The subject of authority in religion is of paramount importance. If there is an authority, it must be followed. If there is no authority, then we are free to do as we please in respect to worship and doctrine.
Is the Bible authoritative over us? Are we bound to follow what is written within the pages of the Word, or are we free to do as we choose, still finding favor with God?
God himself has authority over us, by virtue of being our creator, but what does he say about the authority of Scripture?
Throughout the Bible, the writings state that they are inspired of God (2 Tim 3:16, and many others), written by God. Therefore, let us look at what he has said on the matter, for God’s word is truth.
The words of Christ are an authority
In Deuteronomy, God spoke to Moses concerning the Christ, “I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him,” Deuteronomy 18:18-19.
When Christ came, he confirmed this prophecy, saying, “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak,” John 12:48-50. Jesus, speaking by God’s sovereign authority, tells us that at the last day we shall be judged by the words he spoke; therefore, they are an authority over us.
Jesus himself is an authority
Jesus now has authority over us, for after he had arisen, he told the apostles, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth,” Matthew 28:18. Therefore, two things have been declared to be authoritative – the words Jesus spoke which are contained in the gospels, and Jesus himself.
The remainder of the New Testament is an authority
Jesus to the disciples, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you,” John 16:12-15. Jesus, on the night of his betrayal, told the apostles that he had many things yet to say to them, and revealed to them that the Holy Spirit, speaking by the authority of Christ, would guide them “into all truth,” making the remainder of the New Testament part of “the word I have spoken.” Therefore, as the remainder of the New Testament is inspired by the Holy Spirit, it is an authority over us.
While Jesus was in the flesh, he spoke on God’s authority, not his own. When he had arisen, God gave him all authority, therefore now he does speak on his own authority. The Holy Spirit, in like manner, doesn’t speak on his own authority, but by the authority of Christ. So, depending on when a statement was made, it has either the authority of God, or of Jesus. And in reality, as all of the New Testament was written after Jesus ascended, it is all written by the authority of Christ.
Therefore, the New Testament is authoritative in the church of Christ, and in the world (“He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day”). But is it the only authority? Does Christ, at the present day, in exercise of his authority over all things, still reveal his will, apart from the New Testament? Does he grant to man the right to alter what is written, or to substitute his own will?
Paul wrote to Timothy, “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 complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work,” 2Timothy 3:16-17. One who is complete lacks nothing, and is in need of nothing further. Therefore, the Scriptures are the fullness of the revelation of Christ.
Is the New Testament the only law in the church? Yes. John 12:48, “(T)he word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” If he says that the word is what will judge us, that excludes anything else by default.
But will there still be additional revelation from Christ today? No. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 13:8-11, “…But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” In the infancy of the church, there were men who prophesied, and men who taught by inspiration. But they only did this in part; they did not have the full revelation. As there are no longer miracles, tongues, etc., the perfect has come, the full New Testament. When the church was in her infancy, there were miracles and the like for the building up of the faith, until she should grow and mature. By the time the last book was written, this had been accomplished, and the things of childhood (miracles, tongues, inspired teaching, prophecy) were no longer necessary for the continuation of the church (cf. Ephesians 4:11-16).
Does man have the right to alter, add to, or take away from the law of Christ? No. “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book,” and again, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed,” and again, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds,” Revelation 22:18-19, Galatians 1:8-9, & 2 John 9-11.
The teachings of Christ, given by the Holy Spirit, contained in the New Testament, are what we shall be judged by at the last day; therefore, they alone are authoritative.
But what of the Old Testament? We are not bound, as a matter of covenant, by the Law and the Prophets; these were nailed to the cross with Christ, Colossians 2:14. Therefore, the Law of Moses (including the Ten Commandments) is no longer in effect. However, the principles and examples given in the Old Testament are entirely valid for learning today; God doesn’t change. Therefore, “Then He said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old,’” Matthew 15:32. We may teach from the principles of the Old Testament, but we are not under the law of Moses. Moreover, there are some things in the Old Testament which are still in effect – the covenant with Noah, for example; we count on the cycle of day and night, summer and winter, and we still see his bow in the sky.
There is much truth contained in the Old Testament which is beneficial for the Christian. It was written by God, who never changes (only covenants change; but we are under the final one). Many proofs of Christ are there; Paul used them to prove Jesus as the Christ. The Proverbs still contain much wisdom for learning, the Psalms comforts for the trials of the heart, and strong declarations of faith. Ecclesiastes still tears away the façade of the world, revealing the utter emptiness and futility of worldly pursuits; the world, for all it’s flash and boasting, is still but a puff of smoke. Chronicled there are men of great faith, who trusted God; and we see men who did not. We see David, the great king of Israel, a man after God’s own heart; he fell and committed great treachery, yet when he repented, God forgave him (what great comfort for us!); though he still bore the consequences of his sin. Abraham, Jacob, Noah, Josiah, Daniel, and many more, examples for us to be strong and of good courage, to trust him who has “inscribed us on the palm of his hand,” for “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world,” Isaiah 49:16, 1John 4:4.
Only we shall be judged by the covenant he has made with us in Christ.