My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor{Greek Parakleton: Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, and Comfortor.} with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
Advocate with the Father ... The word here rendered "Advocate" is exactly the same word translated "Comforter" in  John 14:16,26;  John 15:26 and  John 16:7.  Of course, in those passages, the Comforter refers to the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to send to be "with the Christians," especially the apostles; but here the Comforter is the Christ who is "with the Father."  Dodd and other critics have tried to make a big issue out of this so-called difference; but there is no difference at all.  In both cases, the Comforter is for the advantage and encouragement of the Christians, Christ with the Father, the Holy Spirit with the Christians.  Furthermore, did not Christ himself make this perfectly plain when he said, "He shall give you another Comforter" (John 14:16)?  Even in that passage, it is clear that Christ himself is the other one.