Biblical Concept: Authority

Prologue

"If we resort for a criterion to the different principles on which different forms of government are established, we may define a republic to be, or at least may bestow that name on, a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people, and is administered by persons holding their offices during pleasure for a limited period, or during good behavior." --James Madison, Federalist No. 39 

The government of the United States of America was designed to be different than the authority described in many / most of the following Bible verses.

Explanatory end parentheses are mine.  There are lots of them to read, for your understanding and application.

Authoritative

 

♠NAS Ecclesiastes 8:4 Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, "What are you doing?"  (Unless the King is the Lord Jesus Christ, this could be a problem.) (In United States of America, from the early 1900’s on, the goal of leftist leaders has been the usurping of constitutional limitations on  the federal government.  They do not want others with the authority to say, “What are you doing?”)   

 

Authorities

 

NAS Luke 12:11 "And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not become anxious about how or what you should speak in your defense, or what you should say; (Religious authorities opposed to the message of Jesus Christ.)

 

NAS Acts 16:19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place before the authorities,  (Philippi: Religious authorities opposed to the message of Jesus Christ play the political fear card.)

 

NAS Acts 17:6 And when they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; (Thessalonica: Religious authorities opposed to the message of Jesus Christ play the political fear card.)

 

 8 And they stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. (Thessalonica: Religious authorities opposed to the message of Jesus Christ play the political fear card.)

 

♠NAS Romans 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (The context discusses Government, good, and evil.  The context supposes that Government is good.  See verses 1-7.  Human history documents that government can become evil.  Divine Regime Change is the eventuality for evil government.  The government of the United States of America was designed to be different than the authority described in many / most of the Bible verses in this study.  We really can vote out evil leadership.  Why do we not do this?  Can we not recognize evil?  Or, do we love the legalized theft provided by government?  Yes, me thinks.  Some, me included, think America is becoming a fascistic oligarchy—meaning that government is controlling commerce and commerce is controlling government.)

 

♠NAS Ephesians 3:10 in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. (Authority angels.  There appears to be much volitional freedom in the Spiritual Universe.)

 

♠NAS Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created by Him and for Him. (Authority angels.  There appears to be much volitional freedom in the Spiritual Universe.)

 

♠NAS Colossians 2:15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.  (Jesus Christ over fallen angels authority.  There appears to be much volitional freedom in the Spiritual Universe.)

 

♠NAS Titus 3:1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, (Subject = u`pota,ssw / hupotasso = under-arrange.  So, believers are to arrange themselves under government for good-deeds.  And if the government only allows certain good deeds?  Then: Acts 5:25-29  25 But someone came and reported to them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!"  26 Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, lest they should be stoned).  27 And when they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. And the high priest questioned them,  28 saying, "We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us."  29 But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men . . . 40b-42  and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them.  41 So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.  42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.)

 

♠NAS 1 Peter 3:22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. (Jesus Christ over fallen angels authority.  There appears to be much volitional freedom in the Spiritual Universe.)

 

Authority

 

♠NAS Genesis 16:9 Then the angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority."  (Genesis 16:8  Hagar, Sarai’s maid, mother of Ishmael.  Sarai’s authority was harsh, verse 6.)

 

NAS Genesis 41:35 "Then let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it.

 

NAS Exodus 21:8 "If she is displeasing in the eyes of her master who designated her for himself, then he shall let her be redeemed. He does not have authority to sell her to a foreign people because of his unfairness to her.

 

NAS Numbers 5:19 'And the priest shall have her take an oath and shall say to the woman, "If no man has lain with you and if you have not gone astray into uncleanness, being under the authority of your husband, be immune to this water of bitterness that brings a curse;

 

 20 if you, however, have gone astray, being under the authority of your husband, and if you have defiled yourself and a man other than your husband has had intercourse with you"

 

 29 'This is the law of jealousy: when a wife, being under the authority of her husband, goes astray and defiles herself,

 

♠NAS Numbers 27:20 "And you shall put some of your authority on him, in order that all the congregation of the sons of Israel may obey him.  (God to Moses to Joshua, new civil and military leadership for Israel.)

 

NAS Judges 9:29 "Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Increase your army, and come out."

 

NAS 2 Chronicles 23:18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the LORD under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses-- with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David.

 

NAS 2 Chronicles 31:13 And Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers under the authority of Conaniah and Shimei his brother by the appointment of King Hezekiah, and Azariah was the chief officer of the house of God.

