We believe that in the beginning of the Church, the Apostles of Christ were entrusted with the message of the Gospel. There were no New Testament Scriptures for them to quote, for they themselves wrote them for the True Author, the Holy Spirit. Yet even without New Covenant Scriptures, the Apostles taught the true and inerrant Faith. Were you to have conversed with Paul, there would have been no debating with him what he "really meant" when he wrote some passage in one of the Epistles. Christ said of the Apostles, "He who listens to you, listens to me. He who rejects you, rejects me." Later, St. Peter said to Christ in John 6, "Where else shall we go, for you have the words of eternal life." Jesus sent His Apostles out to preach those same words of eternal life, and He gave them His Spirit to ensure that it was done correctly.
One instance where the guidance of the Holy Spirit shone through was recorded in Acts Chapter 15. The Early Christian Church was faced with a dilemma: were those gentiles who had not been circumcised after their conversion saved? There was a great debate among the faithful, which called those chosen by God as shepards into action.
The Council of Jerusalem was convened and the leaders of the Church gathered and discussed this problem. After reaching their conclusion, they announced it with the following words, "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things..." (Acts 15:28).
We see two things here. First we see the Apsotles in collegiality proclaiming what seems "good to the Holy Spirit." Second we see what they pronounce is not only a burden, but is in fact obligatory, the faithful must obey the command which came from the Holy Spirit through the Apostles. A letter is sent proclaiming this to all the Church as the true Faith and obedience is expected. From that point forward, all who teach that doctrine of the Faith can be assured that is the true Gospel. Before the Council of Jerusalem there was legitimate discussion as to what the true faith was, now there could only be submission, for the Holy Spirit had spoken.
Catholics believe that the Bishops of today are the successors of the Apostles and those the Apostles ordained to lead the new Churches of the world that were and are being founded. When they speak in collegiality, that is together as in a council, we believe that the Holy Spirit protects them from proclaiming error, as promised in Matthew 16:18 and further signified in 1 Timothy 3:15 and Ephesians 2:20. Through the "pillar and foundation of truth," and built on the "foundation of the Apostles, with Christ being the cornerstone" we believe the teachings of Christ were preserved.
End part 1...
