LESSON ONE

The Old Testament Hebrew word for authority is "Toqeph" which means authority, power, strength, energy. The first references are found in the book of Esther 9:29; 10:2 and Daniel 11:17. Interestingly, the concept of authority seldom appears in the Old Testament, however, it is used quite predominantly in the New Testament. The Greek word is "exousia" which means authority, right, liberty or jurisdiction.

From a theological perspective the question of authority is a fundamental issue facing every person, especially the believer. Its significance cannot be overestimated. Every person has an authority in life that he or she submits to as a subordinate, not by constraint but by conviction.

God exercises his authority in the spiritual realm., In the Old Testament, the answer was clear. God exercised his authority through prophets, priests, and kings. At the time of Christ, the disciples submitted to the lordship of God the Father through obedience to Jesus. Christ, then, delegated authority to the apostles, who directed the affairs of the primitive church.

Elwell, Walter A. "Entry for 'Authority'". "Evangelical Dictionary of Theology" http://www.biblestudytools.net/Dictionaries/BakerEvangelicalDictionary/bed.cgi?number=T67. 1997.

The Hebrew word for "Law" is "towrah," which is pronounced "to-raw" and is referenced 219 times in the entire Scriptures, 213 of those references are in the Old Testament.

The word "tawrah" means: law, direction, instruction, direction (human or divine), body of prophetic teaching, instruction in Messianic age, body of priestly direction or instruction, and body of legal directives.

SIDEBAR....The very first mention of the word "tawrah" is in Genesis 26:5 when God commends Abraham for obeying His voice, keeping His charge, commandments, statutes, and His law.

We have already established that the "Law" is the revealed will of God as to human conduct, binding on all men to the end of time. It was promulgated at Sinai referenced in Exodus 24:12. This is known as the Mosaic Covenant given at Sinai to the nation of Israel and subsequently to all believers. The Mosaic Covenant in its entirety governed three areas of life: (1) commandments to govern personal lives, (2) judgments to govern social lives and (3) ordinances to govern religious lives. (See Handout A – Photo of Exodus from Egypt, depicting location of Mt. Sinai)

The Hebrew word for spirit (Spirit) is "ruwach" which is pronounced "rod-akh" and is referenced 378 times in the Scriptures, 232 of which refer to the Holy Spirit. "Ruwach" gives the meaning: Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son, inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy impelling prophets to utter instruction or warning, imparting warlike energy, endowing men with various gifts, and as energy of life manifest in the Shekinah glory. Interestingly, it is never referred to as a depersonalized force.

"Without the Spirit it is not possible to hold the Word of God nor without the Son can any draw near to the Father, for the knowledge of the Father is the Son and the kowledge of the Son of God is through the Holy Spirit." Quotation by Irenaeus of Lyons

This quotation made by Irenaeus of Lyons confirms an understanding of the Holy Scriptures as the vital like between life and the knowledge of God. Read Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 40:13-14 and Nehemiah 9:20 and see if you can identify the following attributes of the Person and Profession of the Holy Spirit:

And seeing the multitudes, he Jesus went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying... .The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. 38 And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

Although the law was given about 1,300 years before Christ, He upheld them during His public ministry and in His teachings. He actually placed them on a higher plane, demanding that the spirit of the law, as well as the legal aspects of it, be observed. We can conclude that Jesus placed His seal of approval on the commandments by declaring, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets, I did not come to destroy but fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).

NOTE TO TEACHERS: Jesus not only taught the truth but, modeled it as well. He admonished His disciples saying, “if you see Me, you have seen the Father,” “I and My Father are one.” His life and ministry is an example to us of one lived in the deepest truth and commitment to the Living God, even unto death.

7. How does relating to Jesus as the "Master Teacher" give you insight into the call of teaching on your life?

8. In what ways have you been encouraged to follow Jesus in His commitment to impart truth into the lives of your students?

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

In order to understand the relationship between Christian education and the church, we must answer several questions:

9. What do the above Scriptures teach about the nature of the educational task facing the church today?

10. What discoveries have you made regarding the “specialized” help needed to achieve the task of Christian education?

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

There are several key words enveloped in the Great Commission that are relevant to our study. We observe that Jesus tells us the task of educating disciples will be accomplished via the "POWER" He gave to us. The word "POWER" here is the same Greek word “exousia” found in the above commentary on the "Models of Authority" section of this study.

Jesus also commands where to go and to whom. We are to "GO to ALL the NATIONS," excluding no one. He further commands what is to be taught. "Teaching them to OBSERVE THE THINGS I HAVE TAUGHT YOU," Herein lies the textbook and curriculum for Christian education.

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Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and explain your Christian responsibility to set a good example for your student to follow?

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________12. What new insights do you have into your authority and responsibility as a believer who teaches the Word of God?

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MODELS OF AUTHORITY