42. 聖靈作保惠師 The Holy Spirit as Comforter
作者: 史鮑爾 (R.C. Sproul) 譯者: 姚錦榮
摘自《神學入門》《Essential Truths of the
Christian Faith》P112 ,更新傳道會出版http://www.crmnj.org/
耶穌在離世之前，曾花了很長的時間教導門徒有關聖靈的事，祂說：「我要求父，父就另外賜給你們一位保惠師。」（約14:16）保惠師的希臘文是paraclete，此名曾被分別譯為幫助者、安慰者和訓惠師。
第一件我們要注意的事，是耶穌在本段經文中應許要賜下另一位保惠師。耶穌既然說聖靈是另一位保惠師，那就表示，在聖靈之前已經有一位保惠師了。新約聖經很清楚地指明，這第一位保惠師就是耶穌自己。使徒約翰寫道：「小子們哪，我講這些話寫給你們，是要叫你們不犯罪。若有人犯罪，在父那裏我們有一位中保，就是那義者耶穌基督。」（約一2:1）
此處的中保一詞也是譯自希臘文的paraclete。這使我們看見，耶穌是第一位保惠師，因祂要離開，所以祈求父神在祂不在時，賜下另一位保惠師。聖靈就是基督的替代，祂在地上是耶穌的終極代表。
在古代，中保乃是法庭上幫助被告的人。聖靈要完成中保的任務，工作不止一項，而且其中一項就是幫助信徒向父神禱告。保羅對羅馬的教會說：「況且我們的軟弱有聖靈幫助；我們本不曉得當怎樣禱告，只是聖靈親自用說不出的嘆息替我們禱告。鑒察人心的曉得聖靈的意思，因為聖靈照著神的旨意替聖徒祈求。」（羅8:26-27）
聖靈也幫助信徒在世上的生活，當我們面對世上的沖突和矛盾時，祂替我們說話，正如耶穌在馬可福音十三章11節所應許的。聖靈藉著定這世界的罪來為我們辯護，聖靈也在義人受惡人攻擊時，為他們爭辯。
中保也扮演保惠師的角色，這包括兩方面：第一，祂是受傷者、挫敗者和哀傷者的慰藉之源；第二點也同樣重要，保惠師的英文Comforter 是從拉丁文而來的，原意是有力量。當我們需要力量時，聖靈便來到，賜給我們勇氣和膽量。作為保惠師，祂不但安慰，也壯膽，使我們在基督裏得勝有余（羅8:37）。
總結
1.耶穌是第一位保惠師，在父神面前擔當中保的角色。
2.聖靈是在耶穌升天之後，代替耶穌的另一位保惠師。
3.聖靈作我們現在的幫助者。
思考經文：
約14:16-18； 徒19:1-7 ；羅8:26-27 ；加4:6
42.
The Holy Spirit as Comforter
In
His teaching in the upper room on the eve of His death, Jesus spoke at length
about the Holy Spirit. He said, "I will pray the Father, and He will give
you another Helper" (John 14:16). The word Helper is sometimes translated
"Comforter" or "Counselor" and comes from the Greek word
paraclete.
The
first thing we notice in this passage is that Jesus promises another
"Paraclete" or "Helper." For Jesus to say that the Holy
Spirit will be another Helper, there had to be a Helper before the Spirit. The
New Testament clearly identifies the first Helper, or Paraclete, as Jesus
Himself. John writes: "My little children, these things I write to you, so
that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
The
title Advocate given here to Jesus is another translation of the Greek word
paraclete. We see then that Jesus is the first Paraclete, and upon His
departure from this world, Jesus prays that the Father will supply another
Paraclete in Jesus' absence. The Spirit is sent to be Christ's substitute; He
is the supreme vicar of Christ on earth.
In
the ancient world, a paraclete was someone summoned to give assistance in a
court of law. The Holy Spirit, in fulfilling this role, performs more than one task.
One such task is the Spirit's aiding the believer in addressing the Father.
Paul writes to the Roman church:
Likewise
the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray
for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what
the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints
according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)
The
Holy Spirit also aids the believer in addressing the world. He speaks on our
behalf when we face conflict, as Jesus promises in Mark 13:11. The Spirit
defends us against the world by convicting it of sin. The Holy Spirit works to
vindicate the righteous against the attacks of the ungodly.
The
concept of Paraclete also includes the role of Comforter. This has two aspects
to it. He is a tender source of solace to the wounded, the defeated, and the
grief-stricken. The second aspect is equally important. The word Comforter in
its Latin derivation means "with strength." The Spirit comes to us
when we are in need of strength. He empowers us with courage and boldness. As
Comforter, He both consoles and emboldens that in Christ we may be more than
conquerors (Romans 8:37).
1. Jesus is our first Comforter in His
role of Advocate before the Father.
2. The Holy Spirit is another Comforter
who is a substitute for Jesus after His ascension.
3. The Spirit acts as our present Helper.
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