Discerning When To Share Spiritual Truths Biblically
Discerning when to share spiritual truths biblically involves understanding both the divine origin of these truths and the human capacity to receive them. The Bible itself indicates that there is "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7). This suggests that the communication of spiritual matters is not indiscriminate but requires wisdom and discernment.
Central to sharing spiritual truths is the role of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised His disciples that the "Spirit of truth" would come to testify about Him (John 15:26). This Spirit is not only the source of truth but also the one who enables its reception. The Holy Spirit reveals "the things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10) and "the things of Christ" (John 16:14), bringing Christ's words to remembrance (John 14:26) and guiding believers in godliness (Isaiah 30:21; Ezekiel 36:27) [1]. The Spirit's witness is considered truth and is to be implicitly received (1 John 5:6, 9) [2].
The ability to understand spiritual truths is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Believers are said to have an anointing from the Holy One, which gives them the capacity to understand and recognize spiritual truth, enabling them to discern what aligns with apostolic teaching [4]. John Gill, commenting on Proverbs, notes that spiritual truths are "plain to him that understandeth," referring to those whose understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of God. Without this spiritual enlightenment, even those with natural knowledge cannot grasp these truths, as they are "spiritually discerned" [7]. Charles Hodge further elaborates that the natural soul is "spiritually dead" and "blind," requiring the Spirit to impart life, open eyes, and soften the heart for the Word to exert its sanctifying influence [3]. This illumination is not a revelation of new truths but an apprehension of the truth, excellence, and glory of what has already been revealed in God's Word [11].
The communication of spiritual truths, therefore, is not merely a rational exercise but one that operates "in the dimension and power of the Spirit" [9]. Paul emphasizes that when he speaks, he does so "not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with spiritual words" (1 Corinthians 2:13, BSB). This implies that the manner of communication must align with the spiritual nature of the message [9]. Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown interpret "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" as expounding Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture by comparing it with the Gospel revealed by the same Spirit, and illustrating Gospel mysteries by comparing them with Old Testament types [6].
Discerning when to speak also involves considering the audience's capacity and readiness. Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, argues that Holy Scripture uses metaphors to convey divine and spiritual truths through comparisons with material things because it is natural for humans to attain intellectual truths through sensible objects [5]. This suggests an accommodation to human understanding. The need for spiritual receptivity is paramount; without the Spirit opening the "eyes of our heart," people cannot truly "see" spiritual truths [8]. This is why ministers are called to "hold forth the Word of life" and "preach the Word in season and out of season," recognizing that the Spirit's work is essential for the truth to be effectual [8]. Even after preaching the Gospel for an extended period, Paul prayed for the Ephesians that God would give them the Holy Spirit so they might have knowledge of Him and their eyes might be enlightened [10].
The motivation for sharing spiritual truths is also crucial. Paul states that believers speak "not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4). This indicates that the primary aim is to honor God rather than to gain human approval. The content of what is shared is "the mystery of the gospel," which Paul prayed he would boldly make known whenever he opened his mouth (Ephesians 6:19).
The Bible also highlights the importance of prayer in this process. Paul's request for prayer in Ephesians 6:19 demonstrates a reliance on divine enablement for effective communication of the gospel. Similarly, the Holy Spirit is given "in answer to prayer" (Ephesians 1:16-17) [1]. This suggests that discerning the right time and manner to share spiritual truths is not solely a human endeavor but one that requires seeking divine guidance and empowerment.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Holy Spirit, the Teacher, The — Promised -- Pr 1:23. As the Spirit of wisdom -- Isa 11:2; 40:13,14. Given In answer to prayer. -- Eph 1:16,17. To saints. -- Ne 9:20; 1Co 2:12,13. Necessity for -- 1Co 2:9,10. As such he Reveals the things of God. -- 1Co 2:10,13. Reveals the things of Christ. -- Joh 16:14. Reveals the future. -- Lu 2:26; Ac 21:11. Brings the words of Christ to remembrance. -- Joh 14:26. Directs in the way of godliness. -- Isa 30:21; Eze 36:27. Teaches saints to answer persecutors. -- Mr 13:11; Lu 12:12. Enables ministers to teach. -- 1Co 12:8. Guides i”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Witness of the Holy Spirit — Is truth -- 1Jo 5:6. To be implicitly received -- 1Jo 5:6,9. Borne to Christ As Messiah. -- Lu 3:22; Joh 1:32,33. As coming to redeem and sanctify. -- 1Jo 5:6. As