A Study of Authority

1. A Study ofAuthority “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him; the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:47-48).

2. A Study ofAuthority Lesson 7 Authority – Generic and Specific (Presentations are basically an adaptation of material found in Billy W. Moore’s classbook, A Study of Authority)

3. A Quick Summary of Past Lessons • We have established what authority is, and the need for it in religion • The Old Testament, the preacher, creeds of men, desires of a congregation, elders, or “end justifies the means” are not the source of authority • Christ is the source of authority as king, and head over the church • The will of Christ is set forth in the New Testament • Authority is established through command, example and necessary inference

4. There are Two Kinds of Authority • Generic Authority • Webster’s – “general, opposite to specific” • Generic includes all the methods or ways for doing the thing authorized • Specific Authority • Webster’s – “precisely formulated or restricted; specifying or explicit.” • Thus, specific authority restricts one to that which is precisely formulated.

5. Examples illustrating the Concept • Matthew 28:18-20

6. Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 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. Amen.’”

7. Examples illustrating the Concept • Matthew 28:18-20 • First command is to “Go” • Is this generic or specific? • What ways of going are authorized? • If it is not specifically mentioned can it still be authorized? • Second command is to “Teach” • How many methods of teaching are authorized? • What can we teach? (cf. Mk. 16:16) (Specified!)

8. Examples illustrating the Concept • Exodus 12:1-6

9. Exodus 12:1-6 “… 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.’ … 5 ‘Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.’”

10. Examples illustrating the Concept • Exodus 12:1-6 • Animal is a generic term • What animal is specified here? • Does specifying this animal exclude other types of animals? • What are some other specific details which limit in this case? • Without blemish • Male • Sheep or Goat • Note that this restricts!

11. Examples illustrating the Concept • Genesis 6:14-16

12. Genesis 6:14-16 “14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. 15 And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. 16 You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.”

13. Examples illustrating the Concept • Genesis 6:14-16 • Kind of wood specified • Gopherwood (all others excluded) • Dimensions of Ark specified • 300 X 50 X 30 cubits • No authority to build another size • Any other details (specifics) pitch, decks (3), window in ark, etc. all exclude aspects not in keeping with the specific!

14. Examples illustrating the Concept • Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16

15. Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16 (Eph. 5:19), “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16), “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

16. Examples illustrating the Concept • Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16 • Music – Generic; Singing – Specific • If the Lord specifies one kind, does it exclude other kinds? (remember, gopher wood, lamb, etc.) • What kinds of songs are authorized? • Specifically – Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual songs • Does God specify tempo? Harmony VS unison? • Does the specific exclude some “good” songs?

17. What We Should Learn from this Lesson • Generic authority authorizes everything in that general realm – all of the specifics in that realm. Thus, a thing does not have to be mentioned in the scripture to be authorized • Specific authority authorizes that which is specified and excludes all other specifics in the general realm. Thus, a thing does not have to be specifically forbidden to by unauthorized. • Note: Learn these lessons well for they are the cause of much confusion in religion

18. ? Questions Lesson 7 Generic and Specific Authority

19. Question 1 • Define Generic Authority. Specific Authority. • Generic – Opposite of specific. Includes all the methods or ways of doing the thing authorized. • Specific – Precisely formulated or restricted; specifying or explicit. (Thus, restricting one to that which is precisely formulated).

20. Question 2 • Give some ways we can follow the command of Matthew 28:18-20 to teach the gospel of Christ. What methods may we use? • Bible classes at the building • Home Bible studies • Television or Radio programs • Pulpit preaching • Gospel Meetings • Internet and email studies and materials • Dial-A-Bible-Moment • Etc.

21. Question 3 • After reading Exodus 12:1-6, can we conclude that the Israelites were free to use any animal as a Passover sacrifice? Defend your answer. No. In the instructions they were told to take a first year lamb, male, without blemish, from the sheep or goats of their flock. Since God specified the type of animal, no other type would be acceptable to Him.

22. Question 4 • Was Noah free to use any type of building material in constructing the ark? Was he limited in regard to the dimensions? (cf. Genesis 6:14-16). God specified the material: Gopherwood. God specified the dimensions: 300X50X30 cubits. Since God specified, Noah was not free to choose for himself.

23. Question 5 • Does the Bible specifically exclude instrumental music in worship to God? Are we free to use an instrument? If not, why not? While God did not specifically exclude instrumental music, he did specify the type of music He wanted in worship… Singing (cf. Eph. 5:19; Col 3:16). Since God specified the type of music He desires, we are not free to substitute any other type.