 

 15 And under his authority were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah in the cities of the priests, to distribute faithfully their portions to their brothers by divisions, whether great or small,

 

NAS Esther 3:1 After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him.

 

NAS Esther 9:29 Then Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

 

NAS Esther 10:2 And all the accomplishments of his authority and strength, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Media and Persia?

 

♠NAS Job 34:13 "Who gave Him authority over the earth? And who has laid on Him the whole world? (God already has all authority!—silly humans.)

 

♠NAS Ecclesiastes 8:8 No man has authority to restrain the wind with the wind, or authority over the day of death; and there is no discharge in the time of war, and evil will not deliver those who practice it.  (Man’s limited authority.)

 

9 All this I have seen and applied my mind to every deed that has been done under the sun wherein a man has exercised authority over another man to his hurt. (Power-lust is the usual course of events among humans.)

                                                                  

NAS Isaiah 22:21 And I will clothe him with your tunic, And tie your sash securely about him, I will entrust him with your authority, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. (Yet another Hebrew King loses power.)

 

NAS Isaiah 30:30 And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard. And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger, And in the flame of a consuming fire, In cloudburst, downpour, and hailstones. (One day silly humans will comprehend God’s authority.)

 

♠NAS Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it? (False religious authority.)

 

NAS Jeremiah 38:10 Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, "Take thirty men from here under your authority, and bring up Jeremiah the prophet from the cistern before he dies."

 

 11 So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went into the king's palace to a place beneath the storeroom and took from there worn-out clothes and worn-out rags and let them down by ropes into the cistern to Jeremiah.

 

NAS Daniel 5:7 The king called aloud to bring in the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, "Any man who can read this inscription and explain its interpretation to me will be clothed with purple, and have a necklace of gold around his neck, and have authority as third ruler in the kingdom."

 

 16 "But I personally have heard about you, that you are able to give interpretations and solve difficult problems. Now if you are able to read the inscription and make its interpretation known to me, you will be clothed with purple and wear a necklace of gold around your neck, and you will have authority as the third ruler in the kingdom."

 

 29 Then Belshazzar gave orders, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a necklace of gold around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he now had authority as the third ruler in the kingdom.

 

NAS Daniel 11:3 "And a mighty king will arise, and he will rule with great authority and do as he pleases.

 

 4 "But as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four points of the compass, though not to his own descendants, nor according to his authority which he wielded; for his sovereignty will be uprooted and given to others besides them.

 

NAS Habakkuk 1:6 "For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, That fierce and impetuous people Who march throughout the earth To seize dwelling places which are not theirs. 7 "They are dreaded and feared. Their justice and authority originate with themselves.

♠NAS Matthew 7:29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

 

♠NAS Matthew 8:9 "For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."  (Note the Centurion’s authority orientation, and spiritual wisdom, toward the Messiah in 8:5-13.)

 

♠NAS Matthew 9:6 "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins "-- then He said to the paralytic-- "Rise, take up your bed, and go home."  (Messiah’s authority: sins forgiven.)

 

8 But when the multitudes saw this, they were filled with awe, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.  (God-Man-Messiah-Healer, not authority to men.)

 

NAS Matthew 10:1 And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.  (Impressive Apostolic authority.)

 

♠NAS Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  (In the United States of America we could vote them out.)

 

NAS Matthew 21:23 And when He had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?"

 

 24 And Jesus answered and said to them, "I will ask you one thing too, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

 27 And answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

♠NAS Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  (The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ = all and everywhere authority.)

 

NAS Mark 1:22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

 

27 And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  (Jesus Christ = authority over demons.)

 

NAS Mark 2:10 "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins "-- He said to the paralytic--

 

NAS Mark 3:15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.

 

♠NAS Mark 6:7 And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs; and He was giving them authority over the unclean spirits; (Apostolic authority.)

 

NAS Mark 10:42 And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, "You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.  (Democracies could vote them out.)

 

NAS Mark 11:28 and began saying to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things, or who gave You this authority to do these things?"

 

 29 And Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question, and you answer Me, and then I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

 

 33 And answering Jesus, they said, "We do not know." And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

 

NAS Luke 4:32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority.

 

 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began discussing with one another saying, "What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."

 

NAS Luke 5:24 "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"-- He said to the paralytic-- "I say to you, rise, and take up your stretcher and go home."

 

NAS Luke 7:8 "For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."

 

NAS Luke 9:1 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons, and to heal diseases.

