Desiring God’s Authority• God’s faithful want to live by it. Col. 3:17• The self-righteous demanded it. Matt. 21:23-27• Considerations:– Did they even have/use a hermeneutical system

when they asked Jesus this question?– Would it look exactly like what we have today?

1 Peter 4:11a (NKJV)

“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the

oracles (very words) of God.”

THE SOURCE OF AUTHORITY

Except He Reveals Himself• We can know some about God through creation. Rom.

1:20-21• But special revelation – His Word – gives us His mind. 1

Cor. 2 (Rom. 10:14-15)• Without His God-breathed words we would not know

how to live consistent to His good pleasure. 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Eph. 2:10; Rom. 12:1-2; etc.

INHERENT PRINCIPLESCommands and Statements

Commands: It’s Imperative• Commandments carry authority from its source.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the

Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the

end of the age.”Matthew 28:19-20

Stating The Obvious…And Then Some• Statements simply is an accounting of facts.• Through statements people make inferences based upon their

contextual understanding.

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,

“Drink from it, all of you.Matthew 26:26-27

CONTEXTUnderstanding Biblical Authority for what we do necessitates context

Who, What, When, Where, Why, How• We ask – and strive to answer – these questions when

wrapping our minds around the context of a Bible passage/subject.

• Through these questions we formulate inferences and opinions that aide in the process of establishing context.

• The more definitive information revealed to us the more authoritative our conclusion.

Example of Establishing ContextWhat Is It?

2”

2.1”• Facts (Information about this shape)

• Inferences about this shape?

90°.5”

Conclusions• Initial Surface:

rectangle (not square)• Cubed• Perimeters• Surface Areas• Volume

InferencesWe make inferences (come up with possible

conclusions) based upon the available information revealed (through a variety of

commands and statements) to understand the context of a passage or subject.

Examples• Example are used to illustrate, support, and

confirm what is being taught.• It is practically applicable as a pattern, standard.• Without a point of reference to illustrate,

support or confirm… an example would cease to exist as such.

PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICEHarder than it seems… but we’ll strive to our utmost in honoring God.

Easy in Theory / Difficult to ApplyMatthew 26:26-27

• Is this a binding pattern for the order of the Lord’s Supper?… or, a (incidental) statement of what took place during the meal?

• Is the “one cup” a binding pattern?… or, a (incidental) statement of what Jesus used to remember Him.

• Can we bind one but not the other?

More Examples of Binding Difficulties

• (married) Women to be silent? 1 Cor. 14:34-35• Women to wear head covering? 1 Cor. 11:2ff• Are we to fast with our prayers? Acts 13:1-3

Summary of Passages Used• Commands and statements were present.• Inferences (some might say “necessary”) were

employed.• Some would use these very passages as

“examples” to illustrate or confirm their point.

When All Is Said and DonePhilippians 2:12–13 (NASB95) — 12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.