Luke 4:32
“They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.”
Jesus’ words had authority. That authority came from God, not from the church.
When Jesus spoke, his words had authority. When his words were repeated to others and by others, they carried that authority with them. They had authority because they came from God, and his words were true.
Jesus chose Disciples, he appointed Apostles. They taught as Jesus taught, they wrote down his sayings, his teachings, and the events of his life.
From the very moment John wrote ‘The Revelation of Jesus Christ’ (The Apocalypse), it was true. It didn’t need to wait for a far off church council to make it true. It was true. Jesus Christ himself spoke directly to John; see, for instance, the messages to the seven churches where John records Jesus' words.
Paul, an Apostle appointed by Christ wrote many of the letters in the New Testament. Other members of the early church such as Luke wrote concerning the message of salvation.
People like Paul, Luke, Peter, John, and others wrote their testimony. They testified to the life of Jesus Christ, and the history (both good and bad) of the early church.
'Who' should be counted worthy to write which books is not the biggest issue facing the church. By far the biggest issue is, do we follow what was written?
The early church was shepherded and watched over by the Apostles. It had organization, it was structured. Here below is some of its structure.
A BISHOP -- ONE WIFE
Bishops were appointed. They were not to have more than one wife.
1 Timothy 3:2
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of
one wife.”
APOSTLES’ WIVES
The Apostles were accompanied on trips by their wives.
1 Corinthians 9:5
“Don’t we have the right to take a
believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?
PETER’S MOTHER-IN-LAW
Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother.
Matthew 8:14
“When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw
Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.”
CELIBACY
One could choose to be celibate.
1 Corinthians 7:37
“But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—
this man also does the right thing.”
SOME FORBADE MARRIAGE
Paul spoke against those who would forbid another to marry.
1 Timothy 4:3
“They
forbid people to marry.”
Do we see? Do we listen? Do we put into practice?
Today as always, we need to recognize the authority of Christ, and the authority given through Paul, Luke, Peter, John, and others; so as not to contradict the teachings of the church. If Jesus words were true then, they are still true today. And likewise, the words of Scripture are still true today.
It didn’t take decades or centuries for the words which Jesus spoke to become authoritative. It didn’t take the decrees of church councils some centuries later to make them authoritative.
Jesus is the Son of God, and therefore he had immediate authority. His authority abides today.
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