The Supreme Authority of the Bible

Lesson Four

Since the Bible is inspired and inerrant, it must be our highest standard of authority.

By authority, we mean that the Bible, as the expression of God’s will to us, possesses the right supremely to define what we are to believe and how we are to conduct ourselves

The Bible has Authority Over:

• human reason and wisdom
• tradition
• religious leaders
• our personal feelings and experiences
• our personal thoughts and ways

Human reason and wisdom

1 Cor. 1:21 – For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

1 Cor. 1:25 – Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Cor. 2:4-5 – And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

Tradition

Matt. 15:1-3 – Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And He answered and said to them, And why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?

Col. 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Messiah.

Religious leaders

Matt. 16:6 – And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Matt. 16:11-12 – “How is it that you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Then they understood that He did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Ezek. 34:2 – “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord God,” Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock?

Our personal feelings & emotions

Ps. 42:5 -6 -Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

Ps. 43:5 – Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance, and my God.

Ps. 16:11 – …In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.

Neh. 8:10 – Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Our personal thoughts and ways

Is. 55:8-9 – “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

The authority of the Bible applies to all the areas of which the Bible speaks. It’s the final authority in matters of history and science as well as belief and conduct. As such, we should respond in obedience to His Word.

There are severe consequences of disobeying and not heeding the teachings of the Scriptures. In doing this, we are denying the Bible’s authority.

Zech. 7:8-14 – Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah saying, “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice, and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ But they refused to pay attention, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing. “And they made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the Lord of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the Lord of hosts. “And it came about that just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen, says the Lord of hosts; “but I scattered them with a storm wind among all the nations whom they have not known. Thus the land is desolated behind them, so that no one went back and forth, for they made the pleasant land desolate.

It’s a horrible thing for the authority of the Word to be usurped. In doing this, we are putting ourselves in a place that we do not belong.

Jer. 5:30-31 – An appalling and horrible thing Has happened in the land: 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?