33 Bible Verses about Human Authority, Nature Of

Let every soul submit himself unto the authority of the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God. The powers that be, are ordained of God.

He changeth the times and ages; he putteth down kings, he setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and understanding to those that understand;

This errand of the watcher, is a commandment grounded and sought out, in the counsel of him that is most holy: to learn men for to understand, that the highest hath power over the kingdoms of men; and giveth them to whom it liketh him, and bringeth the very outcasts of men over them.'

O king, God the highest gave unto Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, the dignity of a king, with worship and honor: So that all people, kindreds and tongues stood in awe and fear of him, by reason of the high estate that he had sent him. For why? He slew whom he would; he smote, whom it pleased him. Again: whom he would, he set up; and whom he list, he put down. But because his heart was so proud, and his stomach set so fast unto wilfulness: he was deposed from his kingly throne, and his majesty was taken from him.read more.
He was shot out from among men, his heart was like a beast's heart, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: he was fain to eat grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till he knew, that the highest had power upon the kingdoms of men, and setteth over them, whom he list.

Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore he that delivered me unto thee, is more in sin."

For I also myself am a man under power, and have soldiers under me: and I say to one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."

For I likewise am a man under power, and have under me soldiers, and I say unto one, 'Go': and he goeth. And to another, 'Come': and he cometh. And to my servant, 'Do this': and he doeth it."

and let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and lay up corn under the power of Pharaoh: that there may be food in the cities,

And put of thy praise upon him that all the company of the children of Israel may hear.

And then I took the heads of your tribes, men of wisdom and that were expert, and made them rulers over you: captains over thousands and over hundreds, over fifty and over ten, and officers among your tribes.

Would God this people were under my hand, then I would take Abimelech out of the way." And one said unto Abimelech, "Make thine host greater and go out."

And known be it unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God.

Next unto them builded Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, men of Gibeon and of Mizphah; where he that was captain on this side the water had a mansion.

and array him with thy coat, and gird him with thy girdle, and I will give thy power into his hand. He shall be a father of the citizens of Jerusalem, and of the kindred of Judah.

Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian and said, "Take from hence thirty men whom thou wilt, and draw up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die."

And his master said unto him, 'Well, good servant and faithful; Thou hast been faithful in little, I will make thee ruler over much: go in into thy master's joy.'

And he said unto him, 'Well good servant, because thou wast faithful in a very little thing; Take thou authority over ten cities.'

As a man which is gone into a strange country and hath left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves perfect, to take him in his words, and to deliver him unto the power, and authority of the deputy.

And as soon as he knew that he was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, which was also at Jerusalem in those days.

Then said Pilate unto him, "Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to loose thee?"

and here he hath authority of the high priests to bind all that call on thy name."

Submit yourselves unto all manner ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be unto the King as unto the chief head;

Then said Pilate unto him, "Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to loose thee?" Jesus answered, "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given unto thee from above. Therefore he that delivered me unto thee, is more in sin."

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, "Ye know that the Lords of the gentiles have domination over them. And they that are great exercise power over them. It shall not be so among you: But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister, and whosoever will be chief, let him be your servant.read more.
Even as the son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister: and to give his life for the redemption of many."

But Jesus called them unto him, and said to them, "Ye know well that they which seem to bear rule among the gentiles, reign as Lords over them. And they that be great among them exercise authority over them. So shall it not be among you: but whosoever of you will be great among you, shall be your minister. And whosoever will be chief, shall be servant unto all.read more.
For even the son of man came, not to be ministered unto: but to minister, and to give his life for the redemption of many."

He rose from supper, and laid aside his upper garments, and took a towel, and gird himself. After that, poured he water into a basin, and began to wash his disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was gird. Then came he to Simon Peter. And Peter said to him, "Lord shalt thou wash my feet?"read more.
Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do, thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter." Peter said unto him, "Thou shalt not wash my feet while the world standeth." Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou shalt have no part with me." Simon Peter said unto him, "Lord not my feet only: but also my hands and my head." Jesus said to him, "He that is washed needeth not, save to wash his feet, and is clean every whit. And ye are clean: but not all." For he knew his betrayer. Therefore said he, "Ye are not all clean." After he had washed their feet, and received his clothes, and was set down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me 'Master' and 'Lord,' and ye say well, for so am I. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet: ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

And though I should boast myself somewhat more of our authority which the Lord hath given us to edify and not to destroy you, it should not be to my shame.

Therefore write I these things being absent, lest when I am present I should use sharpness according to the power which the Lord hath given me, to edify, and not to destroy.

Have we not power to eat and to drink? Either, have we not power to lead about a sister to wife as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Either only I and Barnabas have not power this to do?read more.
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own cost? Who planteth a vineyard and eateth not of the fruit? Or who feedeth a flock and eateth not of the milk? Say I these things after the manner of men? Or sayeth not the law the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, "Thou shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." Doth God take thought for oxen? Either saith he it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he which eareth should ear in hope: and that he which thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope. If we sow unto you spiritual things: is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, wherefore are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power: but suffer all things lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not understand how that they which minister in the temple, have their finding of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so also did the Lord ordain, that they which preach the gospel, should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things. Neither wrote I these things that it should be so done unto me. For it were better for me to die than any man should take this rejoicing from me. In that I preach the gospel, I have nothing to rejoice of. For necessity is put unto me. Woe is it unto me if I preach not the gospel. If I do it with a good will, I have a reward. But if I do it against my will, an office is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that when I preach the gospel, I make the gospel of Christ free, that I misuse not mine authority in the gospel.

How dare one of you having business with another, go to law under the wicked? And not rather under the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? If the world shall be judged by you: are ye not good enough to judge small trifles? Know ye not how that we shall judge the angels? How much more may we judge things that pertain to the life?read more.
If ye have judgments of worldly matters, take them which are despised in the congregation, and make them judges. This I say to your shame. Is there utterly no wise man among you? What, not one at all? That can judge between brother and brother? But one brother goeth to law with another: and that under the unbelievers? Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why rather suffer ye not wrong? Why rather suffer ye not yourselves to be robbed?

Meat maketh us not acceptable to God: Neither if we eat are we the better: Neither if we eat not are we the worse. But take heed that your liberty cause not the weak to fall. For if some man see thee, which hast knowledge, sit at meat in the idol's temple shall not the conscience of him which is weak be boldened to eat those things which are offered unto the idol?read more.
And so through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish for whom Christ died. When ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore if meat hurt my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, because I will not hurt my brother.

All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful to me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own profit: but let every man seek another's wealth.