"Authority" of Scriptures

Authority of what is written? Why do we follow Bible over man?

There was once a time when man was not writing down the words of the Lord God, but men were directed by prophets of God before there was a king to rule, but man kept disobeying God and the prophets and kept going after Doctrines of men Is one factor.

Here we are going to take a look at why we use the Bible as "Authority" over man's Doctrines/opinions.

What Is the Authority of Scripture, and How Can We Trust It? - Topical Studies

God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16)The Bible attests to its own authority to rule creation by declaring itself the divine Word of God (Psalm 19:1; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21).

There are many websites that will talk about the "Authority" of Scriptures and how we must make Scriptures above man's opinions and Doctrines.

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Mark 7:6-11 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.[7]Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.[8]For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.[9]And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.[10]For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:[11]But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

1 Corinthians 11: Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you

2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us[7]For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

• Why did Jesus read from a book/scroll (Luke 4:17) if such things are not to be taken as "Authority"?

• But how are we to take Bible as "Authority" if people are taught that Bible has no "Authority" and has been translated many timesto where we do not know what it says and how the Bible contradicts itself constantly?

I have been using Quora for quiet some time now and have found many good and bad answers, but dialog is key if such a person wants to learn and to know, and research is always required.

• Why do we research people and people's Doctrines and not Bible?

Cause man loves to argue with man, and thru time, man loves to claim his interpretation is better with provided information. Archeology for example. Many claim this and that, and yet sometimes man is wrong due to new found information that was recently uncovered.

Man also loves to argue the Bible because of its age and that we do not have original copy of the scrolls. We do however have many copies of the original but not exactly the original, and with this question I really enjoy people like J Warner Wallace who does take the time to investigate the age and origins of "Chain of Custody" of the scrolls.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TPS1JO-Ul1s&feature=share7

https://youtube.com/live/gldOsb5a1Pk?feature=share7

2 videos from J Wallace that we must take into account when learning about the age and origins of the Bible we have today. I went down this same route before I tried to investigate the Bible as a whole, I did this very thing with the book of Daniel.

Daniel pt 1

Only thru investigation did I find that the book of Daniel was old enough and long before time of Jesus, and so then the investigation on prophecy started after making sure that Daniel wasn't written after Jesus or even my lifetime.

People have found that the New Testament scrolls and all things that they've found with writing on it concerning New Testament, are indeed made in the lifetime of the disciples, even thru persecution where almost everyone wanted the Christians (Jesus followers) dead, they still found ways to meet and greet and break bread and share the Gospel, the Good News and write things down.

Now also remember, these new found Christians were not exactly rich, and so they couldn't exactly write everything on expensive leather, but God provided a way for them to prosper and share the Good News.

• Even if the Bible has no "Authority". Why would people goto the Bible to argue the Bible?

• Why would people argue church over Bible and date the church all the way back to disciples if the only information about the disciples are from the Bible?

• Perhaps because people who love the church over Bible know in thier minds and hearts that the Bible will indeed contradict the church and in order to save the church they need to trash the Bible and its "Authority"???

This is not a direct attack on Catholic church, this is directed at all churches that profess Jesus and claim to be followers of Jesus when everyone knows we have to goto the Bible to find Jesus.

• Doesn't make sense does it?

People strive hard, many long hours to trash the Bible and even rewrite the Bible to suit their "Feelings". This "Feelings" Narrative is wrong and also needs to be considered as Frank Turek says to many people who are in the Religion of Atheism: If the Bible was true would you convert? Because it's a "Heart" issue, they don't want the Bible to be true. (Can't remember exact phrase he would say but something like this).

• Also, if they succeed in trashing the Bible, they also trash prophecy, and then they can teach whatever they want cause if no Bible and no prophecy, church rules???

Once we learn the age of scrolls of the Bible and the "Authority" of the Bible, then can you also strive to learn prophecy, cause in prophecy it speaks about many things, especially how the many churches are drunk from the Wine of Babylon.

Jeremiah 51:7 Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.

Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Revelation 18:2-4 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird[3]For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies[4]And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

• What is the Wine of Babylon? And what is Wine?

• New wine is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and has various illustrations in the Bible. First, Jesus spoke of the new wine in association with the move of God (Matt 9:17). Second, new wine is also associated with the harvest. 

• Wine is a constant in Christianity: it’s said to be a gift of God to humanity, it’s in the Last Supper, it symbolizes Christ’s blood, and it is used in modern rituals.  The general Christian tradition views wine as a gift of God not only because of the light that wine symbolizes but also due to its symbolic relation to Christ’s sacrifice.

• Ellen White says it well: The wine which Christ provided for the feast, and that which He gave to the disciples as a symbol of His own blood, was the pure juice of the grape. To this the prophet Isaiah refers when he speaks of the new wine “in the cluster,” and says, “Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it.” Isaiah 65:8

It was Christ who in the Old Testament gave the warning to Israel, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1. And He Himself provided no such beverage. Satan tempts men to indulgence that will becloud reason and benumb the spiritual perceptions, but Christ teaches us to bring the lower nature into subjection. His whole life was an example of self-denial. In order to break the power of appetite, He suffered in our behalf the severest test that humanity could endure. … Christ did not contradict His own teaching. The unfermented wine which He provided for the wedding guests was a wholesome and refreshing drink. (Desire of Ages, page 149)

Wine is a symbol of Jesus's blood and the Holy Spirit and we are to know the difference between new wine and old wine.

