The Bible Lampstand

By What Authority?

...Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? Luke 20:2

The above is a question asked of Jesus by the chief priests, scribes, and elders as he taught daily in the temple. It is a valid and important question.

By what authority do we practice the things that we do? Jesus, in Matthew 28:19-20, gave what is commonly called the "Great Commission." "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." Included in this command is the idea of doing the teaching and baptizing "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." In the name of simply means by the authority of. We are told in Collosians 3:17, "whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus..." We can see from this that every action and word must by by the authority of God as well.

Our next question should be, then, how do we get authority from God to do things? The scripture gives us the answer to this as well.

The first way in which we can get Bible authority is contained in the great commission discussed above. "...Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you..." Here we see with no difficulty that the things Jesus commanded the disciples are to be observed, that is, done. Jesus also said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15 This is perhaps the most obvious method by which we derive authority from God for the things we do. In this case, God has given a direct commandment. That is, God has actually said what we are to do or what we are not to do. God has also given us direct commandments through others, his divinely inspired writers, and the commands they gave are just as binding as they, too, come from Jesus (Matthew 16:19 & 18:18, Galatians 1:11, 12, II Timothy 3:16).

Another way that God's authority is given is through examples that God has approved. Jesus taught in this way when he washed the Apostle's feet. Read John 13:4-17. Go ahead, read it. Pay special attention to verse 15. What does Jesus tell the disciples that he has done? He has given them an example, "that ye should do as I have done to you." Peter spoke of Christ's example as well in I Peter 2:21. Peter states of Christ, "that ye should follow his steps."

Paul also taught by example. In 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 he says, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you." The traditions Paul delivered were not traditions of men, but traditions given by God (Galatians 1:11-12). As Paul tells them to be imitators of him, we see that he taught these traditions by example as well as by direct commandment.

We see, then, that Jesus and the divinely inspired writers of the Bible taught by both command and example. The third and final method by which God's authority is given is what is often referred to as "necessary inference." An inference is soemthing that is not stated explicitly. It is a conclusion that is drawn. When "necessary inference" is spoken of, what is meant is that the conclusion that is to be drawn is implied, or inescapable. When one examines the text, teaching, or situation, one conclusion and only one is obvious. Jesus taught by this method as well.

Consider the situation detailed in Matthew 22:23-33. Take time to read the entire text as a whole. here, we find Jesus confronted by those who believe in no ressurection. They ask Jesus a question that at first seems difficult. Jesus answers them thus, "...For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven... " What is the inescapable conclusion in what Jesus says? that there is indeed a ressurection! Notice, he never said this directly. But this is not all. As you continue in the passage, Jesus makes the statement, "But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." What is the necessary inference? That Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not dead, but living! Further, all know that they did die, therefore in order for them to be alive, there must be a ressurection. Again, we have an inescapable conclusion, a necessary inference.

Our only source of divine revelation is the Bible. It is inspired by God Almighty, perfect, and complete (II Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 1:3). God will accept no additions, nor will He tolerate anyone taking away one bit of its teaching (Deuteronomy 4:2 & 12:32, Proverbs 30:6, Galatians 1:8-9, Revelation 22:18-19). It is our authority from God for all that we say, do, and teach. If a faithful student of God's word will study the Bible II Timothy 2:15, applying the principles of command, example and necessary inference, he find himself "throughly furnished unto all good works."

May God bless you in your study of His Word.