Authority in the New Testament

4/14/2026

Authority... is there such a thing? If so, what is it? TWO different “authority” words Paul used:

“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

“But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

“For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. And if anyone does not obey our word in this letter, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-15)

To Philemon...

“I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

“Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.” (Philemon 1:4-11)

ἐπιτάσσω (epitassō)—Philemon 1:8... This is top-down authority. The root tassō means to appoint or arrange; epi- drives it downward—something pressed upon you from above. It’s the word Jesus uses to silence demons (Mark 1:27) and halt storms (Luke 8:25). Rank speaking to lesser rank. Paul’s move in Philemon 1:8 is surgical: he names this word—I could epitassō you—and then refuses to use it. He steps off the throne to make his appeal. That’s not weakness. That’s a rhetorical trap. The moment Paul declines his own authority, Philemon can no longer hide behind obedience. He has to act from conscience. The appeal becomes more binding, not less.

παραγγέλλω (parangellō)—2 Thessalonians 3 (vv. 4, 6, 10, 12)... Different animal. Angellō is to announce, to herald. Para- means alongside, from. So parangellō is transmitted authority—a charge being passed through someone, not issued by them. Think of military orders moving down a chain of command. The general isn’t the source. He’s the conduit. That’s exactly how Paul uses it in 2 Thessalonians 3. He’s not asserting himself—he’s relaying the Lord Jesus Christ (named explicitly in 3:6 and 3:12). The authority isn’t his to own. He’s the messenger, not the origin.

The short version: Epitassō says I outrank you. Parangellō says I’m bringing you a word from above. One is personal rank. The other is prophetic transmission. Paul knows exactly which octave he’s reaching for—and why.

And something really cool?

Paul threatened his buddy Philemon with that word because he did have that authority, sort of.

But he never once used that word again, before or after, in nearly 20 years of Writings to believers all over the known world, then, and Everywhere now!

JESUS used that command-authority God-word several times to throw down and boss demons, to put them anywhere He wanted them to be.

Herod used that epitassō boss-man word to command soldiers to behead “John the baptizing guy.”

A so-called high priest used that “command” God-word to have Paul struck in the mouth, in Acts 23.

Growth in the Z-axis Zoe Life is truly an ecosystem thing, not a machine, not a boss man... except Jesus.

By Choice, we acknowledge and live this way, though there is available “an authority of the Gentiles.” “NOT SO WITH YOU!”

Binary. The One. And us: Sixteen thousand turnip trucks full of zeros.