John 16:12-14

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.

Why does this verse start with "But"?
Because the Lord Jesus just told the disciples that they couldn't bear what He had to say.
How were the disciples made able to bear the whole truth?
Because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
Is the Holy Spirit a force or a person?
The Holy Spirit is referenced here as an "He" not an "It", indicating that He is a person.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the triune God (or Trinity)
What is the Holy Spirit called here?
The Spirit of truth.
Why is the Holy Spirit so called?
Because He is Himself and therefore fully reveals the truth.
What work is here ascribed to the Holy Spirit?
To guide into all truth.
What can we learn from this?
That the Holy Spirit came to complete the revelation of God.

Why can the Holy Spirit not speak on his own?
The teaching of the Holy Spirit does not come from himself alone, but is declared in union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
What words that follow show that this is the meaning?
He will be "taking from what is mine and making it known to you."
How does this help us to know when we are guided by the Holy Spirit?
We know that the Spirit's guidance always teaches us something about our Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the first work of the Spirit for the disciples?
To speak what He hears.
From whom does the Holy Spirit "hear"?
From God the Father and God the Son.
Where do we find the work of Holy Spirit explicitly?
In the Sacred Scriptures.
How does the Holy Spirit continues his work today?
By bringing home to our hearts the message contained in the Scriptures.
Why do we think that the writings of the Sacred Scriptures was the actual guidance into all truth?
Because the Sacred Scriptures contain everything we can possibly know about the Lord Jesus.
What is the second work of the Holy Spirit?
"He will tell you what is yet to come."
To which things does this refer?
Things that belong to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In what book of the New Testament is that promise especially fulfilled?
In the book of Revelation or Apocalypse.
To whom should we look for guidance in truth?
To the Holy Spirit.
What confidence do we have in seeking his aid?
The promise of the Saviour that He will be our guide.
How does this affect our study of the Sacred Scriptures?
We understand the truth and the Sacred Scriptures by listening to the Spirit who is given to those who obey God.

Adapted from:
"The one hundred texts of the society for Irish Church Missions."
T.C. Hammond, Dublin. 1939