• Why would the Bible talk about drinking wine and yet condem wine at the same time? Is this a contradiction?

• So we are to drink wine but not get drunk? Or does this try to imply that there is a difference between old and new wine?

The Bible makes it clear the distinction between old and new wine and which ones we are to drink and which to avoid and more importantly I believe which to not over drink to much of.

Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Wine in the Bible is mentioned to be good and bad and even has symbolic meaning as it mixes the old wine with drunkenness and with Babylon.

1. Blood of the saints?

2. Why would people drink and get drunk on blood?

3. How is this possible?

4. There must be a connection with old wine that makes you drunk and blood?

5. What is being drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication mean? (Rev 18:3).

When looking at symbolic messages/verses, we must use the Bible to interpret the Bible so that we can see what the Bible is saying. But this only works if you have done a tiny bit of investigation on the age and "Authority" of the Bible to understand that the Bible has alot more to tell you then meets the eye.

I can keep going on and on about this symbolic topic and many others related to it and many parallels and connections with it, but all is vanity, useless if you personally don't give the Bible any credit ("Authority").

Ecclesiastes 12:8 Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

• Another verse talking about what is written? Why? If Scriptures are useless and church has "Authority" over Scriptures, why read anything at all?

Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Daniel 5: In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Daniel 5:25 And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.

• Even God wrote, why would God write anything if all is meaningless and have books in heaven?

This is where we all must make a personal decision on our personal view of the Bible and its "Authority" over church and over man's Doctrines. Even my own Doctrines must be placed to the Bible for research and investigation.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Problems occur when people confuse these categories. For example, to teach that the virgin birth is an optional doctrine that Christians are free to believe or not believe is to reject a core teaching of the Bible. It presents a biblical doctrine as non-essential. Then there are those who present extra-biblical teachings as if they were biblical doctrines. A person’s opinions and preferences are given the weight of God’s law; this happens sometimes in matters of clothing, music style, and food choice. When we “teach as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7), we become like the Pharisees whom Jesus strongly condemned.

There are some Doctrines being taught by churches (all churches?) That are nor necessary in the Bible, and so where do we make the distinction between the 2? How are we to know which Doctrines or Traditions are good and which are bad?

This website (above) brings a good question, am I forced to believe that Mary mother of Jesus was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus? And did she remain a virgin all her days of life?

• What and why is this simple teaching crucial???

Answer: Matthew 13:55 and Mark 6:3 name four men called Jesus' brethren: James, Joses (short for Joseph Jr.), Simon, and Judas called Jude. Verse 56 mentions that Jesus had sisters. The sisters are not named, but since the word is plural there were at least two of them

Matthew 1:25. And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

When the Bible talks about a man knowing his wife, it usually means there is sex involved almost 100 percent of the time when "Knew/Know" is used. Please feel free to double check this.

The reason for marriage is for children, only way to have children is to have sex, and Joseph finally had sex with Mary after Jesus was born. Why would the Bible not mention Mary being a eunuch or barren if she was childless after Jesus??? This is one of thecore Doctrines found inside the Bible and yet some churches refuse to believe and teach this Doctrine and yet want to make all excuses on why Mary was childless and barren after Jesus.

• Could this be because of Mary worship?

The many things that different churches worship isn't in question but you can if you want to, go and learn how people pray to humans who are dead and asleep in the grave.

Ecclesiastes 9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

Another core Doctrine from the Bible is death and how sleep and death are used interchangeably together because when we die, we sleep in the grave and await the return of Jesus to resurrect us from the graves. But many people will teach how there is instant heaven and instant he'll once you die. This is a False Doctrine, simply without going into much detail I can ask that why would we instantly goto heaven to be with the Lord, only so that when Jesus comes to resurrect us, the graves will be empty???

• Who is Jesus coming back for if all the dead are gone?

• Is Jesus only coming back for the living left alive?

• 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. [15]For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. [16]For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17]Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

• If the wicked dead are instantly in hell burning for all eternity, why does this verse contradict a church's teaching?

Just a couple things to investigate on while also learning more about the "Authority" of the Bible over church and over man's Doctrines.

For we must have a "Final Authority" when it comes to Bible's Doctrines and teachings, cause if Bible is not "Final Authority", then we can make up any False Doctrines we want and claim it's true and holy and word of God since we have nothing to test the spirits that may be with the church that is teaching such a thing.

(These verses in picture are edited. Please read your Bible to find missing words which I have taken out to serve a purpose).

• Test the spirits.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Please note: I did not post every single Scriptures relating to said topics above. This is general usage and some verse location that you can use. Please refer to the links and videos provided and always, above all man's opinions, take everything to the Bible and do not believe blindly in any man without double checking and without at least asking the Holy Spirit for help. For without the Spirit, nothing said can be understood without God's approval.

God does approve of alot of things, for His grace and Love is upon us all each and every breath we take is by God's Love ad mercy.

• May God bless this post and the readers who are willing to try and learn and seek.

#EFDoctrines