The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Old Testament Law

<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]The Bible, as we know it, was not compiled when John wrote that statement. So clearly, he was not referring to what later became canonized and known as the Bible.</font><hr></blockquote><p>Obviously you have an inadequate doctrine of Scripture. Although the Canon was not ratified until the 4th century, that does not mean that the writings themselves did not exist before the 4th century. We read that the writings of the Apostles, which were encyclical and read by all the churches. Paul recognized that he and others had been commissioned by Christ to set forth the true in writing and to which all were to give heed and obedience. (Rom 1:1, 5; Col 2:6, 7;1Tim 2:7; 1Thess 2:13; 2Thess 2:15; 3:14) Those early letters of Paul were deemed to be "Scripture" by Peter and John. (cf. 2Pet 3:15, 16; Rev 1:3)<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr>[color:"blue"]The Holy Spirit is the Revealer of Truth. He lives within us, and we can depend on Him to teach us what is true,<br><br>"When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth; for He will not speak on his own authority, but whatever He hears he will speak." (John 16:13)</font><hr></blockquote><p>Scripture itself sets forth its own hermeneutic. They are:<ol>[*]The New Testament interprets the Old Testament</li>[*]The Epistles interpret the Gospels</li>[*]The Universal interprets the Local</li>[*]The Didactic interpret the Symbolic</li>[/LIST]This being an indisputable fact, we must look to the Epistles to properly understand what Jesus Christ said in John 16:13. Did the Apostles understand what Jesus said directly to them in the same way in which you interpret this text? The answer is a resounding, "No!". Here are but a few of the myriad passages which refute your interpretation and contrariwise state that it is through human teachers that the Holy Spirit works in the heart of believers: Acts 5:42; 13:1; 1Cor 4:17; 1Tim 1:3; 3:2; 4:11; 6:2, 3; 2Tim 2:2, 24; Titus 2:4; Heb 5:12; 1Jh 2:26, 27; et al. Not only do we have these passages but it is God's specific design that there be men appointed for the task of teaching:<blockquote>1 Corinthians 12:28 (KJV) "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, <span style="background-color:yellow;">thirdly teachers</span>, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."<br><br>Ephesians 4:10-12 (ASV) "He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, <span style="background-color:yellow;">pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ:</span></blockquote>I repeat, the Spirit always works in, through and by the written Word, not apart or in addition to the written Word.<br><br>In His Grace,