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Submission to Scripture as the Authority in Christian Life

Submission to Scripture as the ultimate authority is a foundational principle in Christian life, stemming from the belief that the Bible is divinely inspired and God's revealed will [6]. The apostle Paul explicitly states that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16) [1]. This inspiration extends to the Holy Spirit, who moved men to write the biblical texts (2 Peter 1:21) [1].

The Bible is referred to by various names that underscore its authority: "the Word," "the Word of God," "the Word of Christ," "the Word of truth," "Holy Scriptures," and "the Scripture of truth" [1]. Jesus himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them [1]. For instance, in response to temptation, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy, stating, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’" (Matthew 4:4) [1, 9]. This demonstrates Christ's reliance on and submission to the written Word.

The authority of Scripture extends to both doctrine and practice [8]. The apostle Paul considered his own writings to be "the commandment of the Lord," indicating their authoritative nature for believers (1 Corinthians 14:37) [3, 7]. Rejecting apostolic teaching, therefore, is tantamount to rejecting God's will, as the Holy Spirit empowers believers to live according to that will [13].

Submission to Scripture implies several aspects of Christian conduct:

The concept of submission is not limited to Scripture alone but extends to other forms of authority ordained by God. For example, believers are called to submit to governing authorities, recognizing that "there is no authority except from God" (Romans 13:1) [4]. However, this submission to earthly authorities is always understood within the context of ultimate submission to God, as articulated in Scripture [10]. Similarly, Christians are called to a "conscientious discharge of all relative duties," which includes loyalty and reverence to civil magistrates [11].

The Word of God is also presented as an instrument for spiritual life [5]. It is through the Word that spiritual life is maintained [5]. This highlights the active role of Scripture in nurturing and guiding the believer's walk. The spiritual union with Christ, which is central to Christian life, means that believers' bodies become "parts of Christ" (1 Corinthians 6:15), and this union implies living in accordance with God's will as revealed in Scripture [12].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Conduct, Christian — Believing God -- Mr 11:22; Joh 14:11,12. Fearing God -- Ec 12:13; 1Pe 2:17. Loving God -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Following God -- Eph 5:1; 1Pe 1:15,16. Obeying God -- Lu 1:6; 1Jo 5:3. Rejoicing in God -- Ps 33:1; Hab 3:18. Believing in Christ -- Joh 6:29; 1Jo 3:23. Loving Christ -- Joh 21:15; 1Pe 1:7,8. Following the example of Christ -- Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21-24. Obeying Christ -- Joh 14:21; 15:14. Living To Christ. -- Ro 14:8; 2Co 5:15. To righteousness. -- Mic 6:8; Ro 6:18; 1Pe 2:24. Soberly, righteously, and godly. -- Tit 2:12. Walking Honestly. -- 1”
  3. 1 Corinthians “If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. -- 1 Corinthians 14:37”
  4. Romans “Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God. -- Romans 13:1”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Spiritual — God is the Author of -- Ps 36:9; Col 2:13. Christ is the Author of -- Joh 5:21,25; 6:33,51-53; 14:6; 1Jo 4:9. The Holy Spirit is the Author of -- Eze 37:14; Ro 8:9-13. The word of God is the instrument of -- Isa 55:3; 2Co 3:6; 1Pe 4:6. Is hidden with Christ -- Col 3:3. The fear of God is -- Pr 14:27; 19:23. Spiritual-mindedness is -- Ro 8:6. Is maintained by Christ. -- Joh 6:57; 1Co 10:3,4. Faith. -- Ga 2:20. The word of God. -- De 8:3; Mt 4:4. Prayer. -- Ps 69:32. Has its origin in the new-birth -- Joh 3:3-8. Has its infancy -- Lu 10:21; 1Co 3:1,2;”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Scripture — Invariably in the New Testament denotes that definite collection of sacred books, regarded as given by inspiration of God, which we usually call the Old Testament (2 Tim. 3:15, 16; John 20:9; Gal. 3:22; 2 Pet. 1:20). It was God's purpose thus to perpetuate his revealed will. From time to time he raised up men to commit to writing in an infallible record the revelation he gave. The "Scripture," or collection of sacred writings, was thus enlarged from time to time as God saw necessary. We have now a completed "Scripture," consisting of the Old and New Testa”
  7. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 14:37 (Rotherham) — If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you,—that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.”
  8. 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 1:16: Scripture is the true source of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice. Be ye . . . for I am--It is I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain from Gentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men [CALVIN]. As I am the fountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be ye therefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may be as I also am [DIDYMUS]. God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it is sanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to give also the power to obey i”
  9. Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 4:4: But he answered and said, it is written,.... The passage referred to, and cited, is in Deu 8:3 the manner of citing it is what was common and usual with the Jews; and is often to be met with in the Talmudic writings; who, when they produce any passage of scripture, say "as it is written". The meaning of this scripture is; not that as the body lives by bread, so the soul lives by the word of God, and doctrines of the Gospel; though this is a certain truth: or that man lives by obedience to the commands of God, as was promised to the Israelites in the wilderness, and in”
  10. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 13:1: 13:1-2 The basic command of 13:1-7 is to submit to governing authorities. In God’s ordering of the world, we answer to those in positions of authority. Our submission to them will usually take the form of obedience. However, because God stands over all governments, our submission to governing authorities must always be in terms of our ultimate submission to God (see Acts 4:19-20). The Roman Christians might have been resisting government (see study note on Rom 13:6) based on a false understanding of the Good News, as if no longer copying “the behavior and customs ”
  11. 1 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Peter 2:13: The general rule of a Christian conversation is this, it must be honest, which it cannot be if there be not a conscientious discharge of all relative duties. The apostle here particularly treats of these distinctly. I. The case of subjects. Christians were not only reputed innovators in religion, but disturbers of the state; it was highly necessary, therefore, that the apostle should settle the rules and measures of obedience to the civil magistrate, which he does here, where, 1. The duty required is submission, which comprises loyalty and reverence to their pers”
  12. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 6:15: 6:15-17 To be a Christian is to be spiritually joined to Christ in both life and death (cp. Rom 6:3-11). As a result, believers’ bodies have become parts of Christ (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-28; Rom 12:4-5). This spiritual union (cp. John 14:20; 17:21-23) means that they are not free to violate their bodies by physical union with a prostitute.”
  13. 1 Thessalonians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Thessalonians 4:8: 4:8 Rejecting Paul’s teaching on these matters was the same as rejecting God. • The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to live in accord with God’s will (Ezek 36:27; Rom 8:1-4; Gal 5:16; 1 Jn 3:24).”
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