Scripture as the Authority.

The verses which appear should convince you that the scriptures are authoritative in all matters of faith and doctrine, and have a higher authority than the church itself. Christ is the head of the church and so He is given the power to exercise authority over the church. For a church to be true, it must submit itself to Christ's authority. Christ is the Word and truth comes from the infallible Word of God!

The Bible has a natural progression of claiming its own authority. It first teaches that Gods word became the law that Moses and the prophets wrote in a book, then became flesh in Jesus Christ and finally, the fulfillment of scripture as we know it today - The Bible!


And God said....and it was so. Genesis 1:6-30

And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. ~Exodus 24:4

And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: ~Deuteronomy 17:18-19

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. ~Joshua 1:8

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou has magnified thy word above all thy name. ~Psalm 138:2

The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. Psalm 12:6-7

Here is where we begin to see how the Bible is its own authority. God is the one who has preserved His words. He did not just preserve the Bible for the Nation of Israel. The Bible states that Gods words are preserved forever.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. ~Psalm 119:105

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. ~Psalm 119:72

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. ~Psalm 119:9

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. ~Psalm 119:11

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. ~Psalm 119:89

Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. ~Proverbs 30:5-6

Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hast commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. ~Isaiah 34:16

Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. ~Jeremiah 1:9

But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. ~Daniel 10:21

But he answered and said, It is written Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ~Matthew 4:4

Surely Jesus would not expect man to live by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" if a man did not have the words of God.

Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. Matthew 22:29

Jesus testified that error comes through ignorance of the scriptures. Jesus quoted Old testament scripture over 30 times in the New Testament. During the time that Jesus lived on the earth, over 400 years had passed since the books of the Old Testament were written. How easily Jesus could have said that the Old Testament was written so long ago, that the translation was in error.  The compilation of the Old Testament was also similar to the compilation of the New Testament, but Jesus did not say that the Old Testament writings were a collection of disparate writings without a grand design.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. ~Matthew 5:17-18

Jots and tittles indicate that this is a written law that was to be fulfilled. In fact, it should be noted how accurate the Bible must be for Jesus to say that not one jot or tittle shall pass till all be fulfilled.

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick. ~Matthew 8:16

And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? ~Mark 12:24

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us...(JESUS) ~John 1:1,14

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. ~John 5:39

Jesus is talking to the Pharisees. Those who were rich in traditions of the Fathers. They did not believe that he was the Messiah whom he claimed to be. Jesus told them that if they wanted to know that he was the Messiah, they would have to search through the scripture. He is plainly teaching that the Bible is the authority.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. ~John 5:39

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. ~John 1:1-2

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; ~Acts 17:11-12a

The Bereans were commended for searching the scripture to prove their faith. This is what a Christian must do. I challenge you to search the scriptures and prove what your church believes and teaches whether or not it aligns with scripture.

And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures. ~Acts 17:2

The apostle Paul used the scriptures to reason with others, mainly unbelievers.

But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people. ~Acts 17:13

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith. ~Romans 16:26

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. ~Romans 15:4

Nevertheless what saith the scripture? ~Galatians 4:30a

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. ~II Timothy 3:16-17

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ~II Timothy 2:15

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ~II Timothy 3:15

Knowledge of the scriptures enlightens people to salvation.

For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake...This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. ~Titus 1:10,11,13,14

The Bible warns many times about false prophets in the church.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ~Hebrews 4:12

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. I Peter 1:23

The way of Salvation is clearly taught to be by the word of God - not the Church.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. ~II Peter 1:20-21

No man sat down and wrote the Bible on his own. The Bible is not a collection of disparate writings without a grand design. No, the Bible was inspired by God using Holy men which were moved by the Holy Ghost.

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water. ~II Peter 3:5

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. ~Revelation 22:18-19

There is a great danger in tampering with Gods word. To place a Church as a higher authority than the Bible is absolute blasphemy. The Bible is not to be added to or taken away from. This is made clear. A church cannot claim new revelations other than what is already revealed in Gods word.

Please note that none of these scriptures has given the church the authority to interpret the scriptures. The purpose of the church is to teach and preach the Word of God, to edify and minister to christian believers and to be the bride of Christ. When the Church ceases to proclaim the Word of God as it is in the Bible, then it is time to move on to a church that is faithful to God's Word.

Re-read the assertions of the Catholic church. Can you find any scriptures to prove these claims?  The scriptures are not there, and if they seem to be, as in I Timothy 3:15, try to determine from scripture if the Catholic church can truly claim the verse for herself.
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Roman Catholicism & the Scriptures

Scriptural Authority

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