John 14:26 (ESV): 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
[Jhn 14:26 MGNT] (26) ὁ δὲ παράκλητος τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ὃ πέμψει ὁ πατὴρ ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί μου ἐκεῖνος ὑμᾶς διδάξει πάντα καὶ ὑπομνήσει ὑμᾶς πάντα ἃ εἶπον ὑμῖν ἐγώ
Does John 14:26 mention three distinct persons?
The Evidence
The Conclusion
The only possible, logical, conclusion is that this is a person.
And with no other clarification, such as the suggestion, anywhere in scripture, that this is an angelic being, one has to conclude that since this (otherwise undesignated person) is sent by the Divine Person of the Father in the name of the Son, and that this person (in and of himself) is holy and has the function of being (in and of himself) an advocate/paraclete and is sent in the name of the Son : one's only conclusion is that this is God, the Holy Spirit.
I can see no other, possible, logical conclusion from these simple words.
The wording used by Jesus cannot accommodate to the concept of a 'force' or 'attribute' or 'aspect'.
One cannot send a part of oneself, in the name of another person, to carry out a function, independently of oneself. Words, language, logic cannot be adjusted to express such a concept. Because such a thing does not exist.
The words, the language, convey the concept of 'Person'.
Therefore, one Person, sends another Person who is holy and who has a function ; and sends that Person in the name of another Person.
Three concepts are conveyed in these words. These concepts are expressed in wording which implies, alludes to, and conveys - 'Person'.
The unity of person, elsewhere expressed in scripture, can be seen in this verse, also. But that was not the question. Only the fact of person was, here, under discussion.
Yes, three distinct persons are in view at John 14:26. The same point is also stated at John 14:16, "And I/Jesus Christ will ask the Father, and He/the Father will give you "another" Helper/Paraclete/Comforter, that He/the Holy Spirit may be with you forever."
In reading the context of John 14 it is without a doubt that three persons are in view, and "NOT" three "aspects" of three kinds of fruit that one poster mentioned.
At John 14:11, Jesus says, "Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves." Moreover, to back up John 14:11, Jesus says at John 14:23, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father, will love him, and WE will come to Him, and make "OUR" Abode with him."
The "We" of "we will come unto him" refers to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This took place for the disciples at Pentecost.
The verse mentions 3 aspects of God's communicating and presence - Himself, His son and His Holy Spirit. We see from the following verses that the Holy Spirit is the spirit of the Father and not a separate entity.
Matthew 10:20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Luke 12:12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say
There is no pressing need for 'whom' in the Greek - 'which' would also be suitable and more accurate.
We must conclude an understanding from all scripture - this one verse on it's own proves nothing about 3 'persons'.
Luke 10:22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.
So clearly, the Holy Spirit as a 'person' has no idea about who Jesus is... this is but one of many examples. Are three distinct persons mentioned in John 14:26? The answer then is No!
We had 1 John 5:7 that was more specific - but that was a forgery.
Not sure how we could justify the above? Scripture is crystal clear.
Firstly God is not a man:
Numbers 23:19 I am not a man that I would sin nor the son of man that I would repent.
Hosea 11:9 I will not destroy Ephraim, for I am God and not a man…
So God is definitely not a person.
Secondly, The Holy Spirit is never defined as a person. In 385 occurrences G4151 is never translated as a person, human being, etc. G4151 translates as current of air, breath.
So short answer, In John 14:26 only 1 person is mentioned, our brother & God’s Lamb.
2 persons. The Parakletos (the Risen Son) and the Father who sends His Spirit (consciousness) through the Parakletos by way of his name. The Parakletos shares the same Spirit as his Father.
We know this because there is only 1 Eternal Spirit and Jesus told us his God and Father is a Spirit.
Its very simple by design for the babes to understand.
John 14:26
But the Helper(the Risen Son), this holy spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
This is actually the only solution so far stated that is congruent with the rest of scriptures.
Below I will present 2 examples of Truths of Scripture which my conclusion is premised on:
1. John, the same author of the verse in question, plainly tells us the Parakletos is the Risen Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have a Parakletos with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2. There is only 1 eternal Spirit and Jesus tells us its his Father.
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and 1 Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
John 4:23-24
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
And just so everything is crystal clear as day... John 20:17
Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and my God, and your God.
Your God is Jesus Christ's God.
Anything else (conceived in the minds of men so far),which claims 2 eternal spirits, contradicts these 2 objective Truths of Scripture, and therefore is not a product of the 1 Spirit of Truth but false spirits who have infiltrated the brick and mortar corporate babylonian mega structure called the "Christian Church" today.
