Bible Dictionaries
Advocate

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Advocate. Advocate or Paraclete, one that pleads the cause of another. 1 John 2:1. Used by Christ, John 14:16; John 15:26; John 16:7, to describe the office and work of the Holy Spirit, and translated Comforter, that is, (see margin of Revised Version), Advocate, Helper, Intercessor.

This use of the word is derived from the fact that the Jews, being largely ignorant of the Roman law and the Roman language, had to employ Roman advocates in their trials before Roman courts. Applied to Christ, 1 John 2:1.

Bibliography Information
Smith, William, Dr. Entry for 'Advocate'. Smith's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​sbd/​a/advocate.html. 1901.