exalted to be a Prince and Saviour to give repentance, &c. -- Ac 5:31,32. As perfecting saints. -- Heb 10:14,15. As foretold by himself. -- Joh 15:26. In heaven. -- 1Jo 5:7,11. On earth. -- 1Jo 5:8. The first preaching of the gospel confirmed by -- Ac 14:3; Heb 2:4. The faithful preaching of the Apostles accompanied by -- 1Co 2:4; 1Th 1:5. Given to saints On believing. -- Ac 15:”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 54: the mind the intellectual knowledge of those truths. Both these are essential. The work of the Spirit is with the soul. That by nature is spiritually dead; it must be quickened. It is blind; its eyes must be opened. It is hard; it must be softened. The gracious work of the Spirit is to impart life, to open the eyes, and to soften the heart. When this is done, and in proportion to the measure in which it is done, the Word exerts its sanctifying influence on the soul. It is a clear doctrine of the Bible and fact of experience that the truth”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 2:20: 2:20-23 for the Holy One has given you his Spirit: The Holy Spirit gives believers the ability to understand and recognize spiritual truth (see Isa 61:1; Acts 10:38; 2 Cor 1:21-22). Those who have the Spirit know the truth about the Father and the Son and can detect what does not accord with the truth of the apostles’ teaching.”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, First Part (Prima Pars), The Nature and Extent of Sacred Doctrine, Art. 9: Article: Whether Holy Scripture should use metaphors? I answer that, It is befitting Holy Writ to put forward divine and spiritual truths by means of comparisons with material things. For God provides for everything according to the capacity of its nature. Now it is natural to man to attain to intellectual truths through sensible objects, because all our knowledge originates from sense. Hence in Holy Writ, spiritual truths are fittingly taught under the likeness of material things. This is wha”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:13: also--We not only know by the Holy Ghost, but we also speak the "things freely given to us of God" (Co1 2:12). which the Holy Ghost teacheth--The old manuscripts read "the Spirit" simply, without "Holy." comparing spiritual things with spiritual--expounding the Spirit-inspired Old Testament Scripture, by comparison with the Gospel which Jesus by the same Spirit revealed [GROTIUS]; and conversely illustrating the Gospel mysteries by comparing them with the Old Testament types [CHRYSOSTOM]. So the Greek word is translated, "comparing" (Co2 10:”
- Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 8:9: They are all plain to him that understandeth,.... Whose understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of God; who is a spiritual man, that has a discerning, and can judge of spiritual things: as for the carnal man, let him have what natural knowledge or wisdom he will, he cannot know these things; for they are spiritually discerned, and can only be discerned by spiritual men. The Bible is a sealed book to others, learned or unlearned; the mysteries or doctrines of the Gospel are hid in parables from such; but those to whom Christ has given an understanding to know him, ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 54: them, if we do not think of them. And it matters little how much we think of them, if we cannot see them; and we cannot see them unless the Spirit opens the eyes of our heart. We see too from this subject why the Bible represents it as the great duty of the ministry to hold forth the Word of life; by the manifestation of the truth to commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. This is all they need do. They must preach the Word in season and out of season, whether men will hear, or whether they will forbear. They kno”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 2:13: 2:13 using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths: Just as spiritual wisdom is different from human wisdom, so the way spiritual wisdom is taught must be different from the way human wisdom is taught. The communicating and learning of spiritual truth must be done in the dimension and power of the Spirit; it is not simply a rational, human exercise.”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 138: of the truth either in the Lutheran or Remonstrant view, is that those who have the knowledge of the Word as read or heard, are directed to pray for the gift of the Spirit to render that Word effectual. Of such prayers we have many examples in the Sacred Scriptures. David, in Psalm li. 11 , prays,” Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” The Apostle prays in behalf of the Ephesians to whom for more than two years he had been preaching the Gospel, that God would give them the Holy Spirit, that they might have the knowledge of Him, that their e”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 9: by God in His Word ( 1 Cor. ii. 10-16 ). It is not, therefore, a revelation of new truths, but an illumination of the mind, so that it apprehends the truth, excellence, and glory of things already revealed. And second, 16 This experience is depicted in the Word of God. The Bible gives us not only the facts concerning God, and Christ, ourselves, and our relations to our Maker and Redeemer, but also records the legitimate effects of those truths on the minds of believers. So that we cannot appeal to our own feelings or inward experience, as ”