1. All Authority And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18; NASBU)

2. Authority Defined English: “The power to command, enforce laws, exact obedience, determine, or judge” (AHD, 142) Greek (EXOUSIA): “Power of rule or government, the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others e.g. Matt. 28:18…” (Vines I:89) Inherent Because of who one is God I have over my money Delegated Received from one in authority Given to man by God You spend my money

3. Hermeneutics In contemporary usage in religious studies, hermeneutics refers to the study of the interpretation of religious texts. In contemporary usage in religious studies, hermeneutics refers to the study of the interpretation of religious texts.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutics

4. CENI Command Command Example Example Necessary Inference Necessary Inference

5. Jesus’ Hermeneutic Example – Matthew 4:4 – Deuteronomy 8:3 Inference – Matthew 4:7 – Deuteronomy 6:16 Command – Matthew 4:10 – Deuteronomy 6:13

6. Jesus’ Hermeneutic By direct statement, He identified the evil in bowing down and worshipping Satan. Command – Matthew 4:10 – Deuteronomy 6:13

7. Jesus’ Hermeneutic Though no direct statement was to be found in Deuteronomy 6:16 regarding jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple, Jesus correctly inferred from what was said that He should not “tempt the LORD” by testing His promise to protect Him. Inference – Matthew 4:7 – Deuteronomy 6:16 Jesus’ Hermeneutic

8. From the example of the Israelites in the wilderness, He learned that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Example – Matthew 4:4 – Deuteronomy 8:3 Jesus’ Hermeneutic

9. When the early disciples needed to answer the question of the necessity of circumcision for Gentile Christians, Jesus’ hermeneutic (CENI) was used to determine the Lord’s will. Example – Acts 15:12 Inference – Acts 15:7-9, 13-14 Command – Acts 15:7-21 Jesus’ Hermeneutic

10. Paul and Barnabas related to the brethren assembled in Jerusalem “how God had worked through them among the Gentiles” (vs. 12). As those who taught that Gentiles could be saved without circumcision, they represented the answer to the question by approved (by God) example. It could also be noted that the conclusion that their example was approved is by necessary inference. One must infer from the fact that God empowered them to perform miracles that their conduct was approved. Jesus’ Hermeneutic

11. Peter cited his experience at Cornelius’ house, concluding from the fact that the Gentiles there received the Holy Spirit that God “acknowledged them” and “made no distinction between” Jew and Gentile (15:7-9). God never explicitly stated that conclusion; Peter inferred it from the evidence that God provided in the giving of the Holy Spirit. It was, in fact, a necessary inference, meaning that no other conclusion could be drawn. Jesus’ Hermeneutic

12. Peter likewise necessarily inferred that God was not talking about unclean animals in his vision of Acts 10. James inferred from Peter’s words that God had visited the Gentiles (Acts 15:13-14). Jesus’ Hermeneutic

13. James quoted a statement from Amos (9:11-12) which predicted that Gentiles would be “called by” the name of the Lord (15:16). Although not stated in the form of a command, the prophecy of Amos is the citation of a precept which also answered the question of circumcision. Acts 15:7-21 communicates the will of God – Preach the Gospel to the Gentiles! Jesus’ Hermeneutic

14. God approved of Paul and Barnabas’ work among the Gentiles. Peter inferred from God giving the Gentiles the Holy Spirit that He had made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. James inferred from Peter’s words that God visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. The precept of Amos 9:11-12 is interpreted to be God’s will – Preach the Gospel to the Gentiles! Jesus’ Hermeneutic

15. Command/ Direct Statement Approved Example Necessary Inference vv. 7-21 v. 12 vv. 7-9, 13-14 Acts 15 Circumcision Observance 1 Cor. 11:23-24 Time of Ob. Acts 20:7 Frequency Acts 20:7 Illustrated Lord’s Supper

16. Generic & Specific Authority CommandGenericSpecific Build ark - Gen. 6:14 WoodGopher Wash 7 Times - 2 Kings 5 RiverJordan Offer – Lev. 14:12-13 AnimalLamb Praise – Eph. 5:19 MusicSing Buy me a canned drink ColaPepsi

17. Aids Are Authorized, Additions Are Not CommandAidAddition Eat Bread – 1 Cor. 11 Table, plates … Jam, beef, cola Baptize – Matt. 28:19 Baptistry, heater Sprinkling Build an ark – Gen. 6:14 Tool, Animal Oak, Cedar Sing – Eph. 5:19 Books, Tuner InstrumentalMusic Contribute – 1 Cor. 16 Basket, Account Mon. / Sat. An Addition Involves Another Element Being Added!

18. GOD’S Silence Is Not Authority Permissive At liberty to do what is not condemned Prohibitive Forbidden to act Without authority Two Mindsets Heb. 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood

19. Traditions develop as individuals do the same thing in the same way. – –Consider Jesus… – –Consider His Ambassadors… CENI, far from being merely “Church of Christ” tradition, is exactly how God’s will was actually determined in the first century. Authority

20. It all comes back to Jesus. And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18; NASBU)