22 Bible Verses about Human Authority, Nature Of

LET every soul be subject to the superior powers: for there is no power but from God; the existing powers are appointed by God.

Jesus answered, Thou wouldest have had no authority over me, unless it had been given thee from above: for this reason, he that hath delivered me up to thee hath the greater crime.

For I also am a man under authority, having under my command soldiers and I say to this soldier, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

For I also am a man under authority, and have under my command soldiers; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come hither, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter thou into thy master's joy.

And he said unto him, Well done, good servant: because thou hast been faithful in the least matter, hold thou dominion over ten cities.

As a man going abroad, when he left his abode, and gave his servants authority, and to each his work, commanded also the porter to watch.

And watching him, they sent men they had suborned, who pretended that they were righteous persons, in order to lay hold of some word of his, that they might deliver him to the power and authority of the governor.

And when he knew that he came out of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was himself at Jerusalem in those days.

Then saith Pilate to him, Dost thou not speak to me? dost thou not know that I have power to crucify thee, and that I have power to release thee?

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

Be subject therefore to every human constitution for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as the supreme magistrate;

Then saith Pilate to him, Dost thou not speak to me? dost thou not know that I have power to crucify thee, and that I have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou wouldest have had no authority over me, unless it had been given thee from above: for this reason, he that hath delivered me up to thee hath the greater crime.

But Jesus, calling them to him, said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority among them. But thus shall it not be with you. But whosoever will be a great man among you, let him be your servant; and whosoever will be first, let him be your slave.read more.
Even as the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.

But Jesus called them, and said to them, Ye know that they who appear to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them; and their great men exercise dominion over them. But it shall not be so with you: but whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant: and whosoever will be first, let him be the servant of all.read more.
For the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to be a servant, and to give his life a ransom for many.

he rises from supper, and lays aside his garments, and taking a towel, he wound it about himself. Then he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which he was begirt. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and he saith to him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?read more.
Jesus answered and said to him, What I am doing thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith to him, Thou shalt never wash my feet: no, never. Jesus answered him, Except I wash thee, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed hath need only to wash his feet, for he is entirely clean: and ye are clean, but not all. (For he knew who would betray him; therefore he said, Ye are not all clean.) When therefore he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done unto you? Ye call me Master, and Lord: and ye speak truly; for such I am. If therefore I have washed your feet, though the Lord and the Master; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that just as I have done to you, ye should do also.

Yea, and if I should boast somewhat more highly of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for your edification, and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed;

For this cause, though absent, I have written these things, that when I am present I may not use severity, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification, and not for destruction.

Have we not power to eat and drink? Have we not power to carry about with us a sister wife, as do also the other apostles, even the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? or I alone and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear labour?read more.
Who goeth at any time to war at his own expences? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit of it? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Speak I these things [rationally] as a man, or doth not the law speak the same things? for in the law of Moses it is written, "Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox which treadeth out the corn." Doth God take care for oxen? or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes doubtless it was written; because he who ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he who soweth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we should reap your corporal things? if others partake of this power over you, ought not we much more? But we have not used this power, and we suffer all things, that we might not put any obstruction in the way of the gospel of Christ. Know ye not that they who are employed about the holy things, are fed from the temple? and they who serve at the altar, partake with the altar? So also the Lord hath commanded to those who preach the gospel, that they should live by the gospel. But I have used nothing of these things, nor have I written indeed these things, that it should be so done respecting me; for it would become me to die rather than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me, yea verily woe is to me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if unwillingly, I am entrusted with the dispensation [of it]. What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel, I may put the gospel of Christ to no expence, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

DARE any of you, having a matter of controversy with another, sue for judgment before the unjust, and not before the saints? Know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to be judges in the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels, much more things pertaining to this life?read more.
If then ye have disputes about the things of this life, do you seat those on the bench who are least esteemed in the church? I speak to you to shame you. Is it so, that there is not among you a wise man? Not so much as one who is able to judge between one brother and another? But brother goes to law with brother, and this before the unbelievers. Now verily therefore there is altogether a fault among you, because ye have law-suits one with another. Why do ye not rather submit to the wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither if we eat are we the better, or if we eat not are we the worse. But take heed that this power of yours become not an occasion of stumbling to the weak. For if any man see thee that hast knowledge, sitting in an idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?read more.
And the weak brother will be destroyed by thy knowledge, for whom Christ died. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore if meat give occasion of offence to my brother, I will in no wise eat meat for ever, that I give no cause of offence to my brother.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not profitable; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own gratification, but every one another's good.