Paper 194 Overview: Bestowal of the Spirit of Truth

Around one o'clock, the one hundred and twenty believers who were engaged in prayer became aware of a strange presence in the room and experienced a profound sense of spiritual joy and confidence. This spiritual enlightenment was immediately followed by a strong urge to publicly proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, marking the arrival of the Spirit of Truth that Jesus had promised them. Peter recognized this as the coming of the Spirit and suggested they go to the temple to begin proclaiming the good news, which they promptly did.

The apostles had been trained to preach the fatherhood of God and the sonship of man, but in this moment of spiritual ecstasy, they shifted their focus to proclaiming the risen Master. This marked an unintentional substitution of the facts about Jesus for the original gospel message itself. Nonetheless, this new expression of Christianity, though altered from Jesus' original teachings, began to spread rapidly as the disciples proclaimed their newfound spiritual experiences with tremendous enthusiasm.

The one hundred and twenty believers were engaged in prayer when they became aware of a strange presence and experienced a profound new sense of spiritual joy, security, and confidence. This transformative experience was followed by a strong urge to publicly proclaim the gospel of the kingdom and the good news of Jesus' resurrection. Peter recognized this as the coming of the Spirit of Truth that Jesus had promised and suggested they go to the temple to begin sharing their message.

Though the apostles had been trained to preach about the fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man, they now focused primarily on proclaiming the risen Christ. This shifted their message from Jesus' original gospel of the kingdom to facts about Jesus himself, particularly his resurrection. While this represented an unintentional departure from the original message, it became the foundation for Christianity as it began to spread throughout the world, carried forward by the spiritually energized disciples who had experienced this profound transformation.

The apostles had been in hiding for forty days until Pentecost, a Jewish festival that had brought thousands of visitors to Jerusalem. Emerging from their seclusion, they boldly appeared in the temple and began to preach the new message of a risen Messiah. This coincided with the feast when many proselytes from different regions had gathered, creating an ideal audience for their proclamation. Their sudden courage and public preaching marked a striking contrast to their previous fearful hiding.

At approximately two o'clock, Peter stood up in the same place where Jesus had last taught in the temple and delivered an impassioned appeal that won over more than two thousand souls. Six apostles participated in this remarkable meeting, speaking in Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and occasionally in other languages with which they had some familiarity. The Jewish leaders were astounded by their boldness but feared to interfere because of the large numbers who believed the apostles' message about Jesus having risen from the dead.

By half past four that afternoon, more than two thousand new believers followed the apostles to the pool of Siloam, where Peter, Andrew, James, and John baptized them in the Master's name. Pentecost was traditionally a significant festival for baptizing proselytes, making it an especially appropriate time for this mass conversion. These new believers did not consider themselves as breaking away from Judaism but rather as embracing a new spiritual understanding within their existing faith tradition. All the apostles and these early believers remained loyal to the essential requirements of the Jewish ceremonial system.

Jesus had lived and taught a gospel that elevated humanity from the superstition of being children of evil to the dignity of being faith children of God. Now that he had physically departed from the world, he sent the Spirit of Truth to dwell within believers and to restate his message freshly for each new generation. This spirit would serve as an up-to-date and personal guide to help people solve their unique spiritual challenges, adapting the eternal truths to the specific needs of each age.

The Spirit of Truth fulfills several essential functions in the lives of believers. First, it fosters and personalizes truth, helping individuals comprehend the Father's love and the Son's mercy. It also removes the sense of orphanhood that Jesus' followers might have felt after his departure, providing a continuing sense of his presence. Additionally, this bestowal prepared the way for the universal gift of the Father's spirit (the Thought Adjuster) to all humanity. The spirit does not create awareness of itself but rather enhances the believer's consciousness of Jesus.

Furthermore, this spirit helps believers recall and better understand Jesus' teachings, illuminating and reinterpreting his life on earth. It assists them in witnessing to the realities of Jesus' teachings and his life, leading them into an expanding knowledge of spiritual truth and a growing consciousness of their divine sonship. While Jesus' life was not meant to be literally imitated, his death, resurrection, and the subsequent gift of his spirit created a new gospel that, despite some distortions of his original message, carried forward many of his fundamental teachings about God's fatherhood and human brotherhood.

Many unusual and strange interpretations have become associated with the Pentecost event over time, often confusing the true purpose of the Spirit of Truth with emotional outbursts. The primary mission of this outpoured spirit is to teach people about the Father's love and the Son's mercy, revealing the Father's spiritual nature and the Son's moral character. Through this spirit, Jesus has been able to live his life anew in the experience of each believer since that momentous day, allowing his influence to expand far beyond what was possible during his physical lifetime on earth.

Life's hardships and injustices can be difficult to reconcile with the idea of a universe governed by truth and righteousness. Yet, faith in Jesus demonstrates that goodness and truth ultimately triumph over evil and sin. Jesus faced life's harshest realities, including betrayal and crucifixion, but met these challenges with faith, courage, and an unwavering determination to fulfill his Father's will. The religion of Jesus offers joy and peace to enhance life's journey rather than providing an escape from life's difficulties. His spirit urges humanity upward rather than offering mere comfort.

On Pentecost, Jesus' religion broke free from national boundaries and racial limitations. The Spirit of Truth became a personal gift from the Master to every sincere believer, qualifying them to more effectively spread the gospel. This spirit was not bestowed exclusively upon the apostles but was given to all honest-hearted individuals throughout the world. Jesus' religion fosters the highest type of human civilization by creating spiritually mature personalities who recognize the sacred value of each person. The spirit provides an ever-expanding and growing religious experience that transcends conservative and radical extremes, allowing for endless progress and divine unfolding.

When Jesus was arrested and crucified, his disciples were thoroughly demoralized. They had hoped he would be the Messiah who would restore Israel's kingdom, but his death shattered these expectations. The resurrection dramatically transformed their outlook, rekindling their faith in Jesus' divinity and his message. After witnessing him multiple times and receiving his final instructions on Mount Olivet, they awaited the promised Spirit of Truth, which arrived on Pentecost and propelled them into public ministry with unprecedented courage and conviction.

The apostles began boldly preaching in Jerusalem, proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead and would soon return to establish his kingdom. Their message shifted from Jesus' original gospel of the Father's kingdom to emphasizing his resurrection, ascension, and anticipated return. This new focus became Christianity—a religion about Jesus rather than the religion of Jesus. Nevertheless, this community of believers demonstrated remarkable unity and devotion, continuing steadfastly in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.

The early Christian community displayed extraordinary qualities of shared living and worship. They called each other brother and sister, greeted one another with a holy kiss, and ministered to the poor. Though they did not establish a formal communal system by decree, many believers sold their possessions to share with others, expecting Jesus' imminent return. They celebrated the Lord's Supper as a social meal followed by sacrament, and initially baptized converts only in Jesus' name. The movement grew rapidly despite opposition, eventually separating from Judaism after Stephen's martyrdom and spreading throughout the Roman Empire as Christianity.