I think ‘authority’ has gotten a bad rap. The Bible speaks to both the purpose of authority and the abuse of authority. We tend to want to throw out the whole thing when authority has been abused. But that will only lead to anarchy.
The Gospel affirms that God’s plan for humans is not to keep them under His control, but to give them authority to write their own stories within God’s story. We also see that all authority has its purpose and its limits. Even God limited himself when he gave man choice in the garden. Whatever it looks like, we know it does not look like the Gentiles that ‘lord it over’ others, but serves (Matthew 20:25).
So, I did a little word search on the term ‘authority’ in the New Testament and tried to categorize the essence of the purpose of authority. Now I am aware that we can not have a full understanding of a topic simply by doing a word search, but rather we need to look deeper into the context and such. Still, I found this interesting…I think I’ll just leave this here for you.
Authority of Jesus
To Teach: Matthew 7:29, Mark 1:22,27, Luke 4:32, 1 Thess. 4:2, Titus 2:15
To Heal: Matthew 8:9, 10:1, Luke 7:8, Luke 9:1,
To forgive sins: Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10, Luke 5:24
Over demons: Matthew 10:1, Mark 3:15, Mark 6:7, Luke 4:36, Luke 9:1, 10:19
To serve: Matthew 20:24-28, Mark 10:43, Luke 22:26
To Be raised in 3 days: John 2:18, John 10:18
To give life: Luke 5:21, John 17:2, 1 Cor. 15:22,
To Judge (him alone): John 5:22, 27
To lay down his life: John 10:18
To show the Father to the world: John 14:5-14
Over all dominion, authority & power: 1 Cor. 15:24, Col. 2:10, Jude 1:25
Jesus has over the church: Eph. 1:21-22
Authority of the Father:
To set times and dates: Acts 1:7
To throw you into hell after death: Luke 12:5
Authority of husband/wife:
Mutual Authority 1 Cor. 7:4
Wife is not over a husband 1 Tim. 2:12
Authority as Christians:
To make disciples: Matt 28:17-19
To build up: 2 Cor. 10:8, 2 Cor. 13:10
Authority of Elders:
To speak and exhort and reprove these things* with all [i]authority. Titus 2:15
*instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age
To preach the gospel not in domination but appeal like a child: 1 Thess: 2:1-7
Keep watch over flock so as to give an account: Heb. 13.17
To command sanctification and love: 1 Thess. 4:2
Authority of humans:
To earn money from work: 1 Cor. 9:1-11
Authority of the Devil:
World’s Kingdom of Authority & Splendor: Luke 4:6
Authority of the Government:
To tax: Luke 20:26, Rom 13:6
God’s servant for good: Rom 13:4
To arrest: Acts 9:14
To govern: Rom. 13:1
To provide a quiet & tranquil life for citizens: 1 Tim. 2:1-3
To bring punishment on a wrong doer: Rom. 13: 4, 1 Peter 2:14
Authority of the Chief Priests:
To arrest & persecute: Acts 26:10,12 (this was reprimanded by Jesus)
Authority of the Angels:
Have positions of authority: Jude 1:6
Shari's Blog 