The Bible testifies that the
Apostolic Church exercised this
teaching authority
("holding fast to the true message ... to
refute opponents" [Titus
1:9]) beyond the words and deeds of
Jesus Christ.
For
example, the Acts of the Apostles records that there were
different truths being taught regarding keeping the Mosaic Law.
One group represented by Judaizers taught that Gentile
Christians must come to the Christian life through keeping the
Mosaic Law; the second group represented by Paul taught that
Gentile Christians did not need to keep the Mosaic Law.
There was also no Scripture
regarding the truth of the issue.
So they appealed to the
authority of the Holy Spirit in council.
The
Catholic Church has followed this model ever since.