One cannot study about the Holy Spirit and omit His special and unique relationship with the apostles. Those who fail to rightly divide God's word often overlook one of the fundamental points of Bible study -- determine who is speaking and to whom the speaker is speaking. Some passages have universal application; others are limited to a special person or group of people. For example, does 1 Timothy 3:1-7 apply to preachers, women, young men, all Christians? None of these is correct; it addresses those who seek to be elders in the Lord's church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints applies it to their missionaries who are 18-20 years old.

What does this have to do with our Holy-Spirit discussion? Many of the promises made to the apostles have been applied to ALL believers. Christ made many promises and taught many things to those ambassadors chosen to carry His message to the world. It is wrong to take His personal discussions, with this limited group of men, and make them apply to those for whom they were not intended. Many of the promises Jesus made concerning the Holy Spirit and His work in the apostles' lives were given only to the apostles. Misunderstanding of this fact has caused confusion concerning the Holy Spirit's work, and the end result is error. This article endeavors to show, from the text, the special relationship between the apostles and the Holy Spirit. A proper understanding of this relationship will bring to view much of the error taught concerning His work and person. Jesus' promises to the apostles applied only to the apostles!

In chapters 13 through 16, the apostle John recorded a private conversation between Jesus and the eleven -- Judas having left to go about the betrayal. (John 13:30) Jesus' earthly ministry was rapidly approaching its climax -- His death on Calvary's cross. "Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." {John 13:1} Knowing He would be leaving them alone, He tried to prepare them for His departure, His ascension back to the Father, and their own work. The apostles depended on Him. He wanted to assure them that they would not be left alone.

During the last few months of His personal ministry, Jesus more fully revealed many distressing facts concerning His death:

• He was going away. "Then Jesus said to them again, I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come." {John 8:21}
• He would be lifted up (crucified). " When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things." {John 8:28}
• The Jews were seeking to kill Him. "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you." {John 8:37}
• His life would again be taken up. "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." {John 10:17,18}
• Mary's anointing was for His burial. "...Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always." {John 12:7,8}
• One of the apostles would betray Him. "When Jesus had said these things, He was troubled in spirit, and testified and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, one of you will betray Me." {John 13:21}

All of this must have been very alarming to those who deeply loved Him.

In the hours preceding His death, turmoil and confusion descended on Jesus' disciples; Peter even denied Him. "Peter said to Him, Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake. Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times." {John 13:37,38} It was against this backdrop that He spoke to the eleven.

Their faith in Jesus as God's Son should prevent their hearts from being troubled by the upcoming events. He gave them a sure and certain promise, a hope for the future. "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." {John 14:1-3}

He did not intend to leave them comfortless; He would come to them. "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also." {John 14:18,19} Jesus would not abandon His apostles, leaving them without a guide or teacher.

The hour of their scattering was fast approaching -- Jesus said these things to bring them peace. How could these words bring them peace? "Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." {John 16:32,33} This would give them confidence -- not fear. "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." {John 14:27} The sorrow they were feeling would soon turn to joy. "Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy." {John 16:20}

Let us closely examine the context and contents of John chapters 14-16. I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." (John 14:16) "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." {John 14:26}

• Another -- One of the same kind, or sort, would be sent to help them after Jesus departure.
• Comforter -- This work of the Holy Spirit applied only to the eleven -- not to everyone. This comfort was a distinct gift for them. After His departure, it took the place of the Lord's personal presence and guidance. This promise is ONLY to the disciples -- not all believers. What did Jesus say about this Comforter?
  1. The world cannot receive Him--John 14:17.
  2. He would dwell in them and be with them--John 14:17.
  3. He would teach them all things--John 14:26.
  4. He would bring all things to their remembrance--John 14:26.
  5. He would testify of Jesus--John 15:26.
  6. He would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment--John 16:8-11.
  7. He would guide them into ALL truth--John 16:13.
  8. He would show them things to come--John 16:13.

Let us examine the fulfillment of the promises Jesus made concerning the Holy Spirit's work with the apostles.

• "He will teach you all things." John 14:26 -- Accomplished, because the apostles became His ambassadors. "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." {2 Corinthians 5:20}
• "He shall show you things to come." John 16:13 -- The apostles declared coming events:
  • A general apostasy -- 1 Timothy 4:1-3.
  • The second coming of Christ -- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
  • The resurrection of the dead -- 1 Corinthians 15:1:ff.
  • The struggles of God's people -- Ephesians 6:1ff.
  • The struggles of the seven churches of Asia -- Revelation 2,3.
• "He will guide you into all truth." John 16:13
  • Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints -- Jude 3.
  • All scripture is given by inspiration of God and thoroughly equips for every good work -- 2 Timothy 3:16,17.
  • Do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is -- Ephesians 5:17.
  • My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power -- 1 Corinthians 1:18-21; 2:4,5.
  • Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit -- 2 Peter 1:20,21.
• "He will convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment." John 16:7-11 -- This began on the day of Pentecost, with Peter's first gospel sermon. The Jews were convicted of sin, and 3,000 were added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:14-47). All nine of the conversions in Acts show the Holy Spirit's part in conversion -- the word was preached, and honest hearts obeyed (Romans 10:17). We'll all be judged by Christ, and the word given by the Holy Spirit will be the standard (John 12:48,49; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Acts 17:31).
• "He shall bear witness to Christ." John 15:26,27 -- This was accomplished when the apostles taught and wrote in the New Testament. "...These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." {Luke 24:44-49}
  1. Only those who personally saw the resurrected Lord could provide actual eyewitness testimony -- Acts 1:21,22; 1 Corinthians 9:1; Galatians 1:11,12.
  2. Miracles followed to confirm that the apostles were preaching a divinely decreed message, not their own -- Mark 16:17-20; Hebrews 2:3,4.

The Holy Spirit accomplished His work with the apostles by giving them the complete, confirmed, divine revelation. There will be no changes or amendments. To apply to others, the Holy-Spirit promises Jesus made to His apostles would be to misapply the text. Those who are true to the book know these promises were not passed down to other men!