What Is Authority?
Authority is important in both the physical and spiritual aspects of life.
It is especially important in the realm of religion. In the absence of authority
anarchy will reign. There will be lawlessness and disorder. This was true
at one point in the history of ancient Israel. "In those days there was no
king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges
17:6; 21:25) Those who desire to please the Lord, never want to "do
what is right in their own eyes." They want to know, believe, and do the
will of the Lord, and in doing so, they must act by his authority. I want
to re-emphasize some of the sacred principles pertaining to authority in
this series of articles. Each generation must be taught all the truth all over
again or apostasy will be the inevitable result. (Judges 2:6-15)
The English word authority means, "the power or right to give commands,
enforce obedience, take action, or make final decisions; jurisdiction."
(Webster's New World Dictionary, page 94) Therefore, the basic concept
involves having the power or right to act.
The idea of authority is also taught in the sacred scriptures. We read in
the Old Testament that Joseph told Pharaoh to "appoint overseers" over the
land of Egypt, who during the seven years of plenty, would "store up grain
under the authority of Pharaoh." (Gen. 41:35; ESV, NIV-2011, NASB)
The ASV chooses to be literal and says, "under the hand of Pharaoh." The
Hebrew word translated "authority" or "hand" is yad and it has a wide range
of meanings. In the Genesis text it means authority, jurisdiction, or command.
There are various ways the Hebrew text connotes the concept of authority.
It may as in this case use a word, or an entire phrase may suffice. In Isaiah
22:21 Yahweh says, Shebna's "authority" (ESV) would be committed to
Eliakim the son of Hilkiah , and on his shoulder would be placed "the key of
the house of David." The ASV uses the word "government" instead of authority.
The Hebrew word translated "authority" or "government" is memshalah. It
refers to dominion, government, rule, and by extension, authority.
The New Testament also contains the concept of authority. Jesus taught as
one having authority. (Mat. 21:29) The chief priests and elders of the people
questioned the authority of Jesus. (Mat. 21:23-27) A centurion told Jesus
that he was a man "set under authority." (Luke 7:8) Jesus said that all authority
had been given to him. (Mat. 28:18) The Greek word translated authority in
all these instances is exousia. It means power, right, authority. Exousia can
connote a state of control over something, freedom of choice (Jno. 10:18);
potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power
(Mat. 9:8); the right to control or command, authority, absolute power, warrant
(Mark 6:7); power exercised by rulers or others in high position by virtue of their
office, ruling power, official power (Luke 20:20); bearer of ruling authority...
officials, government (Rom. 13:1,2,3) ; and the sphere in which power is
exercised, domain (Col. 1:13). (cf. A Greek-English Lexicon Of The New
Testament And Other Early Christian Literature, Third Edition, BDAG,
pages 352-353)
The idea of authority is also conveyed by the use of phrases in the New
Testament. Paul said that God "seated him (Christ) at his right hand in the
heavenly regions, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion."
God "put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head
over all things..." (Eph. 1:20-22) Paul is writing about the supreme
authority that has been granted to our blessed Lord Jesus. Paul told the
brothers and sisters in Colossae, "And whatever you do, in word or in deed,
do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him." (Colossians 3:17) When a person does everything "in the name of the
Lord Jesus, he does it by the authority of the Lord Jesus. He acts by divine
warrant or right! Christians are followers of Christ, and as such they come
under the authority of the Lord. Everything the believer does or says ought to
be in harmony with the lordship of Jesus. Therefore, the entire life of the
believer is placed under obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
RD
Copyright 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment