Questions tagged [authority]

Authority of God, the Bible, the Church, etc. For earthly authorities, consider [civil-government].

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How is 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 understood by proponents of the primacy of Peter?

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind ...
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Equivalence of "to Feed" and "to Govern" in Ancient Biblical Language

According to Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma (in reference to John 21:15-17): "Feed" in ancient and biblical language means, in its application to human beings, rule or govern (cf. Acts 20:...
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Assimilation of "Bind and Loose" with "Teaching Authority" by the Catholic Church

This question is somewhat related to another question: Connections Between "Gates of Hell" and Heresies from a Catholic Standpoint In Fr. William Most's article Which Church Saves? he writes ...
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Church Fathers on the Authority of Ecumenical Councils

This post is somewhat related to On the End of the Patristic Era as Considered by the Catholic Church The First Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church was the Council of Nicea in 325. Did any of ...
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On the Etymology of the Term "Magisterium" in the Catholic Church

Regarding the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, the U.S. Cardinal Burke said: The "magisterium" is a somewhat recent theological term, and what it refers to is the duty of the Church to ...
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St. Peter Speaking on Behalf of All the Apostles [closed]

Consider: (1) Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matt. 16:15-16.) (Italics added.) (2) Then Jesus said to ...
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What evidence and authority make The Song of Solomon a work of spiritual inspiration and not an erotic poem?

Is it not true that the place of this book in the Jewish bible was not established until sometime in the early Christian era? If that is so, is it not presumptuous to deem it as being among the so-...
11 votes
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The Pope is resigning. How does a living pope confer his authority?

I read that Pope Benedict XVI is resigning. I don't know much about Catholic/papal authority as it relates to leading the Church, but as far as I can remember, a pope dies before another one takes the ...
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What were the early church fathers' views on the authority of the early church fathers?

Quite often we get questions about what the early church fathers (a surprisingly vast range of time, from 100-800) opinions were on some matter. Implicitly, there is sometimes an argument that the ...
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What are the major arguments Protestants use against both Catholic and Orthodox claims of authority re scriptural interpretation?

The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church both claim authority re scriptural interpretation. They are different organizations, and Protestants reject the claims of authority by both. Are there any ...
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St.Thomas Aquinas on Papacy

What are the writings of St.Thomas Aquinas on papacy and church authority?
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What deuterocanonical books are quoted in the New Testament? [closed]

When talking with a Catholic friend (I'm a Protestant) about the apocrypha/deuterocanonical books, it occurred to me that a possible argument for their inclusion in the Canon would be their authority, ...
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Theologians who compared the tripartite division of civil authority to the Trinity?

Pope Pius XI, encyclical Quas primas (1925) instituting the feast of Christ the King, says that the "lordship of Christ […] consists […] in a threefold [tripartite] power which is essential to ...
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How can I trample on snakes and scorpions?

I was reading Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. and I said to myself: &...
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Who gave JC authority? [closed]

God is the source of all authority by definition. Then what is meant by Matthew 28:18? KJV: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. RSV: And ...
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How does Pope Benedict XVI reconcile conscience and authority?

A recent talk by Father Bob Pierson 1 quoted Joseph Ratzinger (as he then was, now Pope Benedict XVI) as saying that the individual conscience must overrule ecclesiastical authority. I was intrigued ...
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5 answers
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If the name of God and His Son are so important to the faith, then would it not be imperative that we use the proper name?

In order to appropriately answer the question, in my opinion there are few things to consider. First, there are those that have argued that the pronunciation of the name is not important and is ...
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Is the Book of Mormon in English as authentic as in the original, or is Joseph Smith's translation imperfect? [closed]

It is commonly held in religion that the authenticity and authority of Scripture is highest in its original text, since human translators can introduce errors and misunderstandings not present ...
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Why did Jesus submit to the authority of God while Jesus was a man?

The Bible tells us that Jesus emptied himself and set aside his heavenly glory and submitted himself to the will of his Father (God). In order to do the will of his Father (God) who sent him, and to ...
3 votes
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287 views

If Christ Has Been Given All Authority Why Does He Need to Make Intercession For Us?

The bible tells us both that Jesus has been given all authority but he also is ever making intercession for us with God the Father. Has there ever been any theological explanation by anyone on why ...
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How do traditional Christians defend the teaching that Paul is an authentic apostle?

I want to preface this by saying I don't believe Paul was a false Apostle. I must either view his Apostleship as authentic, or throw away everything I believe. Removing Paul's writings and influence ...
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According to the Bible how does one receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? [closed]

Does one automatically receive the Holy Ghost after they accept Christ or does it have to be received through the laying on of hands as spoken of in Acts 8? Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were ...
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Do Pentecostals disagree with women preaching?

On whether or not women can be preachers, know several who disagree: Voddie Bauchman, John MacArthur, Norman Geisler, John Pipper, Albert Mohler, Yago Martins (from "Dois Dedos de Teologia"),...
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What makes a Council's conclusions authoritative?

I was just reflecting on an answer to a question I recently asked, and began to wonder... How do we know the conclusions of a given Council were true? Are all findings by Christian Councils ...
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How can Protestants authoritatively declare something wrong or heretical under Sola Scriptura?

Within Protestantism there is no universal definition of theology or how to understand the Bible: Anglicans have one definition, Lutherans another, Calvinists another, (insert name here), etc. So ...
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Is it Biblical for a Christian to say that God is a tyrant?

I’m new here and I would to ask something, even though some of may not like this question, I would like to here answers from only Christians. Atheist and such might come to this post and probably ...
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Is Obeying a Stay at Home Order Biblical or Not Biblical [closed]

As a protestant, is a general stay at home order fall under Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have ...
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Why is the Latin New Testament authoritative for the Catholic Church rather than the original Greek?

Just wondering why they chose Latin instead of Greek to be the source of truth of the texts, and instead added this abstraction layer when they were so close to the Greek culture at the time?
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In Protestant churches, who is the authority in interpreting the Bible?

I need a better understanding of Protestant teaching on who has the authority to interpret Sacred Scripture.
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What are the current views of the Catholic Church on the right to secession?

I’ve recently heard an interesting opinion that no entity has moral right to exercise authority upon any social group that is unwilling to remain under this authority (excluding inmates). Therefore, ...
4 votes
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How do those against the traditional monepiscopacy deal with Ignatius of Antioch?

It's often claimed that 'Ignatius is the first to believe in the monepiscopacy' (that a bishop runs a church region with the assistance of presbyters/elders) or that 'churches were simply run by a ...
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Why do Protestants trust what Paul and Luke wrote 100%?

This has always been a big question for me. I can understand that many Christians believe there is good evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, and that gives a basis for their faith in the teaching ...
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What is the LDS line of authority should a Bishop be unavailable?

I am seeking a complete and authoritative explanation of this issue. Who presides at Sacrament meeting (common Sunday services) when the bishop of a ward (pastor of a local congregation) is ...
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How is it possible to have a high view of the authority of the Bible and a positive view of textual criticism?

I know not all people will have the view that is programmed into the question. But for someone who does, or who understands someone who does, how would you answer this?
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Protestant Interpretation of John 20:23 in Light of Matthew 9:8?

How is: John 20:21-23 Εἶπεν οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς πάλιν Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν καθὼς ἀπέσταλκέν με ὁ Πατήρ, κἀγὼ πέμπω ὑμᾶς καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς Λάβετε Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον ἄν τινων ἀφῆτε τὰς ...
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1 answer
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What is Poly Scriptura?

I'm not sure if this has been asked, I watched a video on YouTube where the person in the video mentions "Poly Scriptura" at about 17:28, I have tried to look it up just to get the basic information ...
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Has Protestantism relegated the scripture to be the 'Subordinate Standard'?

It was very necessary for the early church to stand against doctrinal errors, such as Arianism and Sabellianism but, in the doing so, some chose to state a creed (the Athanasian Creed), rather than ...
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Had Jesus formally been given authority to preach in the synagogue?

At Luke 4:16-17 we read: " When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet ...
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What is the LDS Law of Common Consent and why is it important?

The LDS Church is perhaps unique in the idea that instruction and change within the Church isn't simply automatic — that Church leaders can't simply do what they want. This doctrine is embodied ...
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According to the Catholic Church, in Luke 10:19 what kind of authority & power Jesus had given the Apostles & Disciples?

What I'm looking for: Scriptures said 'See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not ...
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What is "apostolic authority"?

Some Christian traditions use the term "apostolic authority". What is meant by this phrase? Does it have more than one meaning depending on which doctrinal tradition it is coming from? Are there any ...
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1 answer
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Do any denominations rank the apostles?

Many Christian denominations hold the primacy of Peter as doctrine. That is, they believe that Peter was the most prominent, authoritative, influential, and/or prestigious of the twelve apostles. ...
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When was papal supremacy accepted by the entirety of the Catholic Church?

The Catholic Church has an unbroken list of Popes from Peter through Francis I. Was there a time when all, or at least the vast majority of, Christianity recognized them as the supreme authority over ...
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How did the Crusades affect the Pope's power and authority?

How did the Crusades affect the Pope's power/authority, during and after the Crusades? The Crusades, from Wikipedia The Crusades were a series of religiously sanctioned military campaigns, called by ...
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1 answer
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Does the Catholic Church have to submit to an approved private revelation?

...Hence, public revelation is the deposit of faith and rule of faith and must be lived by all Catholics.[14] Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that all public revelation ended with the death of Saint ...
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How does the Catholic Church respond to the claim that its authority to interpret scripture is based on circular reasoning?

I've heard the claim that scriptural references to the establishment of the Catholic Church and its authority to interpret scripture is circular reasoning. From a conversation I was having with a ...
15 votes
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Why does the Roman Catholic Church not hold to the perspicuity of Scripture?

From the very limited research that I've done thus far, it seems that the RCC does not hold to the perspicuity of Scripture. I'm not positive that this is true, though it seems to be. The meaning of ...
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What is the doctrinal or Scriptural basis for a central Church authority?

As explained in a previous question, one Baptist Distinctive is the rejection of a central Church authority (whether an individual or a governing body). Instead, we hold fast to the autonomy of the ...
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According to Evangelicals, who now has the authority to bind and loose (per Matt. 18:18)?

According to Matt. 18:18, the Lord Jesus Christ gave the apostles the authority to bind and loose, that is, to prohibit and permit. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be ...
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How much authority does a father have over his wife and children? [closed]

Some people might claim that a wife must do what her husband says in every situation and they will site the Bible as it being the Divine order of things. It does seem that the Bible gives authority ...