Another Paraclete, the Spirit of Truth, and Divine Dwelling

Love for Jesus is expressed through keeping his commandments. Jesus promises “another Paraclete”—the Spirit of truth—who will remain with and be in the disciples. He also promises that he will not leave them as orphans and that the Father and Son will make their dwelling with the one who loves him. This is a major development of the divine-presence Thread: tabernacle and temple language from earlier Scripture gives way to God’s presence with believers through Father, Son, and Spirit. Later Christian Trinitarian theology draws heavily from these relations, but a responsible reading should first let John’s own language set the terms.