What I'm saying is that when you look at all the modes by which God communicates to human beings (which we can for simplicity narrow down to the God as the holy spirit and the Bible), the highest authority is that which is most foundational, that on which other modes rest to have their being. The Bible without God inspiring it is meaningless, therefore God is the highest authority. The Bible would be the highest authority if God (and his communication with us today outside of the Bible) were somehow dependent upon it.
Again you seem to draw a double standard fallacy in your reasoning. Please consider what you are implying.....that is.......
God the infinite being is the highest authority and when he speaks through different modes all these modes whether written, thought, verbal, visitation, sight etc... have less authority than the infinite being himself.
When you do this you disassociate the authority of God through the different modes from his being and this is the flaw in your reasoning, the Word and his being are one. Don't take my word for it, just believe the scriptures......
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
The matter of fact is that you cannot separate or distinguish the Word of God, that is his modes of communicating his thoughts, where God is Spirit (John 4:24), from his infinite being. The Word regardless of mode of communication and the Spirit being is one in the same, for he is the living consciousness that exists as the I Am. In this regard the authority of the almighty being is indistinguishable from his being and is the being himself.
As it is written God's thoughts are forever......
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and life.
(John 6:63)
I put the sentence spoken by Jesus in bold, whereby Spirit and LIFE are presented in different colours to highlight that the Word is the actual Spirit being and is the LIFE source.
Here is the formulae that Jesus presented in one sentence.....
Word of God regardless of mode = Spirit (John 4:24) + LIFE
Please note this formulae also applies to the man Jesus Christ of Nazareth......
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)
Here is the formulae.......
Jesus the Living Word of God = Truth/Grace (John 1:17) + LIFE
TRUTH/Grace = Spirit (John 4:24)
It is the Word, regardless of mode that reveals the Spirit/God (John 4:24) and the source of life. Therefore it is safe to conclude that the written word of God the Holy Bible is the highest authority that reveals God and testifies of Jesus Christ (the gospel) (John 5:39).
Let's see who reveals God
17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (John 1:17-18)
The word regardless of mode reveals the almighty being, who is infinite consciousness.
Your statement below is therefore false.....
the highest authority is that which is most foundational, that on which other modes rest to have their being.
In fact your statement below is what actually has happened, where the being has been revealed by the Word, whether living, written, vision, thought, conviction, visitation, verbal etc.
The Bible (word) is the highest authority that God depends on.
Again your premise is on separating the Word from the Being and this is incongruent and totally illogical.
Please consider what scripture states......
35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
Don't you see the word is the being himself.
for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
(Matthew 10:20)
Again emphasis is placed on the Spirit being who Jesus calls the Father relying on his word, in revealing himself through his word, spoken through the lips of his sons and daughters. As Paul declares God will be all in all revealed by the word manifest in us, as Jesus would say you in me and I in you.
When you start differentiating the word from the being as far as highest authority is concerned, then you are unwittingly disassociating yourself from the Spirit being himself.
Therefore don't be deceived friend, for the word regardless of mode is God and is the highest authority. The Holy scriptures is God himself.