What Does The Authority Of The Scriptures Mean?

What does the phrase “the authority of the Scriptures” mean? Here’s why Scripture is called authoritative.

Authority

On more than one occasion, someone challenged Jesus’ authority. One time, when Jesus “was walking in the temple, the chief priests and the scribes and the elders came to him, and they said to him, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them” (Mark 11:27-28). Jesus, as God, had every right and had the full authority to do what He did and to teach what He taught. Paul wrote about where all authority comes from in Romans 13:-1-2, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” The point is that there is no real authority except the authority of God and the authority He invests into human agents but these do God’s will, whether they know it or not. If you resist local, state, and national authorities, you resist God.

Scripture

The early church did nothing but follow the authority of God by following Scripture. The church saw God’s Word and God’s authority as being the same thing. The church simply “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42) and what was the apostles’ doctrines? They are those things which Jesus taught them and the apostles’ doctrines are also what they wrote as in the letters to the church’s like 1st and 2nd Peter; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John; and Paul’s letters. Whatever is in the New Testament is the apostles’ doctrine. What was the result of this following the apostles’ doctrines? The result was that “day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” (Acts 2:46-47a) “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47b). The church had God’s authority in the Old Testament Scripture but now they had the New Testament Scripture, even before it was canonized, in the form of the apostles’ doctrines. You cannot separate God from His Word; they both are His authoritative Word to us.

God’s Authority over Man

People can actually “reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones” (Jude 1:8) reject God and His Word, the Bible but by doing so, they reject the authority of God.  The Apostle John had to deal with those who rejected authority in the church such as “Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority” (3rd John 1:9). Peter frequently warns about “those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority” (2nd Pet 2:10) as if they are actually despising God by despising authority. Instead he tells Christians to “Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God” (2nd Pet 2:13-15a). God has authority over man but God has placed that authority for our own good and for our protection (Rom 13) and the only time we don’t obey the law of man is when it conflicts the law of God, Who is the final authority. There is the Supreme Court but then there is the court of the Most High which overrules that because Christ “is the head of all rule and authority” (Col 2:10).

Scriptural Authority

Just as “Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth” (2nd Tim 3:8a) they are “disqualified regarding the faith” (2nd Tim 3:8b). When they opposed Moses, who was God’s representative, they actually opposed God. Whoever rejects the Truth, by the Truth they will be rejected (John 3:36b) and clearly, Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6). Jesus, in speaking to the Father said “your word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul wrote “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed” (2nd Thess 3:14). When Paul says “in this letter,” he clearly means the 2nd letter to the Thessalonians. By disobeying what the letter says, they are disobeying God, because God is the authority behind all Scripture as Paul writes that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2nd Tim 3:16) so that “the man (or woman) of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2nd Tim 3:17). At least two points can be made about these verses; one is that “all Scripture” means all of the Old Testament, which is all the church had to begin with and later Paul’s writings, which are considered part of that “all” of Scripture. The other apostles’ books (letters) were considered part of God’s Word as they were intended to be read by the churches. The next point is Scripture helps us be “equipped for every good work” so that they can do what God appointed for them to do ages ago (Eph 2:10). No wonder Jesus said “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28)!

Conclusion

It is not up to me whether you believe the Word of God or if it had authority over your life. I will not try to convince you. Only the Spirit of God can illuminate Who Jesus is and why we need Him, however, what a person believes doesn’t change what is true. You will be judged for either rejecting Jesus Christ (John 3:18, 36) or you will be redeemed by God by repenting and trusting the Savior and by this, you will inherit eternal life (John 3:16).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.