SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY
by John Clark

When I think of the subject, "Scriptural Authority," I cannot help but be
reminded of the cry during the Restoration Movement -- SPEAK WHERE THE BIBLE
SPEAKS AND BE SILENT WHERE THE BIBLE IS SILENT". I believe, with all of my
heart, that this can and should be done, even though many today think they are
doing it, but, alas, are not.  

Then, there are those who believe that we cannot come to the point of being
obedient to speaking and being "silent where the Bible" does/is.  However,
this  takes away all of the power from GOD'S MEANS OF COMMUNICATION with His
people today, the WRITTEN MANIFESTATION OF HIS WORD.  (Or, is there some other
means that I am not familiar with?)   God certainly does not COMMUNICATE  with
us by ORAL MANIFESTION OF HIS WORD.  Where is the man or woman who says that
he or she has heard the voice of God Almighty?  Paul addressed this, in his
second letter to the Corinthians, when he stated that God had "lastly spoken
unto me....."  

So, the question comes to mind, "How can we really SPEAK WHERE THE BIBLE
SPEAKS, AND BE SILENT WHERE THE BIBLE IS SILENT?"  The answer lies in a proper
understanding and appreciation of "authority".  

I should know something regarding "authority" and "obedience" (the two go hand
in hand), for I served in the military, and if you DON'T learn it there, you
will probably NEVER learn what the meaning truly is.  Let's examine the word
further, regarding SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY, please.  According to VINE'S NEW
TESTAMENT WORD SEARCH, "Authority" means the following:

1)  [exousia], denotes "authority" (from the impersonal verb exesti, "it is
lawful"). "the power of rule or government," the power of one whose will and
commands must be obeyed by others, e.g., Matt. 28:18; John 17:2; Jude 1:25;
Rev. 12:10; 17:13; more specifically of apostolic "authority," 2 Cor. 10:8;
13:10; See
JURISDICTION, LIBERTY, POWER, RIGHT, STRENGTH. 

2)  [epitage], an injunction, is once rendered "authority," Titus 2:15 (RV,
marg., "commandment"). See COMMANDMENT. 

Note: The corresponding verb is epitasso, "to command." See COMMAND. 

3) [huperoche], primarily, "a projection, eminence,"; 1 Tim. 2:2, AV (marg.,
"eminent place"), RV, "high place," of the position of magistrates. 

4) [dunastes], akin to dunamis, "power."
 
5) [exousiazo], signifies "to exercise power," Luke 22:25; 1 Cor. 6:12; 7:4
(twice). 

6) [katexousiazo], "to exercise authority upon," is used in Matt. 20:25; Mark
10:42. 

7) [authenteo], "to execise authority on one's own account, to domineer over,"
is used in 1 Tim. 2:12, AV, "to usurp authority," RV; to exercise authority,
dominion.

For this short study, we shall be aware of the use the following definitions
(by Vine's), with a view to numbers 1), 2) and 3):

1)  the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others
2)  that which is subject to authority or rule
3)  commandment
4)  pre-eminence, superiority, excellency  
5)  to exercise power
6)  to exercise authority upon
7)  to execise authority on one's own account, to domineer over
8)  to exercise authority, dominion

As evident from the above, "authority" has many applications and implications
which are to be understood by both the sender and the recipient.  Let it be
understood here and now that we are speaking of God as the sender, and the
student of His word as the recipient.  

The first question that arises is, "How can we know what method to use in
making sense of what God wants us to do or not do?"  Let's look at this for a
moment.  There are really only two ways to answer this question, as I
understand it:

1)  either everyone is to have their own "interpretation" of the scriptures
(and say that it really doesn't matter anyway, because God knows our heart);
or;

2)  everyone is to use logic, common sense, rationality, prayer,
understanding, and comparison of other passages in coming to know what it is
that God knows, and that He wants us to live by that becomes His authority
over us.

Number one does not really speak to the issue of "authority".  It also falls
under the category of  "you have your view, and I'll have mine" concept.
Then, no one is really learning and no one is profitting from the BOOK of
BOOKS!  As one writer put it, there is onlly "confusion and every evil work."
Remember this:  "that which proves too much, proves nothing". So, for the
purpose of this study, this is too vague and has no authority behind it to
really be given any real consideration.  Number two, then, is the true
application of "Scriptural Authority".  

