Question:
Answer:
This text makes clear that union with and obedience to the Church’s Magisterium (body of authoritative teaching officials) is the criterion for determining whether is one is led by the spirit of truth or the spirit of error.
First, the “we” that John speaks of refers to the living teaching authority in the Church—namely, the college of the apostles (Catholics call it the Magisterium). Even if one were to interpret the “we” in a non-distinctive way—that is, as a reference to the whole Christian community—it still necessarily involves the body of teaching officials.
Recall how in Matthew 18:15-17 one is not considered to be a member of the Christian community unless he adheres to the judgment of those authoritative officials who represent the Church. The preaching and teaching of the Christian community as a whole, therefore, is contingent on the preaching and teaching of the living teaching authority.
Now, John says that “listening” (Greek, akouei—accept, obey, heed) to this living teaching authority is a necessary condition for union with God: “Whoever knows God listens to us, and he who is not of God does not listen to us.” And since God is truth, it follows that obedience to this living teaching authority is a sign that one is being led by the spirit of truth. Disobedience is a sign that one is being led by a spirit of deceit. This is why John says, “By this we know the spirit truth and the spirit of error” (emphasis added).
This verse gives us reason to conclude that the paradigm for discerning truth from error is the teaching of the Church.