If I was playing with the neighborhood children when my brother came and told me it was time to go home, I would usually ask, “Who says so?” If the response was, “Daddy said so!” I knew I must go home immediately.

We should ask the same question, “Who says so?” of anyone who tells us what we are to do. If the one “who says so” has the authority, we should do it, but if not, we should respond only if we choose to do so.

In our universe is an order of authority that should be respected. The Bible is very explicit concerning the structure of authority.

God the Father is over all. “There is...one God and Father of all, who is above all” (Eph.4:4, 6).

Jesus has been given “all authority...in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18). When He ascended into heaven, the Father “put all things under His feet” (Eph. 1:20-22), even the angels (1 Pet. 3:22). Jesus now has authority over everything except over the Father (1 Cor. 15:27), and will have it until He returns and given the kingdom back to the Father (1 Cor. 15:22-28).

God has given man dominion “over every living thing that moves on the earth” (Gen. 1:28). The husband has authority over the wife (Eph. 5:23, 24). Men are to be leaders in the home and to train the children, who are to obey him (Eph. 5:23, 24; 6:1, 4).

In the church woman are not “to have authority over a man” (1 Tim. 2:12) and mothers are to be obeyed by their children (Eph. 6:1).

The order of authority is clearly stated:

“The head of Christ is God.”

“The head of every man is Christ.”

“The head of woman is man.” (1 Cor. 11:3)

Paul stated the basis for the order of authority, “...the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). This applied to all Paul wrote, which included his previous statement that women are to “keep silent in the churches (assemblies), for they are not permitted to speak” (1 Cor. 14:34, 35). The context shows that by “speak” Paul meant that women are not to give a speech to the assembly and by “silent” to not address the assembly, as is indicated by the ruling he gave for the prophets (1 Cor. 14:29, 30).

Paul not only made his appeal based on Jesus' commandments and his own authority as an apostle (2 Cor. 10:8), but also on God's continuing order by writing that women are “to be submissive, as the law also says” (1 Cor. 14:34). But what law? The Law given to Moses said nothing about women being submissive.

Paul accepted the division of the books of the Old Testament as did the Jews and Jesus. Jesus said, “Law and Prophets” (Matt. 7:12; 22:40), or “Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). By dividing the Old Testament this way, the “Law of Moses,” or “law,” included Genesis.

In the letter to the Galatians, Paul used “law” to apply to the book of Genesis (Gal. 4:21, 22), as he also used “law” in writing the Corinthians (1 Cor. 14:34). God's order not only rests on Jesus' commandments but also on the penalty because of the sin of Eve in the garden of Eden. The husband “shall rule over you” (Gen. 3:16; see also 1 Tim. 2:12-14).

In seeking authority for what we do, we should ask, “Who says so?” If a practice is taught in Scripture, it is from heaven, but, if not, it is from men (Matt. 21:25).

We must learn to respect God's order of authority.

©Copyright Owen D.Olbricht 2014. All rights reserved. May be reprinted if credit is given to the author.