 

NAS Luke 10:19 "Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall injure you.

 

NAS Luke 12:4-5   4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (Fear the Authority of the Triune God of the Bible.) (Recall: Fear God.)

 

NAS Luke 19:17 "And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, be in authority over ten cities.'

 

NAS Luke 20:2 and they spoke, saying to Him, "Tell us by what authority You are doing these things, or who is the one who gave You this authority?"

 

 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

 

 20 And they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the governor.

 

NAS Luke 22:25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.'  (Benefactors in the Greek text is a doer of good.  America is filled with leftist leaders who retain power because they do good for the people.)

 

NAS John 5:27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man. (Father to Son authority.)

 

♠NAS John 10:18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." (Jesus Christ authority over life and death.)

 

NAS John 17:2 even as Thou gavest Him authority over all mankind, that to all whom Thou hast given Him, He may give eternal life.  (Jesus Christ authority of eternal life.)

 

♠NAS John 19:10 Pilate therefore said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?"  (Roman Provincial Government: Arbitrary Police State.)  (The Thirteen United States of America and their Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution protect the individual from arbitrary authorities—in theory.)

 

11 Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin."  (Greater sin for Jews than Romans.) 

 

NAS Acts 1:7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;  (Only God has authority over time.)

 

NAS Acts 8:19 saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."  (New convert, Simon the magician.  Erroneous request.)

 

♠NAS Acts 9:14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call upon Thy name."  (Saul, authorized religious persecutor.) 

 

NAS Acts 26:10 "And this is just what I did in Jerusalem; not only did I lock up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, but also when they were being put to death I cast my vote against them.  (Saul, authorized religious capital persecutor.)

 

 12 "While thus engaged as I was journeying to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests,

 

NAS Romans 13:1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. (Government or anarchy.)

 

 2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. (Government or anarchy.)

 

 3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same; (Government or anarchy.) (Government is supposed to promote good.)

 

♠NAS 1 Corinthians 7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. (Mutual authority in marriage sexuality.)

 

 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. (Authority over your free will is a powerful gift from God.  Free will sentience is a powerful gift from God.)

 

♠NAS 1 Corinthians 11:10 Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.  (Humans, authority, and angels a relationship.) (Do you not know we shall judge angels?)

 

♠NAS 1 Corinthians 15:24 then comes the end, when He delivers up the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power.  (Jesus has judged the authority of angels.)

 

NAS 2 Corinthians 10:8 For even if I should boast somewhat further about our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I shall not be put to shame, (Apostolic authority.)

 

NAS 2 Corinthians 13:10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, in order that when present I may not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down. (Apostolic authority.)

 

♠NAS Ephesians 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.  (Jesus Christ superior authority.)

 

NAS Colossians 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; (Jesus Christ superior authority.)

 

♠NAS 1 Thessalonians 2:6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.  (Apostle: Superior spiritual authority.)

 

♠NAS 1 Thessalonians 4:2 For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  (Apostle: Superior spiritual authority.)

 

NAS 1 Timothy 2:2 for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  (Authority promotes good.)

 

 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (Humans, authority, and angels a relationship.)

 

NAS Titus 2:15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.  (Apostolic authority for Timothy.)

 

NAS 1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,  (Context: 1 Peter 2:14  14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.  Government authority promotes good over evil.  In the United States, when authorities become evil, we can theoretically vote them out.  Elsewhere, revolution against evil government is the historical norm.  Too often it is just evil overthrowing evil.) 

 

NAS 2 Peter 2:10 and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,  (Spiritual anarchy despises authority.)

 

NAS Jude 1:8 Yet in the same manner these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. (Spiritual anarchy despises authority.)

 

 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.  (God is the authority.)

 

♠NAS Revelation 2:26 'And he who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations; (Spiritual reward: future authority.  Note: As we have seen elsewhere in this study--Matthew 20:26-27--authority will be given to those not wanting it now.) 

 

 27 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are broken to pieces, as I also have received authority from My Father; (Amen, come Lord Jesus.)

 

NAS Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

NAS Revelation 11:3 "And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth."  (Moses and Elijah, two powerful authoritative lives.)

 

NAS Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (Amen, come Lord Jesus.)

 

NAS Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

 4 and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?" (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

 5 And there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies; and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

 7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them; and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

NAS Revelation 17:12 "And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

 13 "These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

NAS Revelation 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory. (Angels, powerful authority.)

 

 

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