That knowledge, spiritually-discerned, came directly from the Holy Spirit, not by some natural-minded "intrinsic knowledge." There is one truth, regardless how some try to blur the distinctions. And that one truth we find in Scripture. Just as Paul and the Apostles and the early church were led infallibly by the Holy Spirit, so are all who are born of the Spirit.
And for an excellent understanding of the unity of this truth as carried through from the Old to the New Testaments, there is no finer statements than these:
and...
"That knowledge, spiritually-discerned, came directly from the Holy Spirit, not by some natural-minded "intrinsic knowledge."
It is the evidence of the resurrection that the promised Paraclete will guide believers and unite them in the Truth.
Jhn 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.
Jhn 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
The sanctifying (setting apart) of the church was, like Israel of old, they were people of the book as verified to each of the members by the Holy Spirit, that the writings were inspired and authentic .
1Jo 2:26 These [things] have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
It was not man's knowledge or human discernment but the promised work of the Holy Spirit.
At the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit sent by the Father, through the Son, to the Apostles did not bring the book of the New Testament for eveyrone to tote around. No one had the neatly printed Evangelium with Christ's words printed in red and cross-referenced to select OT verses. All they had was the faith and understaniding of the truth given to them by the Holy Spirit without words or letters.
Thanks for the Calvin links. I will gladly read them.