Is “Another” Comforter another Being?

Is “ANOTHER” Comforter, whom Jesus said He would send in John 14:16, a different being than Himself or is It/He Himself but in ANOTHER form?

Let us take a look at how John used the same word as Christ did and you can decide what Christ meant according to the words of inspiration.

Our TRINITARIAN BRETHREN often quote the following verse to suggest that the ANOTHER (ἄλλος, ALLOS) COMFORTER cannot be Christ Himself but a different being. Here is the very verse as written by JOHN:

John 14:16 (KJV)  “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you ANOTHER (G243 ἄλλος, ALLOS) Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.”

Let us now see how John used this word in another passage as he writes of ANOTHER disciple.

John 18:15-16 (KJV)  “And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did ANOTHER (G243 ἄλλος ALLOS) DISCIPLE: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that OTHER (G243 ἄλλος ALLOS) disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.”

The Greek word translated as ANOTHER and OTHER in John 18:15 and 16 respectively is both “ALLOS” as we have also seen in Jesus’ words in speaking of ANOTHER Comforter.

Please note that even though John wrote “ANOTHER DISCIPLE,” he was actually speaking of HIMSELF. We know it was John, for Ellen White wrote:

“Simon Peter had followed Jesus, AND SO HAD ANOTHER DISCIPLE. THAT DISCIPLE, JOHN, “was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.” (Review and Herald, December 26, 1899, par. 3)

But didn’t John used “another” to mean someone other than Peter thus, “another” still denotes a different person?  Yes. John in 18 is speaking in the third person but the term, “another” actually refers to John, as in someone “other” than Peter…

But further examination of John 14 would show that Jesus is essentially using the term, “another” in the exactly the same manner.

In John 14, Jesus, not unlike John chapter 18, is speaking in the third person and yet, he is still distinguishing the Comforter as someone other than His physical self, meaning the Comforter will be sent as someone who is “different” than the Person (Christ) disciples had been with…it is Christ, and yet different… who will manifest in His Spirit, unseen, divested of personality of humanity…

Allos makes a distinction. In the case of John with Peter, the former is “allos” than Peter.

In the case of Jesus, the “allos” is the Comforter. The distinction is not with another person, but with the form. The Comforter is indeed, literally a “third person” of Christ; it is Christ in His spirit, different than his physical self.

On a side note, we find another usage of the word ANOTHER in 1 Samuel 10:6, where Samuel anointed Saul and said to him, “And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.” Now Saul was still Saul, yet after his experience, he was now ANOTHER man.

Clearly, the argument used by our TRINITARIAN brethren to state that ANOTHER COMFORTER is not Jesus simply because He used the word ALLOS is an erroneous argument that must be laid aside with other arguments used out of context to try to force the scriptures to say what they do not.

John is the ANOTHER DISCIPLE and Jesus is the ANOTHER COMFORTER, for He even tells us a few verses later, “I WILL COME TO YOU” and I believe He did and still does!

In fact, He came back as early as the day of His resurrection, and appeared in ANOTHER FORM to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus, and they did not recognize Him until supper time. “After that he appeared in ANOTHER FORM unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.” (Mark 16:12)

Furthermore, Jesus would often refer to Himself in the THIRD PERSON as though He was speaking of another being than Himself. Here are some examples:

“After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; GLORIFY YOUR SON so that THE SON MAY GLORIFY YOU, since you have given HIM authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given HIM. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and JESUS CHRIST whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed” (John 17:1-5).

Note: Jesus speaks of Himself in the third person in verses 1 through 3, but then He changes His point of reference as He speaks in the first person from verse 4 onward. This pattern is similar to John chapter 14 in which He speaks of Himself in the third person regarding the ANOTHER COMFORTER in verse 16, but He follows that by stating “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you” in verse 18.

More examples of third person language referring to Himself:

“I tell you that HE will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the SON OF MAN cometh, shall HE find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)

“Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?  He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen HIM, and it is HE that talketh with thee” (John 9:35-37).

To Nicodemus, Jesus said of Himself, “God sent his Son into the world that the world through HIM might be saved” (John 3:17).

To the woman at the well Jesus said, “If you knew who it is that says to you, Give me to drink, you would have asked of HIM, and HE would have given you living water” (John 4:10).

When confronting the leaders in the temple, Jesus announced, “The Son can do nothing of HIMSELF but what HE sees the Father do” (John 5:19).

