Authority in the church

Supreme authority belongs to Jesus Christ as head of the church

Ephesians 5:23 ESV

For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

See also Eph 1:22; Eph 4:15; Eph 5:24; Col 1:18

Spiritual authority under Jesus Christ in the church is possessed by elders

As shepherds who teach and care for the flock

Acts 20:28 ESV

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

See also Jn 21:15–17; Eph 4:11–13; 1 Ti 3:2; 1 Ti 5:17; Tt 2:1–10; 1 Pe 5:2

As overseers ruling the church

Acts 20:28 ESV

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

See also Ro 12:8; 1 Th 5:12 Those serving as overseers must rule their own homes well; 1 Ti 5:17

The response of the church to the authority of elders

Elders are to be obeyed

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Elders are to be honoured and respected

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

See also 1 Ti 5:17

Paul limits the authority of women in the church

1 Ti 2:12 Some believe Paul’s restriction to apply to the women in the Ephesian church who were seizing authority rather than having been granted it. Others believe Paul is prohibiting women from being official teachers in the assembled church.

See also 1 Co 11:5–6; 1 Co 11:10; 1 Co 14:33–37

The reason for this prohibition derives from God’s order of creation

1 Timothy 2:13–14 ESV

For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

See also 1 Co 11:3; 1 Co 11:7–10

Kinds of authority within the church

Authority to preach the gospel

Mt 28:18–19; Mk 16:15

Authority to excommunicate

Mt 18:15–18; 1 Co 5:1–5 “hand this man over to Satan” here means “send back into the world ruled by Satan”; 1 Co 5:9–13

Authority to forgive sins

Mt 18:18; Jn 20:23