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.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 13. When he, the Spirit of Truth, is come, he will teach you all truth; will direct you and the Church, in the ways of truth. For he shall not speak of himself, or of himself only, because, says Saint Augustine he is not from himself, but proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Whatsoever he shall hear, he shall speak [3]; this his hearing, says Saint Augustine is his knowledge, and his knowledge is his essence, or being, which from eternity is from the Father and the Son. The like expressions are applied to the Son, as proceeding from the Father. John 5:30 and 8:16. and so forth Witham.—If he shall teach all truth, and that for ever, (chapter 11 verse 26) how is it possible, that the Church can err, or hath erred in matters of faith, at any time, or in any point of doctrine? In this supposition, would not the Holy Ghost have forfeited his title of Spirit of Truth?