Scripture uses "Advocate" as a title for both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit — two divine persons who plead the case of the believer before God and within the believer. John writes that "if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the Righteous One" (1 John 2:1). He stands as our defense attorney in the heavenly court, presenting His own righteousness as our plea. Jesus also promised to send "another Advocate" — the Holy Spirit (John 14:16) — who indwells, comforts, counsels, and intercedes for believers with "groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26).
AD'VOCATE, n. [L. advocatus.] One who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; one who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument. In Scripture, Christ is called an Advocate for his people: "We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous" (1 John 2:1). The Holy Ghost is called the Comforter, and in the original, Paraclete — one who is called to aid or support another.
The political sphere has turned "advocate" into pure agitation — advocacy groups advocate for ideological causes, dismantling what they oppose and building what serves their agenda. When stripped of its legal/relational meaning, an advocate becomes a propagandist. The deep comfort of having Christ as one's Advocate — standing between us and divine judgment — is lost when the word merely means "vocal supporter." The original Greek paraklētos carries personal, intimate, costly advocacy: someone who stands alongside at great personal cost.
1 John 2:1 — "But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."
John 14:16 — "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever."
Romans 8:26 — "The Spirit helps us in our weakness... the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."
Hebrews 7:25 — "He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."
G3875 — paraklētos (παράκλητος) — advocate, helper, comforter; one called alongside to assist; used of both the Holy Spirit and Christ.
G1793 — entugchanō (ἐντυγχάνω) — to intercede, to approach on behalf of another; used of Christ's and the Spirit's intercession.
H6293 — pāga' (פָּגַע) — to intercede, entreat, meet; used of intercessory prayer and advocacy before God.
Every believer can approach God with boldness not because of personal righteousness but because they have a divine Advocate whose righteousness is perfect and whose sacrifice is complete. When Satan brings accusations before God (Revelation 12:10), Christ answers with nail-scarred hands. To have Christ as your Advocate is the most secure legal standing in the universe.