As we begin our study of hermeneutics, we will start with a discussion of authority, because this is why learning how to interpret Scripture is important. The Bible is not like other works of literature. We may study to understand the works of Homer, Shakespeare, and others for academic reasons, or simply for our own personal enjoyment. Yet the Scriptures are different. The Bible is more than just an interesting, informative, or inspiring book; it contains the very words of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This makes it different from other books because of the authority Jesus Christ has over every aspect of our lives. So in the first part of our study, we will consider the need for authority.
The Authority of Christ
“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17).
The verse above contains a fundamental principle that must govern everything we do. To do something “in the name of” Christ means we do things by His authority. Merely claiming to do something in His name does not give us a rubber stamp of approval for whatever it is we are doing. Jesus said we can be guilty of practicing “lawlessness” while claiming to do things “in [His] name” (Matthew 7:22-23). In his letter to the Colossians, Paul made it clear that we are to act with Christ’s authority in all that we do.
The authority of Christ was the basis for the Great Commission that Jesus gave to His apostles. Before commissioning them to preach, He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). The gospel was preached (Matthew 28:19) because Jesus had all authority. The disciples were to obey the Lord’s commandments (Matthew 28:20) because of His authority.
However, there are some who claim to believe in Christ while minimizing the concept of authority, even though Jesus indicated that it was the foundation for discipleship. An event early in Jesus’ earthly ministry showed that recognizing the principle of authority is rooted in faith.
“And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him, and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him.’ But the centurion said, ‘Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, “Go!” and he goes, and to another, “Come!” and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this!” and he does it.’ Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel’” (Matthew 8:5-10).
This centurion was very familiar with the concept of authority. As a member of the Roman military, he had to obey the commands of the officers over him, and the soldiers under him were required to follow his instructions without questioning or amending them. He recognized that Jesus had this type of authority as well. In Jesus’ response, He explained that those who have faith will follow His words without questioning them or attempting to change them to suit their desires.
If we really believe who Jesus is, we will do His will. As Jesus asked, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46).
Bible Authority
Many religious people recognize that Jesus Christ has all authority, but they fail to see how that is connected to the Bible. They believe Jesus is Lord, but are slow to accept the concept of Bible authority. However, this is an important connection to make. Jesus is not here in the flesh, so how can we know what His will is so we can do it?
When Jesus told His apostles He was going away, He promised to send the Holy Spirit to them (John 14:16-17). The Spirit would come as a “Helper,” who would perform three essential tasks to assist them in their work of proclaiming the gospel of Christ:
- The Holy Spirit would remind them of what Jesus taught – “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26).
- The Holy Spirit would testify about Christ – “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).
- The Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth – “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come” (John 16:13).
Because of this, the apostles’ writings would carry the same weight as the words of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment” (1 Corinthians 14:37). The teachings of the apostles were given “by the authority of the Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:2), and they spoke “the commandment of the Lord” (2 Peter 3:2). When we read the writings of the apostles and other inspired men in the New Testament, we are reading the will of Christ that was delivered through the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised. In fact, all Scripture is inspired in this way:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
This is important to understand. If the Scriptures thoroughly equip us, then they contain all we need to please God. This means we must go to the Bible to determine what is right or wrong in every situation.
- Any question that arises should be answered by going to the Bible. The Bereans were commended for taking this approach with the teachings of Paul: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Before accepting what the apostle taught, they checked the Scriptures to see if it was true.
- Any practice we want to do must be commanded or authorized in the Scriptures. Remember, Jesus warned that many would claim to do things “in [His] name,” but would be guilty of practicing “lawlessness” (Matthew 7:22-23). To practice lawlessness means we are doing things for which we have no law, or that are contrary to God’s law. Therefore, instead of assuming that what we want to do is pleasing to God, we need to use the Scriptures to find out whether God’s word defines it as a “good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Anything we want to condemn as sin, we must show where it is condemned. In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained that the law defined sin: “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, ‘You shall not covet’” (Romans 7:7). Rather than condemning something because of our opinion or personal dislike of it, we need to show where God has condemned it in His word.
We must use the Bible to find answers to spiritual questions, determine what to do to please God, and learn what we should avoid because it is displeasing to God. Doing this requires us to interpret the Scriptures properly.
Why Authority Is Important
There are three reasons why the topic of authority is vital to our handling of the Scriptures.
First, it is rooted in the identity of Christ. Again, when Jesus gave the Great Commission, He prefaced it with this statement: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). If we believe that Jesus is who He said He is, we need to do what He taught.
Second, it helps us understand what we are to do to please the Lord. Remember what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23). There is a difference between the will of God and what we think will please God. The difference between the two comes down to what has been authorized by the Lord. If something has not been authorized, it is classified as “lawlessness.”
Third, we will be judged based upon what we have done in this life. Paul spoke of the judgment we will all face when the Lord returns: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will be judged by what we do in this life, and we do not want to be surprised at the judgment like the ones Jesus described in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:22-23). If the Scriptures equip us “for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17), we must follow what they teach and do those things that are authorized in His word.
Conclusion
Hermeneutics is important because how we interpret the Bible matters. Jesus has all authority, and His will is expressed to us in His word. If we hope to interpret the Scriptures properly, we must begin with a respect for Bible authority.
