1. Our Study Up To This Point
Authority defined: right and power of rule.
How one achieves authority:
Inherent
Inherited
Presumed or Assumed
Self Made
Granted or delegated
Usurped or stolen

2. Our Study Up To This Point
Authority defined: right and power of rule.
How one achieves authority:
God’s inherent and absolute authority
God created us free moral agents and gave us a choice.
What happens if authority breaks down?

3. Our Study Up To This Point
Two possible sources for religious authority
Man’s rational and wisdom
Subjective and divisive
Divine wisdom
Truth and unity
Silence reveals nothing
Direct Statements or Commands
Necessary Implications
Approved Apostolic Examples
Binding or Choice

4. Methods for establishing authority
Direct statements or commands have priority
Authority begins with a direct statement or command
No interpretation of an example or implication should be made that contradicts a direct statement or command

5. Methods for establishing authority
Approved Apostolic examples
Description of conduct or activity which God approves
Binding examples come from specific authority
Necessary implications
Cannot exist without one of the first two

6. Specific or Generic Authority
Specific Defined:
“Explicitly set forth; definite.”
Explicit Defined: “Fully and clearly expressed”
Generic Defined:
“inclusive or general”
General Defined:
“lacking in details; not specific”

7. Points about specific authority
Explicitly states what is required
Sets boundaries for acceptable action
Removes or limits options
Usually provides basis for generic authority
Often associated with penalties

8. Points about generic authority
Must come from specific authority
Allowed options within specific authority
Never contradicts what is specifically or explicitly stated (cancels or changes)
Never gives the right to add to or take away from what is specifically stated

9. Points about authority
God may state the “who”, “what”, “how”, “where”, and “when” of an action.
God may disclose any combination of the five while leaving other parts to our discretion.
Authorized acts begin with permission

10. A common principle in everyday life God’s laws regarding a wife’s duty
Speed Limits
Speed limit – 70
Minimum – 45
Exact speed – 60
Secondary laws
Silence
Silence reveals nothing – unknown and free to act
Authority makes known, gives permission and restricts action
God’s laws regarding a wife’s duty

11. The First Law Permission Restriction Explicit and binding
Genesis 2: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Permission
Restriction
Explicit and binding

12. The First Law Do you see any generic authority?
Genesis 2: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
Do you see any generic authority?
Do you see any thing else prohibited?

13. The ark – The specifics
Genesis 6: Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks.

14. The Ark – The Generics Size of tree Where the window was set
Door set anywhere along the side
Dimensions of rooms
Number of rooms
The height of each floor or level

15. The Ark – What is not authorized
Use a different type of wood
One big room or open space
Building two arks – one for his family and one for the animals
Door in back of the ark
A little bigger or smaller

16. The Ark – Expediencies, tools, aids
Time off for rest
Time to do other things (Preached)
Tools for construction (no electric tools)
Recipe for pitch
Lean-to for rest at the sight

17. The Ark – If it was commanded today
The specifics remain the same for us
What was not authorized for Noah remains the same for us
Expediencies, tools, and aids may change based on the same authority Noah had

18. The Ark – Expediencies, tools, aids
Time off for rest
Time to do other things (Preached)
Tools for construction (electric tools)
Recipe for pitch
Lean-to for rest at the sight