What Is Bible Authority And Do We Need It?

Voice Of The Valley
Volume 2 Issue 1 January 1996

What Is Bible Authority & Do We Need It?
by Brian Price

Within this article I have been asked to deal with the basics of authority. It is our effort not only to define the subject but to emphasize the importance of it as well. Authority has been a part of human life from the beginning. From the relationship of parent to child to our relationship with the government, authority is not an unfamiliar subject. Yet many, although they readily accept its principles in most areas of life, have continually demonstrated a reluctance and often a blatant disregard for authority when it comes to religious practice and teaching. It will be our effort to examine what the scriptures teach concerning this subject.

If the Bible is authoritative, how did it become so and how do we draw that authority from it? Jesus has all authority. Matthew 28:18 describes that for us. Authority can be defined as the right to command or direct. That right belongs to Christ as it is stated in Matt. 28 and exemplified in the description of him being "head over all things to the church" in Ephesians 1:21-23. We can say from this text, that any body of people that do not accept him as their head cannot consider themselves as part of his body. He didn't give us any choice in the matter. His body is directed by him. If we want to be part of Christ's body, then we must recognize him as having all authority.

What role does the Bible play in bringing us the authority of Christ? It is through the word that Jesus instructs us. In fact we cannot be found abiding in him without accepting his doctrine. (2 John 9) Jesus gave his apostles the authority to deliver this doctrine according to John 13:20 and Matthew 18:18. Through inspiration these men have brought to us the doctrine of Christ which we must abide. This doctrine of Christ authorizes us to act in three different ways. Through a direct command, an approved example or through a necessary conclusion we must make from scripture. When trying to determine whether a method of arriving at authority is accurate, the means by which to do so is to determine whether that method is consistent with the Bible. Examine these thoughts and determine whether they are consistent with scripture: "The Bible doesn't say not to; I don't see the harm in it; Jesus is only concerned about my faith in him and has left us alone on other matters." None of these are consistent with scripture but when we examine direct command, approved example, and necessary conclusion we will find that these are absolutely consistent.

Let us notice one item of authority to illustrate. In reference to the Lord's Supper I Corinthians 11:25 states, "this DO in remembrance of me." Here we have a perfect example of direct statement. In Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week when the disciples came together to break bread..." we have an approved example of the partaking of the Lord's Supper. Finally we also note from this text that a necessary conclusion we must make is that if the first day of the week is noted as the time and no specific first day is mentioned, we must conclude that it is every first day of the week. As they did in the Old Testament in Exodus 20 when they were told to "remember the Sabbath day." The obvious conclusion they made was that it meant all Sabbath days as should be our conclusion as pertains to the "first day of the week." It is obvious that each of these three methods of coming to Biblical authority are consistent with scripture and need to be used accordingly.

The final definitive principle we want to address in this article is that Bible authority can be either general or specific. In other words the Bible may instruct us in terms of a general command that dictates that we determine a means of expediting that work. On the other hand the Bible at times is very specific in exactly what God desires. For example, in Genesis 6:14 God instructed Noah to build an ark with gopher wood. Had God said, "build an ark of wood," then that would be general authority allowing Noah to choose what type of wood he would use. Because God specified, Noah had no choice as to what to use on the ark. Even had Noah had access to different kinds of wood that may have been more easily used, he could not overrule the command of God. We often hear the word expediency used in discussions of authority. Without too many details let us suffice to say that NOTHING is expedient that goes beyond the instructions of God (Rev. 22:18). In order for something to be expedient it must be authorized by scriptures.

I hope this article has served to introduce you to some of the thoughts that will be used in other articles as they deal with specific problems as pertains to authority. Authority is absolutely needed. In Colossians 3:17 we are taught to do all things "in the name of the Lord." The word "name" in this text comes from the Greek word "onoma" which means authority. In other words we are to do all things by the "authority of the Lord." Let there be no doubt that Jesus rules supreme and that we are obligated to follow his instructions. Nothing should be done religiously or otherwise that does not carry the authority of Christ.