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58 What Books and Words Make Up the Christian Scriptures?
“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time
that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the
baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one
of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also
called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord,
who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have
chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which
Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for
them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the
eleven apostles. (Acts 1:21–26)
Jesus Promises the Spirit of Truth
Not only had Jesus planned that there would be authorized spokesmen
to provide foundational teaching for the church, but he also promised
to send the Holy Spirit to guide them in what they teach. The night
before he was crucified, Jesus said to the Twelve,
And:
These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the
Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he
will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I
have said to you. (John 14:25–26)
I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them
now. 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, and he will declare to you the things that are to
come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare
it to you. (John 16:12–14)
The earthly teaching of Jesus was not all he had to say to his church:
“I still have many things to say to you.” His plan was to complete his
foundational teaching for the church (Eph. 2:20) through the Holy
Spirit. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
What the church would need to know about the glory of Christ, which
is not fully revealed in his earthly ministry, will be completed by the