{The Authority of the Words is the Words themselves}[4th February 1990]

[Redbook7:38][19900204:1355b]{The Authority of the Words is the Words themselves}[4th February 1990]

19900204.1355

[continued]

The Disciples and other followers did not{:} pay attention to Jesus’ words because they thought he was the Son of God.* They said he was the Son of God because of what they heard when they listened to him. And so it must be with us: The authority of the words is the words themselves.**

*It is clear that miracle-workers and healers were not all that uncommon in Palestine at that time.

**{cf [2], [xS][:]}

[ ‘“By what authority do you answer questions?"

“By the authority of the answers.” [xS] replied at once.

This silenced me for a minute or two. After I had thought about it, I said carefully: “One of the problems we have here, is that people will normally only ask important questions of those who they expect will give an authoritative answer – that is, those seen to have authority to answer the question. If we invite them, by whatever means, to come to put their questions to you, they won't even come – unless they get a satisfactory answer to their first question: ‘By what authority will she answer my questions?’.”

“Nevertheless the authority of the answers is the answers themselves.” [xS] replied. “If the answer does not carry its own authority to the questioner, then they are not fit for each other, and he had better disregard it.”’

&

‘“The authority of the answers is the answers themselves.” [xP] said. “If you don't like them, you can leave.”’

– [2] (subject to revision)]

[PostedBlogger09for10122020]