Let's take a common-sense approach to three things that are pertinent to this
short study of "authority".  They are:

1)  knowledge
2)  understanding
3)  wisdom

The first one, "knowledge", is the explanation of a thing, either oral or
written.  "Understanding" is the application of that oral or written
explanation; while, "wisdom" is, really looking at the thing from God's point
of view.  NOTE:  There is no way for us to look at any thing "from God's point
of view" without His help (James 1:4), which He gives when we ask.  

We spoke of six things that are important in "scriptural authority".  They
were:

1)  logic 

For centuries, now, man has utilized a method of "logic" (taught in
universities around the country today) to solve his problems.  This is not the
"only" method, which we will identify in a moment, but it is a reliable and
dependable source which is to be used along with other reliable methods.
Today, in the church of Christ, it is known as the CENI method of
interpretation, or a way to draw logical conclusions.   Just a simple example
of what we mean here is:  A + B = C; which means C - B = A; or C - A = B.
Note that there is an " = " for each of the letters.  Any and all of these are
true.  This is a very important concept for our study, because GOD IS NOT
ILLOGICAL!

My personal belief is that many try to use this system alone and that is where
conflict and trouble come into the picture, what with all the unrest and
various viewpoints regarding so many Bible issues in the church today.
Another way of looking at "logic" has become known as "CENI".  It is
representative of "command; example, and necessary inference."  Thus, the
first letter of each word.  There is one more to add to this, and that is
"expediency" (the permission to carry out a command by using that which is
neither right nor wrong).  

So, the method of logic is CENI(E), or CENIE.  The "expediency" is very
definitely necessary to use logically, otherwise, no one would know the
difference between "necessary" inference, or "mere" inference.   "Silent
permission" (another meaning of expediency), and often mistaken for
"necessary" inference.  Let's give examples of the use of logic of CENIE in
scripture by examining the "statement" in the New Testament for God's people
to "assemble" (any could be used, and I would encourage each of us to do our
own study and examine statements that you may be having problems discerning):

a.  Command - PUBLIC ASSEMBLY -- ".....(Heb 10:25 - "Not forsaking the
assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is...." (He >God<
cannot be pleased without it, so we have no alternative but to have it.  This
certainly does not exclude in any way private worship to God.  But we cannot
please Him nor be pleasing to Him unless we assemble together in public.

b.  Example - PUBLIC ASSEMBLY - James 2:2  -- ".....if there should come into
your assembly....." (We know that they had them).  1 Corinthians 14 is the
pattern of a public assembly.  Acts 20:7 shows that the early Christians
".....came together....."  So, there is our example to follow.  It is an
APPROVED example, because God did not condemn it.

c.  Necessary Inference - PUBLIC ASSEMBLY - James 2:2 mandates an assembly,
but NOT the time or place -- it may be at 10Am; 11Am; afternoon, etc..  The
place may be under a tree or in a home, but there MUST be a place -- it is
"necessary" to carry out the command.  Without it, the command cannot be kept,
thus the "necessary" inference.  Never, never, never attach a "necessary" to a
mere inference.  (This is where the problems arise).

d.  Expediency - PUBLIC ASSEMBLY - Acceptible and permissable -- but not
necessary to carry out the command.  These expediencies are not at all
mentionned in scripture in any shape, form or fashion.  Here are a few:

     1)  buildings
     2)  heating & cooling
     3)  song books
     4)  chalk & blackboards
     5)  seats
     6)  carpet

Please note that these six things have absolutely no part nor lot whatsoever
in the command to assemble.  They are neither right nor wrong, so they are
permissable.
     
Before going to the next order of business, I wish to address the matter of
GENERIC versus SPECIFIC definitions of commands/statements in the New
Testament.  

     A)  GENERIC means "general" in nature.  A good example of this would be
the COMMAND to go and "preach the gospel to every creature....." (Mk 16:15).
There are no stipulations about how to "go".  We may wish to go by:

           a)  foot
           b)  boat
           c)  car
           d)  airplane

It does not matter "how" we go -- it does not "change" the command, nor the
intention of the command.

