Ask yourself; if the Holy Spirit doesn’t reside in each believer and lead to understanding, then how can the statement above (1 Co 2) be true; or is this just to the Apostles, Elders and Deacons?
The Holy Spirit resides in every believer, but in different measure for each. The Holy Spirit guides each of us foremost through His Catholic/universal Church because He guides His Catholic Church into all Truth. In a smaller measure He guides the individual.
For example, perhaps the Holy Spirit guided you (an individual) to this Catholic Forum in order to learn the fullest measure of His truth
through His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
Just some charitable advise; look carefully at 2 Peter 1:1-15 and see how He is speaking to all of us and notice the words grow and knowledge as you read.
2Peter 1
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 **Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; 3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. **
Can you argue this is to Elders and Deacons?
These people were
taught by the apostles and so they did indeed “
receive a faith of the same kind as the apostles.”
These people did not make up their own faith by reading some Scriptures and personally interpreting them and then arguing with Peter and telling him that he is wrong because the Holy Spirit told them differently than what he is teaching them.
Peter is actually speaking “To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.”
who have been taught the true faith by him.
2 Timothy 2:2
And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Who are the “others” and how do you know?
“
The others” are the persons that the faithful men will ordain after they are themselves ordained by the Bishop Timothy. (“Faithful men” are men who learned the faith from the apostles and who also live their faith in imitation of Christ). Timothy will first choose these faithful men and then he will train them in priestly duties and then he will ordain them. As the Church grows, then these
faithful men will in turn **teach **and then ordain
others (who are also faithful men) by the laying on of hands.
1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. (priesthood)
2 Timothy 1:6
Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. (Holy Orders)
These letters from Paul to Timothy are sent as a reminder and for encouragement and also for further instruction for Timothy so that he will be a good bishop and so that he will also know what to look for when he chooses men for Holy Orders (the bishops/priests, priests/elders/ and deacons).
We can say the same about Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, et al
Yes He did promise, He has several missions and one is to teach, lead and guide EACH individual into the grace and knowledge of His Word. That is the only way a will grow and understand. As you said, not from man and a personal interpretation.
**
Jesus Christ commissioned/authorized the Catholic Church’s hierarchy** (apostles/bishops, priests, etc.)
to go out and baptize persons in order to make them Jesus’ disciples (make them Christians)
and to teach them to observe what Jesus has commanded them.
Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
**Jesus never ever told anyone to pick up a Bible and then interpret it for one’s self. He wants us to listen to His Church and obey her. **
Luke 10:16
He who hears you (Church) hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
Think of it this way. A teacher of the Bible could be in a classroom and be lecturing on the meaning of Hebrews 7,8 & 9; some students will understand the truth and some students will not? Why? Some have the Living Interpreter, which allows them to understand the truth and reject which is false and some do not and cannot. So who is it that actually interprets that which was said? Not the person, but the Holy Spirit in the person manifesting the truth to the Christian.
Unless the teacher learned the truth (the correct interpretation from the CC), then he may or may not be teaching the truth. It is anyone’s guess. The Holy Spirit does not promise individual guidance for the interpretation of Scripture. He promises it to His Church.