bible verses about the advocate

Bible Verses About the Advocate: 12

Bible verses about the advocate: 12 Scriptures on Jesus as our advocate.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published October 1, 20265 min read1 John 2:1 (NIV)

A person sits quietly on a sandstone overlook beneath an olive tree, looking toward a distant village.

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One."

— 1 John 2:1 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about the advocate want Scripture on Jesus as advocate with the Father — 1 John 2:1 — not only the Holy Spirit comforter inventory (where paraklētos also names the Spirit), the intercession prayer list, or the mediator go-between list alone. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about intercession, Bible verses about Jesus, Bible verses about the mediator, Bible verses about forgiveness, Bible verses about the cross, Bible verses about salvation, Bible verses about following Jesus, and Bible verse of the day. Advocate here means Greek paraklētos in 1 John 2:1 — Jesus Christ the Righteous One with the Father — distinct from Spirit-as-comforter inventory alone, intercession-as-prayer list alone, or mediator alone.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "advocate" is παράκλητος paraklētos (Strong's G3875; Bible Hub G3875) — one called alongside to help: advocate, helper, comforter. In 1 John 2:1 the word names Jesus with the Father when we sin. In John 14–16 the same word names the Holy Spirit as another Helper — that comforter stack belongs on Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. This page stays on Jesus as advocate. Closely related themes include intercession, mediator, and forgiveness — each gets its own page emphasis.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 John 2 presses that if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ the righteous (Bible Hub MHC 1 John 2; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on 1 John 2). (Intercession, mediator, and Holy Spirit lists live on those pages; this list centers Jesus as advocate.)

12 Bible verses about the advocate

  1. 1 John 2:1. "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One." An advocate with the Father — Jesus Christ. See Bible verses about Jesus.

  2. 1 John 2:2. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." The atoning sacrifice — for our sins. See Bible verses about atonement.

  3. Romans 8:33. "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies." Who will bring any charge — God who justifies. See Bible verses about salvation.

  4. Job 16:19. "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high." My advocate is on high. See Bible verses about the mediator.

  5. Isaiah 50:8-9. "He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up." He who vindicates me is near. See Bible verses about hope.

  6. Lamentations 3:58. "You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life." You took up my case. See Bible verses about redemption.

  7. Psalm 119:154. "Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise." Defend my cause and redeem me. See Bible verses about prayer.

  8. Zechariah 3:1-2. "Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him. The Lord said to Satan, 'The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?'" The Lord rebuke you, Satan — accusation answered. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

  9. Revelation 12:10. "Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: 'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.'" The accuser hurled down. See Bible verses about salvation.

  10. Psalm 35:1. "Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me." Contend, Lord, with those who contend with me. See Bible verses about prayer.

  11. Proverbs 23:11. "for their Defender is strong; he will take up their case against you." Their Defender is strong. See Bible verses about hope.

  12. Micah 7:9. "Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord's wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness." He pleads my case and upholds my cause. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need the advocate — not twelve as a grind. If you need Jesus named as advocate, start with 1 John 2:1. If you need charge answered by justification, open Romans 8:33. If you need accusation rebuked, open Zechariah 3:1-2. For prayer on behalf of others, open Bible verses about intercession. For the Spirit as Helper/Comforter, open Bible verses about the Holy Spirit. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about the advocate?

1 John 2:1 (advocate with the Father), Romans 8:33 (who will bring any charge), and Job 16:19 (my advocate is on high) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about the advocate differ from the Holy Spirit, intercession, or mediator?

The Holy Spirit page includes the Spirit as paraklētos (Helper/Comforter). Intercession centers prayer for others. Mediator centers the one between God and people. This page centers Jesus as advocate with the Father in 1 John 2:1 — then cross-links those companions. See Bible verses about intercession.

What does paraklētos mean?

Greek paraklētos (G3875) means one called alongside — advocate, helper, comforter. In 1 John 2:1 it names Jesus; in John 14–16 it also names the Spirit (see the Holy Spirit page).

Is the advocate the same as the high priest?

Related but not the same emphasis: high priest centers Hebrews' priestly office; advocate centers the courtroom/defense picture in 1 John 2:1. See Bible verses about the high priest once that page is live.

Where can I read more about intercession, Jesus, and forgiveness?

Start with Bible verses about intercession, then Bible verses about Jesus, Bible verses about the mediator, and Bible verses about forgiveness. When the question is Job's daysman (KJV umpire in Job 9:33) rather than the advocate, see Bible verses about daysman.

Sources

A man sits quietly on a stone overlook beneath an olive tree.

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