St. Theophan the Recluse | When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth (John 16:13)

[Acts 21:26–32; John 16:2–13]

When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth (John 16:13).

Why is this source of knowledge not mentioned in books of rhetoric? It is not surprising that this point is not in pagan books of rhetoric, but why is it not in Christian ones? Can it be that when a Christian begins to philosophize he ought to cease being a Christian and forget all the true and unquestionable promises which were given to him?

People often explain how to see and hear; they also teach well enough to make generalizations and inductions from what is seen and heard. But when the time comes to unravel the meaning of it all, here the nursling of logic is left to the devices of his own guesswork. Why not suggest to him: you have the revelations of the spirit of truth—follow them. They resolve the meaning of all existence and events in an indisputable manner, for they proceed from God, in Whom lies the source of existence itself.

Perhaps all the guessing has multiplied so greatly that now all books (about God’s world) are filled with just guesses precisely because no one remembers to make that suggestion?

It would be alright if these books were at least a little worthwhile; but it is clear at first glance that they are but the fruit of childish imagination.

By St. Theophan the Recluse