What Does the Bible Say about Spiritual Authority in the Old Testament and the New Testament? 

The Bible speaks extensively about spiritual authority, both in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, God is the primary source of spiritual authority, and He delegated authority to spiritual leaders to make decisions for the benefit of the people. In the New Testament, Jesus is the main source of spiritual authority, and He delegates authority to His disciples to continue His mission. In both testaments, spiritual authority is a divinely ordained concept that is essential for the proper functioning of the church.

In the Old Testament, the main source of spiritual authority is God himself. He is the ultimate source of truth and the source of all authority, both temporal and spiritual. In Exodus 18:21–22, Moses is given the authority to judge the people of Israel: "Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness, and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens."

In Deuteronomy 12:8, God commands the people of Israel to "observe and do according to all the laws which I command thee this day", which implies that God is the source of all spiritual authority.

In the New Testament, Jesus is the main source of spiritual authority. He is the ultimate source of truth and the source of all authority, both temporal and spiritual. In Matthew 28:18–20, Jesus gives His disciples the Great Commission to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. He also gives them the authority to "teach them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."

In Luke 10:19, Jesus gives His disciples authority over unclean spirits: "Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

In both testaments, spiritual authority is a divinely ordained concept that is essential for the proper functioning of the church. In the Old Testament, spiritual leaders were responsible for teaching the people the laws of God, interpreting them, and enforcing them. In the New Testament, Jesus gives His disciples authority to teach, preach, and heal in His name.

In both testaments, spiritual authority is also a means of protecting God’s people from false teachings and false prophets. In Deuteronomy 13:1–5, God commands the people of Israel to listen to the words of the prophets and judge them according to whether their words are true or false.

In Matthew 7:15, Jesus warns His disciples to "beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

Finally, the Bible speaks extensively about spiritual authority, both in the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, God is the ultimate source of spiritual authority, and He delegated authority to spiritual leaders to make decisions for the benefit of the people.

Again, in the New Testament, Jesus is the main source of spiritual authority, and He delegates authority to His disciples to continue His mission. In both testaments, spiritual authority is a divinely ordained concept that is essential for the proper functioning of the church. In conclusion, the Bible has a great deal to say about spiritual authority in both the Old and New Testaments.

Said again another way, in the Old Testament, God is the primary source of spiritual authority, and He delegated authority to spiritual leaders. In the New Testament, Jesus is the main source of spiritual authority, and He delegates authority to His disciples to continue His mission.

God's divinely ordained concept of spiritual authority is essential for the proper functioning of the church, and it is important to recognize its significance and power in both testaments of the Bible.

Your partner,
(c) Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com