, p. 286, (hard copy; Page 551, Master Christian Library CD, version 8 )
But the Paraclete, who is called the HOLY SPIRIT, is so called from His work of consolation, paraclesis being termed in Latin consolatio. For if any one has deserved to participate in the HOLY SPIRIT by the knowledge of His ineffable mysteries, he undoubtedly obtains comfort and joy of heart.
For since he comes by the teaching of the SPIRIT to the knowledge of the reasons of all things which happen — how or why they occur — his soul can in no respect be troubled, or admit any feeling of sorrow; nor is he alarmed by anything, since, clinging to the Word+ of God and His Wisdom+, he through the HOLY SPIRIT calls JESUS LORD.
And since we have made mention of the Paraclete, and have explained as we were able what sentiments ought to be entertained regarding Him; and since our SAVIOR+ also is called the Paraclete in the Epistle of John, when he says, “If any of us sin, we have a Paraclete with THE FATHER, JESUS CHRIST The RIGHTEOUS+, and HE+ is the propitiation for our sins;” let us consider whether this term Paraclete should happen to have one meaning when applied to the SAVIOR, and another when applied to the HOLY SPIRIT.
Now Paraclete, when spoken of the SAVIOR, seems to mean intercessor.
For in Greek, Paraclete has both significations — that of intercessor and comforter.
On account, then, of the phrase which follows, when he says, “And HE+ is the propitiation for our sins,” the name Paraclete seems to be understood in the case of our SAVIOR as meaning intercessor; for HE+ is said to intercede with THE FATHER because of our sins.
In the case of the HOLY SPIRIT, the Paraclete must be understood in the sense of comforter, inasmuch as He bestows consolation upon the souls to whom He openly reveals the apprehension of spiritual knowledge.
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REFERENCES
NOTE: Material is from the Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volumes 1-10, American Edition ( a reprint of Christian Literature Publishing Co. 1886), 2nd printing 1995, Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody, MA. ISBN 1-56563-087-4
Some supplemental information and dates are from: David W. Bercot, editor, A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, Peabody, MA, Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1998. ISBN 978-1-56563-870-9 [ See Scroll Publishing at http://www.scrollpublishing.com/ ]
Digital Copy from: The Master Christian Library Version 8 CD-ROM 2000 Ages Software, Rio, WI www.ageslibrary.com
NOTE: This Digital Copy of the ANF does NOT contain any Introductory Notes from the translators and editors, no footnotes, and no elucidations and comments at the end of the books, although these helpful items are contained in the hard copy listed above.
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NOTE: Comments in green are from the Order of the GOOD SHEPHERD+; extra words in black are in the text from the editors. Color added to pronouns, etc., for clarity.
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