Attorney
Summary
A legal advocate or expert in the law, represented in Scripture by lawyers, scribes, and doctors of the law who interpreted and taught Mosaic legislation.
☩Legal Experts in Scripture
The work of 'lawyers' (Greek nomikos, 'an expert in law'), also known as 'scribes' or 'doctors of the law,' was threefold: to study and interpret the law, to instruct Hebrew youth in the law, and to decide legal questions. They served as scholars, teachers, and advisers in courts. Over time they developed extensive case law through casuistic interpretation. Jesus criticized their burdensome additions to the law.
☩Christ as Advocate
The Greek parakletos ('one who takes up another's cause') is translated 'Advocate' for Christ and 'Comforter' for the Holy Spirit. 'If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.' Christ intercedes for believers before the Father, not as a hired attorney but as our righteous representative who satisfied divine justice.
