AUTHORITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE "MISSING LINK" IN OUR CONTEMPORARY UNDERSTANDING OF DIVINE AUTHORITY?, THE

Trinity Journal, Fall 2004 by Studebaker, John A Jr

Scripture demonstrates a progressive revelation of the Spirit's veracious authority. Job 4:12-15; 26:3f.; and 32:8 portray the Spirit as the teacher of truth and wisdom and as the director of the human development of "understanding." First Corinthians 2:1-8 associates Spirit, Word, and wisdom, within the context of the knowledge of Christ (see esp. 2:2). As for the Spirit of Truth in the church, 2 Tim 3:16-17 develops the idea of Scripture's profitability ("for teaching, for conviction, for correction, and for training which is in righteousness") upon its inspired, pneumatological character.

C. Conclusions

For the Reformers, the Spirit's assistance in scriptural interpretation was a central aspect of sola scriptura. Both Luther and John Calvin placed the Spirit "over" Scripture (Luther emphasizing the Spirit's work through the Word in preaching, the sacraments, and salvation; Calvin, the Spirit's inspiration and subjective illumination). While Scripture identifies the Father as the "originator" of truth (i.e., John 14:16) and Jesus as the incarnational interpretation of the Father's truth (14:26), the Spirit is identified in John 14:26 as the teacher of truth. This teaching occurs as Scripture is inspired by the Spirit (2 Pet 1:21) and then as the Spirit provides contemporary interpretation of Scripture's truth to me. The Spirit's role is thus to interpret the truth of the Father in the Son to the contemporary world. The Spirit is not the ultimate source of truth; instead, he is the executor of the truth, "opening up" the truth -in particular the truth of Jesus -so that it can be known by believers and therefore have authority in and over believers. The Spirit's veracious authority is thus a vital aspect of his executorial authority.

This leads us to the question of epistemology, which is addressed by Jesus' word "abides" (John 14:17). The abiding Spirit prevents a humanistic, rationalistic understanding of truth. The Spirit of Truth who inspires the Scriptures does not allow Scripture to be reduced to a dead letter, but must "abide" in the believer in order for Scripture to be interpreted correctly. The Spirit always remains centrally focused as the revealer and interpreter of the living God.67 The church, however, is able to embody either the Spirit of Truth or a spirit of error (or darkness, deception, etc.), the presence of which seems to precede or determine corporate decisions regarding doctrine, hermeneutics, theology, etc. The Spirit displays a veracious/executorial authority by providing the church community with great confidence regarding Christ's continued guidance. Through the authority of the Spirit the church can become the sort of "hermeneutical community" in which the Word of God becomes embodied within the life and mission of the local community. This Word, spoken and preached and lived with its full authority, is the "sword of the Spirit" (Eph 6:17), a sword best sharpened in community contexts where "iron sharpens iron" (Prov 27:17). In addition, church leaders participate in church guidance as they "listen" to the Spirit speaking "in the church" (i.e., John 16:13; Revelation 2-3). Such "listening," however, must occur within the protective parameters provided by our pattern of divine authority, so that they in turn might protect the local church against any abuse of authority or "establishment" of human authority. Furthermore, leaders are responsible to guard the church and its message against the infestation of foreign idols and ideals. Paul exhorts Timothy to "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you" (2 Tim 1:14). Timothy is to guard the gospel -for in this simple message all authority of Christ is displayed - and is to do so through the Holy Spirit's veracious, illuminating authority.