22 Bible Verses about Human Authority, Nature Of

Let every soul be subject to the higher authorities. For there is no authority but from God: the authorities that are, have been appointed by God.

Jesus answered: You could have no authority over me, had it not been given you from above. Therefore, he that delivered me to you, has the greater sin.

For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to an other, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.

For I am a man placed under authority, and have soldiers under me; and I say to this one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.

His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many. Enter into the joy of your lord.

And he said to him: Well done, good servant; because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.

As a man, going into another country, leaves his house, and gives authority to his servants, and to each one his own work, and commands the door-keeper to watch;

And they watched him, and sent spies, who feigned them selves to be just men, that they might take hold of his words, in order to deliver him up to the power and authority of the governor.

And when he learned that he belonged to the dominion of Herod, he sent him to Herod, who was at that time in Jerusalem.

Then Pilate said to him: Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to crucify you, and authority to release you?

and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all that call upon thy name.

Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man, for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme ruler,

Then Pilate said to him: Do you not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to crucify you, and authority to release you? Jesus answered: You could have no authority over me, had it not been given you from above. Therefore, he that delivered me to you, has the greater sin.

But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the rulers of the Gentiles act as lords over them, and their great men have authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whoever will be first among you, let him be your servant;read more.
even as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

But Jesus called them to him, and said to them: You know that those who think they rule the Gentiles, act as lords over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever desires to be great among you, shall be your minister; and whoever among you desires to be first, shall be servant of all.read more.
For the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

arose from supper, and laid aside his garments, and taking a towel, he girded himself. Then he poured water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was girded. Then he came to Simon Peter; and Peter said to him: Lord, dost thou wash my feet?read more.
Jesus answered and said to him: What I am doing you know not now, but you will know here after. Peter said to him: Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him: Unless I wash you, you have no part with me. Simon Peter said to him: Lord, not my feet only, but my hands and my head. Jesus said to him: He that has bathed needs nothing else save to wash his feet, but is wholly clean. And you are clean, but not all. For he knew who would deliver him up; for this reason he said, You are not all clean. Therefore, when he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, he reclined at table again, and said to them: Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me Teacher and Lord; and you say well, for so I am. If, then, I, your Lord and your Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also may do as I have done for you.

For though I should boast even, somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord has given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I would not be ashamed:

For this reason, I write these things, while absent, that I may not, when present, use severity, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification, and not for destruction.

Have we not the right to eat and drink? Have we not the right to lead about a sister wife, as the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or, have I only, and Barnabas, no right to leave off working?read more.
What man ever serves as a soldier, at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of its fruit? Or who tends a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? Do I speak these things as a man? Or does not the law, also, say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses: You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain? Has God a care for oxen? or does he say it wholly for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, it was written: that he that plows should plow in hope, and that he that thrashes should thrash in hope of partaking. If we have sown, for your benefit, things that are spiritual, is it a great thing that we reap your carnal things? If others partake of this right over you, should not we rather? But we have not used this right: but we endure all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of the Christ. Do you not know that those who are engaged about sacred rites have their living from the temple? and that those who attend upon the altar are partakers with the altar? So, also, the Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel. But I have availed myself of none of these things; nor do I write these things that it should be so done to me. For it would be better for me to die, than that any one should make my boasting vain. For though I preach the gospel, I have no cause for boasting; for a necessity is laid upon me; yes, alas for me, if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, an apostolic stewardship has been intrusted to me. What, then, is my reward? That, while I preach, I may make the gospel of Christ to be without charge, in order that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.

Does any one of you that has a matter of dispute with another, presume to be judged before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Know you not that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you unworthy to decide concerning the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge angels? Much more then, things pertaining to this life.read more.
If, then, you have controversies pertaining to things of this life, set them to judge who are the least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you a wise man, not even one, who shall be able to arbitrate between his brethren? But brother goes to law with brother, and this before the unbelievers? Now, certainly, you are altogether in fault, that you have law-suits with one another. Why do you not rather suffer injustice? Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

But meat commends us not to God; for, neither if we eat are we better, nor, if we eat not, are we worse. But take heed, lest, by any means, this right of yours become a stumbling-block to those who are weak. For, if any one see you, who have knowledge, reclining at table in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened, so that he will eat meats offered to idols?read more.
and will not the weak brother, for whom Christ died, perish through your knowledge? But if you sin in this way against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. For which reason, if meat cause my brother to fall, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall.

All meats are lawful for me; but all are not profitable; all are lawful, but all do not edify. Let no one seek his own, but each the welfare of the other.