GOD has only one school, and every believer on earth is a scholar in it. This school has only one Teacher and one lesson-book. The Holy Spirit is the Teacher, and the Holy Scriptures the lesson book. God would have all His people taught the same truth, so that they should “all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among them” (1 Cor. 1:1010Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)).
Whatever help believers may be to each other in the things of God, they possess no given authority. Being learners, they gladly impart to others what they themselves have learned. They are like pupil teachers in a school: they are both learners and subordinate teachers at the same time.
The Holy Spirit only can teach “all things,” and lead into “all truth” (see John 14:26; 16:1326But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
13Howbeit 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 show you things to come. (John 16:13)).
The Lord’s people are responsible to prove all things spoken or written by those who are, according to our figure, only in the place of “pupil teachers,” and to receive only that which is according to the Holy Scriptures (see 1 Thess. 5:2121Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)). “Pupil teachers” are warned not to domineer over the faith of God’s people (see 1 Peter 5:33Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:3)).
It does not follow because all believers have a place in God’s school that they all profit by ‘it, for we read of some who were “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:77Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:7)).
God has always taken account of His people’s conduct, and has written a good report of many of them who were under the first covenant (see Heb. 11.); and He does the same concerning those who walk in the light of the second covenant, of which the blood of Christ was the seal. This has superseded the one given by Moses, and is the basis of all the present teaching in the school of God.
When Jesus was on earth He gave as a proof of persons being taught of God that they came to Him. “Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto Me” (John 6:4545It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:45)). Later on, when Jesus was glorified, the mark of a spiritual man was that he was subject to apostolic teaching. “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:3737If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. (1 Corinthians 14:37)); and again, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:66We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)).
Thus all the scholars who have been taught of God recognized the persons through whom God was giving His mind, whether through the prophets of old, or through Jesus when on earth, or the apostles after Jesus had gone to heaven.
In the days of the apostles there were those who, while belonging to the school of God, yet had not learned the truth of the new covenant (see Gal. 3:11O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (Galatians 3:1)). This state of ignorance has continued, and many of God’s people today are uninstructed in the teaching of the New Testament (or covenant), although it was made in the blood of Jesus. He said, “This is My blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt. 26:2828For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26:28)).
The Holy Scriptures―the lesson-book―are of the greatest value to God’s people, who are taught by the one Teacher―the Holy Spirit. By them they learn sound doctrine, and refuse what is false. Those who do not learn in God’s school find but little of value in them, and therefore value them but little, and, as a consequence, when false teachers take them away or ignore them, they quietly submit.
Moses began the Scriptures, which were added to by other writers as God was pleased to give additional light. These writings were given during a period of about 4,000 years, but they refer at least to a period of 7,000 years, for they speak of 1,000 years yet to come (Rev. 20:5, 65But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:5‑6)). From the time of Moses all the scholars taught in God’s school acknowledged what was written by inspiration as binding upon them. They never called in question the Holy Scriptures.
After the new covenant was made, in the blood of Jesus, the subsequent writings were all based on accomplished redemption, and unfolded the various truths which were consequent upon it. The predictions of the old covenant writers, which remain yet to be fulfilled, are referred to by the new covenant writers as confirmatory of their own writings. Thus all the inspired writings are woven together, making one beautiful whole, and those who are taught of God are taught from them, and learn to love and treasure them up in their hearts, that they may not sin against God.
G. W. GY.