The Authority of Scripture
“For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” [Luke 7:8]
When Martin Luther and other Reformers began to preach the doctrine of justification by faith alone, they were speedily challenged by leaders in the Roman Church. The pope and his representatives taught that the church dispensed saving grace. Faith in Christ meant obedience in all things to the priests and bishops.
The teaching that someone was saved by faith, whatever his or her relation to the church, was a frightening development. Such a doctrine must be in error. The Reformers replied with another statement that was even more frightening: “Tradition takes second place to Scripture. People, even popes, can be wrong; only the Bible has absolute authority.”
Finally, when the Reformation was an established fact, the church clarified its position at the Council of Trent. Trent maintained that Scripture and tradition are equally authoritative.
Where does the authority lie? By what standard do we measure all things? We believe that the written Scriptures, inspired by God, are inerrant and infallible. We should not despise the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the church through the ages. But human traditions are not all Spirit guided. They are a mix of good and bad. The Spirit continues to guide the church into more perfect understanding, purifying traditions. But there is only one measure of truth in the church—the already-perfect Bible.
The authority of the Bible is the authority of God, its source. We are required to rest final faith on God alone, and on God’s Word alone. In Luke 7:1–10, a Roman centurion understood this when he asked Jesus to heal his servant. As Jesus traveled to the centurion’s home, the centurion sent word that he knew that Jesus possessed full authority and could direct the healing without personally being present. Jesus need not personally come. Jesus should simply direct the healing, for he had full authority over sickness. Jesus marveled. He said he had not seen such great faith among the people of Israel. This Gentile understood and acknowledged the ultimate authority of Jesus’ word.
The question of final authority still has great relevance. What are we to believe? How are we to act? What does God want us to do? The Bible gives one answer; Bible plus our desires and traditions gives another As we begin these studies, renew your resolve to be open to the Bible and obedient to its commands. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into truth through the Word. Ask for willingness to hear clearly and obey its obligations.
