Information From Others
The apostle Paul in his ministry used information which came to him from others as a text for needed instruction to the church. Divisions had crept into the church at Corinth. Naturally, those who were jealous for the work of God reported this to the apostle. To this he refers in the following verses:TOJ 79.1
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.” 1 Corinthians 1:10, 11.TOJ 79.2
The apostle again refers to this in the eleventh chapter of this epistle: “For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.”TOJ 79.3
Against this spirit of division the apostle threw the whole weight of his influence. The church was not to be divided into warring camps, one saying, “I am of Paul“: and another, “I of Apollos“: another, “I of Cephas.” But their faith was to be centered in the Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him their differences were to be harmonized. But even though Paul received his initial information as to the state of the church at Corinth from human testimony, we do not therefore question his call to the apostleship, nor do we discredit the inspiration of his letter to the Corinthians. It is evident that he was led by the Spirit in the reproof and counsel he gave to that church. And no more should we question the call of the messenger of the Lord to the work committed to her because of following a course involving the same principle.TOJ 79.4
The fact that a prophet may receive information from a human source is not an evidence that a subsequent message from him regarding the matter is merely a human opinion. Situations of a similar character may have been previously presented, or in answer to prayer, the Lord may give to His chosen instrument a revelation to guide him in what he writes.TOJ 79.5
Referring again to the apostle Paul’s experience, we quote from Testimonies for the Church 5:65, 66:TOJ 80.1
“Paul was an inspired apostle, yet the Lord did not reveal to him at all times just the condition of his people. Those who were interested in the prosperity of the church, and saw evils creeping in, presented the matter before him, and from the light which he had previously received he was prepared to judge of the true character of these developments. Because the Lord had not given him a new revelation for that special time, those who were really seeking light, did not cast his message aside as only a common letter. No, indeed. The Lord had shown him the difficulties and dangers which would arise in the churches, that when they should develop, he might know just how to treat them.TOJ 80.2
“He was set for the defense of the church. He was to watch for souls as one that must render account to God, and should he not take notice of the reports concerning their state of anarchy and division? Most assuredly; and the reproof he sent them was written just as much under the inspiration of the Spirit of God as were any of his epistles.”TOJ 80.3