For example, consider the historical account of Saul. When Saul fully surrendered to God’s will and inquired, “Lord, what do you want me to do?” God did not burden him with exhaustive instructions nor did He immediately grant him wisdom through the Spirit. Instead, he guided Saul to Ananias, instructing him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do” (Acts 9:6). Ananias served as a trustworthy interpreter of God’s will to Paul, similar to how St. Peter conveyed it to Cornelius the centurion (Acts 10). This illustrates God’s preference to reveal His plans through other individuals, showing that we should be open to the wise counsel of others: “Ask every prudent man for advice, and do not neglect good counsel” (Tobit 4:18). Following such guidance should not lead to regret. “The soul of a man may speak more than seven watchers sitting in a high place. In all these matters, pray to the Most High that He may guide your paths in truth” (Sirach. 37:18-19).
“He who is godly and keeps the commandments of the Lord should be your companion, one whose character resonates with your own, and one who will grieve with you in your misfortunes. Hold firmly to the counsel of your heart, for there is no one more trustworthy than he” (Ibid., vv. 15-17). To navigate our uncertainties about acting in alignment with divine will, we should seek direction from our spiritual mentors and leaders, to whom we have entrusted our moral life.
In general, we should turn to all legitimate authorities whose intentions (except when they lead to sin) reflect God’s will. We ought to accept their guidance (excluding any sinful advice) as though it were divinely bestowed and fulfill it accordingly. The Apostle Paul serves as a prime example in this regard. When recounting his actions to the Galatians after embracing Christianity, he notes, “Fourteen years later I went again (through God’s revelation) to Jerusalem with Barnabas” (Gal. 2). What caused Paul to wait so long before going to Jerusalem? He explains that he wanted to present the gospel he preached to the Gentiles to the foremost apostles to ascertain whether he was laboring in vain or bearing fruit in his efforts.
Thus, this eminent preacher, who shared the gospel with the Gentiles for fourteen years as the least of the apostles, sought confirmation of his teachings from the principal apostles, inviting their evaluation as judges of his preaching. He intended for his doctrine to reflect whatever the oldest apostles acknowledged and agreed upon, and to accept any alterations they suggested for teaching the Gentiles accordingly. It is notable that Paul states, “I went by revelation.” While his journey to Jerusalem was indeed prompted by revelation, the directives set forth by the Apostolic Council could also potentially be communicated to him in such a manner. However, it was not necessary for revelation to indicate that God desires to edify humanity through revelation and also through others.
Paul’s presentation of his teachings to the apostolic gathering was not due to any uncertainty on his part regarding his orthodoxy. The council’s endorsement was crucial for others—both believers and skeptics alike. This reflects the established practice for those who earnestly sought to align with God’s will; they consulted the elders and welcomed their wise counsel. As the Lord proclaimed through the prophet Jeremiah, “Stop in your ways,” meaning to focus intently on your actions, “and consider, and ask about the ancient paths, where the good way is; walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
THEOSIS