Bible Verses About Church Authority

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Direct command to obey leaders over you

And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Bible passage for Christ's authority, relevant background but not specific to Peter or bishops.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Lists governments or ruling functions within the church.

Then pleased it the apostles and elders with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas and Silas, chief men among the brethren:

Shows apostles and elders making a church decision together.

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Describes the church as the pillar and ground of the truth, often used with authority passages.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

Bible instruction to respect leaders in the Lord

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia.

Acts 15 shows apostolic and elder decision-making, background for authority structure.