John 14:15

ἐὰν … τηρήσατε. The fulfilment of the promise He is about to give depends upon their condition of heart and life. This therefore He announces as the preamble to the promise. On their side there would be a constant endeavour to carry out His instructions: on His side κἀγὼ ἐρωτήσω … During His ministry Jesus has said little of the Spirit. Now on the eve of His departure He directs attention to this “alter ego”. He designates Him ἄλλον παράκλητον, implying that Jesus Himself was a Paraclete. See 1 John 2:1. παράκλητος is literally advocatus, called to one's aid, especially in a court of justice. [Cf. παραστάτης in Arist., Thesm., 369; Ecclesiastes, 9.] See especially Hatch, Essays in Bibl. Greek, p. 82, and Westcott's “Additional Note”. “Comforter” in A.V [88] is used in its original sense of “strengthener” (con, fortis); as in Wiclift's version of Philippians 4:13, “I may all thingis in him that comfortith me” (see Wright's Bible Word-Book). This, Paraclete should remain with them for ever, and He is specifically designated (John 14:17) τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς ἀληθείας, cf. John 16:13-14; He would enable them to understand the new truths which were battling with their old conceptions, and to readjust their beliefs round a new centre He would explain the departure of Christ, and the principles of the new economy under which they were henceforth to live. This spirit was to be peculiarly theirs, ὃ ὁ κόσμος οὐ δύναται λαβεῖν, the characteristically worldly cannot receive that which can only be apprehended by spiritually prepared persons. It has been proposed to render λαβεῖν, “seize” or “apprehend,” as if a contrast to the world's apprehension and dismissal of Jesus were intended. But λαμβάνειν τὸ πνεῦμα is regularly used in N.T. to express “receiving the Spirit,” Galatians 3:2; 1 Corinthians 2:12. The world cannot receive the Spirit ὅτι οὐ θεωρεῖ αὐτὸ, … Outward sense cannot apprehend the invisible Spirit; and the world has no personal experience of His presence and power; but ye, ὑμεῖς, have this experimental knowledge, “because He is even now abiding with you (has already begun His ministry; or, rather, has this for His characteristic that He remains with you, making you the object of His work), and shall be within you”. With the entire statement cf. 1 Corinthians 2:8-14.

[88] Authorised Version.