After his transfiguration, Jesus said to his disciples, “The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: and they shall kill HIM, and the third day HE shall be raised again” (Matt 17:22, 23).

The persistent confusion about what Jesus meant by this warning was partly due to this indirect third person reference to Himself. “HE shall be delivered unto the Gentiles…And they shall scourge and put HIM to death” (Luke 18:32, 33).

As Jesus walked to Emmaus He said to His unsuspecting traveling companions, “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into HIS glory?” (Luke 24:26).

Let’s see what the Spirit of prophecy says regarding the Emmaus encounter.

“Thus Christ discoursed to His disciples, opening their minds that they might understand the Scriptures. The disciples were weary, but the conversation did not flag. Words of life and assurance fell from the Saviour’s lips. But still their eyes were holden. As He told them of the overthrow of Jerusalem, they looked upon the doomed city with weeping. But little did they yet suspect who their traveling companion was. They did not think that the subject of their conversation was walking by their side; for CHRIST REFERRED TO HIMSELF AS THOUGH HE WERE ANOTHER PERSON.” (Desire of Ages, 800.1)

So when Ellen White spoke of the third person of the Godhead, could she be using Christ’s third person language to refer to Jesus Himself in ANOTHER form?

Jesus was no doubt the Comforter to His disciples when He was with them on earth, but having experienced humanity, He came back to them in His Spirit, which was divested of humanity, and dwelt in them. This makes HIM “another” Comforter. For He had said in John 14:17, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth WITH you, and shall be IN you.” As a Comforter, He was with them physically, but as ANOTHER Comforter, He would be in them spiritually.

Pen of inspiration affirms Christ as the Comforter

Original letter written to Brother Chapman from Petoskey, Michigan, June 11, 1891:

“It is not essential for you to know and be able to define just what the Holy Spirit is. CHRIST TELLS US THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE COMFORTER, AND THE COMFORTER IS THE HOLY GHOST, “the Spirit of truth, which the Father shall send in My name.” “I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him, for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” [John 14:16, 17]. “THIS [Holy Spirit] REFERS TO THE OMNIPRESENCE OF THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, CALLED THE COMFORTER. Again Jesus says, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth” [John 16:12, 13]. Manuscript Releases vol.14 p. 179 {14MR 179.2}

“The reason why the churches are weak and sickly and ready to die, is that the enemy has brought influences of a discouraging nature to bear upon trembling souls.  He[Satan] HAS SOUGHT TO SHUT JESUS FROM THEIR VIEW AS THE COMFORTER, as one who reproves, who warns, who admonishes them, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it”” –Review and Herald, August 26, 1890 par. 10

“Jesus says, “I will send you the Comforter. MY SPIRIT alone is competent for the task of saving the world, if they will accept of the provisions of My grace. The Comforter shall convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” [John 16:7, 8.] {Ms40-1890.60}

“Let the peace and comfort of the Holy Spirit come into your hearts. Open the door of your hearts, that JESUS MAY ENTER AS AN HONORED GUEST, and you will have a Comforter.”–This Day with God, Ch.26 by EGW

“Let them study the seventeenth of John, and learn how to pray and how to live the prayer of CHRIST. HE IS THE Comforter. He will abide in their hearts, making their joy full.” — (E.G. White, RH, Jan 27, 1903)

“As by faith we look to Jesus, our faith pierces the shadow, and we adore God for His wondrous love in giving JESUS THE COMFORTER.” — (E.G. White, 19MR 297.3)

“CHRIST is to be known by the blessed name of COMFORTER. “The Comforter,” said Christ to His disciples, “which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, [John 14:26 quoted]” — (E.G. White, Ms7-1902, Jan 26, 1902)

“The SAVIOUR is our COMFORTER. This I have proved Him to be.” — (E.G. White, 8MR 49.3)

“There is NO COMFORTER LIKE CHRIST, so tender and so true.  He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.  His Spirit speaks to the heart. . .” (RH, Oct. 26, 1897)

For further study, check out,
“Who is the Comforter in John 14”. Click HERE.

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  1. There is God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. — Matthew 28:19

    And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; – John 14:18 – EGW commenting on this verse wrote, "Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always there, one given in Christ’s place, to act in His stead" — RH, Oct. 26, 1897.

    John 16:7-14
    7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

    8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

    9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

    10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;

    11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

    12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

    13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

    14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

    Warnings
    Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, – Colossians 2:18

    EGW wrote, "Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ are working as blind men" – MR 760, pp. 9,10.

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