The Necessity of the Spirit's Teaching to the Right Understanding of the Scriptures
C. Hodge, D. D. John 16:13 However, when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself… I. THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF KNOWLEDGE — of faith, of repentance. Simon Magus believed and remained in the gall of bitterness. Paul believed and became a Christian. In both cases there was a persuasion of the truth. Simon believed when he saw miracles; Paul when Christ was revealed in him. Judas repented when he saw the evil consequences of his treachery; Peter when he saw his conduct in its true character. So there is a simple intellectual knowledge of the truth, and there is a spiritual knowledge and discernment. II. HOW ARE THESE RELATED? How do they agree and differ? The things known and the act of knowing are the same. But the spiritual excellence of the object is not apprehended in the one case, while it is in the other. This may be illustrated by the case of the discernment of beauty. Now, with regard to the knowledge of the Scriptures, there is no reason why the unrenewed man, without any special aid of the Spirit, should not acquire that knowledge, as well as the knowledge of any similar volume under the same conditions. 1. Assiduous study. 2. In the right method and in the use of the right means. 3. Impartiality and honesty. Now, although this is possible, it is in reference to the Scriptures difficult and rare, because of the opposition of the heart to Bible doctrines, and because the judgments of men are so largely determined by their feelings. Therefore, for the attainment of this intellectual knowledge there is great need of the Spirit's guidance to produce docility, and to prevent opposition to the truth blinding the mind. III. FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE THE CASE IS PLAIN. The Scriptures teach — 1. The absolute necessity of Divine teaching. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God," &c. The Bible abounds in prayers for Divine teaching, and Paul declares all external teaching vain without it. 2. The cause of this ignorance, blindness, and inability to know the things of God arises from two sources. (1) Our depravity. We are natural, carnal — the opposite of the Spiritual — which we cannot, therefore, discern. (2) The god of this world blinds the eyes. He persuades men to reject the truth, raises objections, and excites the enmity of the heart. 3. It is a solemn fact, therefore, that those only who are led by the Spirit come to a knowledge of the truth. This is His great office, must be recognized and accepted. Correct speculative knowledge and spiritual knowledge experience teaches do not admit of protracted separation. Orthodoxy will not last long without piety. An unconverted ministry forsakes the truth. (C. Hodge, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. WEB: However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming.