Paul’s writings are authoritative for faith and practice, not merely as the writings of an apostle, but as the message of Jesus Christ spoken through and written by Paul. Paul possessed no absolute authority inherent in his position as an apostle. Paul submitted and Jesus Christ lived, worked and spoke through him.
1 Thessalonians 2:13: 13For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 4:2,8: 2For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus... 8So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.
1 Timothy 6:3-4: 3If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions...
2 Peter 3:2,14-16: 2that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles. 14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
1 Corinthians 14:37: 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
Romans 16:25-27: 25Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, 26but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith; 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
2 Timothy 2:8: 8Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel...
2 Thessalonians 3:11,12: 11For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
1 Corinthians 11:1,2: 1Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. 2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.
Philippians 3:17: 17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
1 Corinthians 4:14-17: 14I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 15For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. 17For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
1 Corinthians 7:17,20: 17Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches... 20Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.
Philippians 4:9: 9The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 2:12,13: 12So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 3:17-19: 17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
1 Corinthians 11:2: 2Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.
1 Thessalonians 2:13: 13For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 4:1: 1Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,15: 1Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction... 15So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:4: 4We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what we command.
1 Corinthians 7:5-14: 5Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6But this I say by way of concession, not of command. 7Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.
8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband 11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
12But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
1 Thessalonians 4:15: 15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 14:37: 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
Timothy, an evangelist, and Titus taught with authority, an authority not inherent in their positions, but in the standard of faith and practice which they lived (what they believed and how they lived) which originated with Paul who in turn received it from Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 2:1-2: 1You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Titus 2:15: 15These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority Let no one disregard you.
1 Corinthians 4:17: 17For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
Elders are men who know and follow Jesus Christ as evidenced by their character and conduct. Their teaching and example of life carry the force of moral and spiritual authority. Both the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit attest their lives and doctrine are worthy of imitation, having originated from the teaching of the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and ultimately from the Lord Himself.
1 Peter 5:1-3: 1Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
Philippians 3:17: 17Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (Elders followed the example of Paul’s life.)
Hebrews 13:17: 17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
Those who adopt secular leadership roles in the church reject the authority and leadership of the Lord Jesus. Diotrephes, an example of the secular model of authority, Jesus rejects and declares inappropriate in His Church. Jesus alone reigns as the sole authority and leader of His brethren. Diotrephes acted as the FIRST, CHIEF, and THE LEADING ONE among the saints of the church and was severely reprimanded. As the LEAST, SERVANT-OF-ALL, or SLAVE-OF-ALL, as Jesus commanded, Diotrephes would have both blessed and been blessed. Instead, he erred in attitude and action by lording over the brethren and following the ways of the Nicolaitans (ones who “rule over” or “conquer” the laity). Jesus is the Chief Shepherd - all elders are under shepherds.
3 John 1:9,10: 9I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say. 10For this reason, if I come, I will call attention to his deeds which he does, unjustly accusing us with wicked words; and not satisfied with this, he himself does not receive the brethren, either, and he forbids those who desire to do so and puts them out of the church.
Revelation 2:6 (to the Church of Ephesus): 6Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15,19-20: 13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds... 19For you, being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. 20For you tolerate it if anyone enslaves you, anyone devours you, anyone takes advantage of you, anyone exalts himself, anyone hits you in the face.
By submitting to one another, we submit to our Lord as He ministers through our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ephesians 5:17-21: 17So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
Jesus, Lord of His Church, reveals His will in the hearts of His saints. The settled agreement, a divinely inspired unity, requires neither discussion, debate or argument (although we should not be afraid to discus differences of opinion). Those abiding in Christ, as led by the Holy Spirit, will recognize the will of their Leader. The patience of love waits for unity of understanding and direction.
Acts 6:1-7: 1Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
7The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Acts 13:1-3: 1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 15:22-30: 22Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas–Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, 23and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. 24Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, 25it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will also report the same things by word of mouth. 28For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials: 29that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication; if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well. Farewell.”† 30So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.
Jesus is our Leader and Lord and we are all brothers and sisters. Secular authority positions function in their proper place in the secular world. In God’s Church, Jesus tolerates no “popes,” little or big. He alone governs His Church and presides personally in the assembly. He rules through His written Word, through the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and through each and every believer, as each one speaks and lives out His message in the life of the Church and the world.