22 Bible Verses about Human Authority, Nature Of

Let every soul be in subjection to the authorities that are over him; for there is no authority, except from God; and the authorities that are have been appointed by God.

Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority against Me, unless it were given to you from above; on this account, he who delivered Me up to you has greater sin."

for I also am a man under authority, having under myself soldiers; 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."

for I also am a man set under authority, having soldiers under myself; 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 were faithful over a few things; I will set you over many things: enter into the joy of your lord.'

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

It is as when a man away from home, having left his house, and having given authority to his servants, to each his work, commanded also the porter to watch.

And, watching Him, they sent forth spies, feigning themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of His speech, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the governor.

And, learning that He was of Herod's jurisdiction, he sent Him up to Herod, who also was in Jerusalem in these days.

Pilate, therefore, says to Him, "Dost Thou not speak to me? Knowest Thou not that I have authority to release Thee, and have authority to crucify Thee?"

and here he has authority from the high priests to bind all those calling on Thy name."

Submit yourself to every human ordinance, for the Lord's sake; whether to a king as supreme;

Pilate, therefore, says to Him, "Dost Thou not speak to me? Knowest Thou not that I have authority to release Thee, and have authority to crucify Thee?" Jesus answered him, "You would have no authority against Me, unless it were given to you from above; on this account, he who delivered Me up to you has greater sin."

But Jesus, calling them near, said, "Ye know that the rulers of the nations exercise lordship over them. Not so shall it be among you; but whosoever wishes to become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever wishes to be first among you shall be your servant;read more.
even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give His soul a ransom for many."

And Jesus, calling them to Him, saith to them, "Ye know that those thinking to rule over the gentiles lord it over them; and their great ones exercise authority over them; but it is not so among you; but whosoever wishes to become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever wishes to be first among you shall be servant of all:read more.
for even the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, and to give his soul a ransom for many."

He riseth from the supper, and layeth aside His garments; and, taking a towel, He girded Himself. Then He poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. He cometh, therefore, to Simon Peter. He says 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 shall know hereafter." Peter says to Him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I wash you not, you have no part with Me." Simon Peter says to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." Jesus saith to him, "He who has bathed has no need, except to wash his feet, but is wholly clean; and ye are clean, but not all;" for He knew him who would betray Him; on this account, He said, "Ye are not all clean." When, therefore, He washed their feet, and took His garments, and reclined again, He said to them, "Do ye know what I have done to you? Ye call Me 'The Teacher,' and 'The Lord;' and ye say well; for so I am. If, therefore, I, 'The Lord,' and 'The Teacher,' washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet; for I gave you an example, that, as I did to you, ye also should do.

For, even if I glory somewhat more abundantly concerning our authority??hich the Lord gave for building you up, and not for tearing you down?? shall not be put to shame;

For this cause, I write these things while absent; that I may not, when present, deal sharply according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not casting down.

Have we no right to eat, and to drink? Have we no right to lead about a sister as our wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or have only I and Barnabas no right to give up working?read more.
Who ever serves as a soldier at his own charges; Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock? Do I speak these things after the manner of man? Or does not the law also say the same? For in the law of Moses it has been written, "You shall not muzzle an ox while treading out the grain." Doth God care for the oxen? Or doth He say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written; because he that plows ought to plow in hope; and he that threshes ought to thresh in hope of partaking. If we sowed for you spiritual things, is it a great matter, if we shall reap your carnal things? If others partake of this authority over you, do not we still more? But we used not this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ. Know ye not that those who are occupied upon sacred things eat of the things of the temple? and that those who wait at the altar partake with the altar? Even so did the Lord ordain, that those who proclaim the Gospel should live by the Gospel. But I have used none of these things; and I wrote not these things, that it may be so done in my case; for it were good for me rather to die, than that any one should make my glorying void. For, if I proclaim the Gospel, it is not to me a matter of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is to me, if I proclaim not the Gospel. For, if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but, if unwillingly, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What, then, is my reward? That, when proclaiming the Gospel, I may make the Gospel without charge, to the end that I may not fully use my right in the Gospel.

Dare any one of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Or know ye not that the saints will judge the world? And, if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy of the smallest tribunals? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, then, things pertaining to this life?read more.
If, then, ye have tribunals pertaining to this life, do ye set those to judge who are set at nought in the assembly? I speak to your shame! Is it so, that there is not among you even one wise man, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers! Already, therefore, it is wholly a loss to you, that ye have law-suits one with another! Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

But food will not commend us to God; neither, if we eat not, are we lacking; nor, if we eat, do we abound. But take heed, lest this liberty of yours become a stumbling-block to the weak. For, if anyone sees you, who have knowledge, reclining at table in an idol's temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat the idol-sacrifices?read more.
For he that is weak??he brother for whom Christ died??erishes by reason of your knowledge. And thus, sinning against the brethren, and smiting their conscience which is weak, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will in no wise eat flesh forevermore; that I cause not my brother to stumble.

All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable; all things are lawful, but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own, but each another's good.