     B)  SPECIFIC means "certain; sure; pin-point accuracy".  A good example
of this would be the command of "baptism".  The word, itself, means to
"immerse".  So, without saying so in so many words, "baptism" is a very
certain and sure method of being completely overwhelmed.  "Sprinkling", or
"pouring", then, would be excluded, using this interpretive method.

2)  common sense

Well, Brothers and Sisters, we come to another one that is surely debateable
-- that of "common sense".  What is "common sense"?  It certainly is NOT what
"everyone else is doing."  

Rather, it is "the product of careful examination of all alternatives, and
choosing the correct one".  "A man with common sense is farther down the road
of life than is the educated man who carries a dictionary in his pocket
without it" -- Abraham Lincoln.

3)  rationality 

Some folks seem to prefer this one above all others.  However, it should not
be so.  To "rationalize" a concept or idea is to first define the character or
nature of the concept or idea, then "explain away" it's true meaning.  Now,
while that may work in some things, in determining the accuracy of scripture,
it is the most unreliable and least desirable.

This was truly one of the pitfalls of SIGMUND FRUED (I Spell it "freud" -- for
he truly taught as truth, a "counterfeit" and a "fake" and a "freud" -- he
took the ID, the EGO and the SUPEREGO; defined them and then rationalized them
-- and all three of them were duplicated and counterfeited from the BODY, SOUL
and SPIRIT of the Bible.  

In order to attain success in counterfeiting anything, that which is a "fake"
MUST OF NECESSITY be almost indiscernible by those who are intended to be
deceived. In other words, the counterfeit must be "believeable".  It is truly
"patterned" after the "real".  Otherwise, there would be no way that the
"counterfeit" could "deceive" anyone.  Every responsible banker in the world
will tell you that this is a true principle in telling the difference between
counterfeit bills and real bills -- and this is a principle of what we are
studying today.  

4)  prayer 

Prayer is a sure-fire method of being reassured (notice that I did not say
ASSURED, but REASSURED) that we have correctly understood what God's point was
to us in the first place.  It plays a great role in the intrepretative
procedure, because in order to receive wisdom form God, this method must also
be exercised.

It is my opinion (for what it is worth) that this is one step that many
students of the Word omit.  Psalms 1 tells us to "meditate" upon the Word of
the Lord day and night.  I have personally found that "prayer" (an important
part of meditation) and talking to God about what He has said in the Bible has
proven to be very successful for me, when coupled with all other procedures.
God loves to hear us pray to him using His Words.

5)  comparison of other passages

Perhaps one passage means to another does not mean the same thing to someone
else.  Why do you suppose this is true?  Perhaps there are several reasons.
One certainly is that we are all at different levels of understanding in our
Chrsitian lives.  This certainly is not a "license" for us to be able to think
any and everything that we wish about scripture to the "destruction" of our
souls.  We all need to be taught.  The disciple (learner) who thinks he knows
everything has become a NON-DISCIPLE.

Another reason for so many opinions is because some people go to the Bible
with preconceived notions and try to prove what they believe it says.  This
should never be done.  Just take any of the controversial subjects you can
think of, and put this to the test.  How long would it be before you would
find someone who disagrees with you about that subject?  I tell you, not very
long!  

When we study, we need to enter the study with open minds, seeking to fill
them with God's intentions, and not our own.  He does have a "will" for us,
for the Bible was not written in VAIN.  If nothing else is attained in this
study, REMEMBER THIS:  GOD DID NOT WRITE HIS BOOK IN VAIN!  If it were not
understandable, it would truly be a vain (which means "useless") book!

6)  acceptance of truth (regardless of what it teaches)

This seems to be the hardest thing for any of us to accept, if we are honest.
Why?  I guess that it is because of tradition or culture or other things, but
the student of God, the disciple of Christ, the learner, will ACCEPT what is
taught when it is pointed out to him/her in truth, godliness, kindness and
wisdom.

I only speak these things because we, as God's people, have made Biblical
interpretative methods difficult, and almost impossible to ascertain.
However, one final thought -- God's Word is simple. The message is that of the
salvation of the soul.  If I miss the mark (the meaning of sin), whose fault
is it?  It is mine.  I hope and pray that this short article on SCRIPTURAL
AUTHORITY is understandable and acceptable.  God bless us all in this study of
SOUND DOCTRINE.

John Clark