Generic And Specific Authority
Reprinted from The Spiritual Sword, April 1990
David R. Pharr

The importance of understanding the principle of generic and specific authority is seen in the fact that both liberal digression and also radical extremes have developed out of a failure to respect this concept. Innovations such as instrumental music in worship reflect disregard for the specific instructions of the Bible.  On the other hand, it is misunderstanding of the nature of generic authority that has resulted in the several anti factions that have divided the church.

The concept of generic and specific authority is a common sense principle of daily life. A physician's prescription may, for example, instruct the pharmacist to dispense a specific brand of drug.  In such case the pharmacist is authorized to give only the brand of medication specified. To dispense any other drug or any other brand would be a violation of the doctor's instructions.  Specification of a certain brand of drug implies the necessity that only that brand be used.  The pharmacist would not argue that the doctor did not tell him all the brands not to use; the instructions for a specific brand would be sufficient to make the doctor's will known.

On the other hand, physicians sometimes write prescriptions for a generic drug.  This would allow the pharmacist to dispense any of several brands of the indicated chemical compound.  Specific instructions allow only that which is specified.  Generic instructions allow choices within the general area indicated.

Coordinate or Subordinate

This simple illustration can serve us further as we define things that are coordinate and things that are subordinate or incidental.  The various brands of a certain drug (chemical compound) are coordinate, of parallel rank.  Each brand is a specific of that class of drugs.  The doctor's authorization to use one of these brands is not authorization to use the other brands.  In dispensing the authorized brand, however, the druggist may put the medicine into a bottle, put the bottle into a bag, and even employ a deliveryman to take it to the patient.  He could lawfully do these things even though the prescription made no mention of such things.  Why?  Because they are incidental to carrying out the instructions in the prescription.  The bottle, the bag, etc. are not coordinates of the specified drug.  They are subordinate, merely expedients used in doing what is specified.

Bible Simplicity

If this illustration seems too simple and obvious, let us be reminded that the positive instructions of the word of God should be approached with the same simplicity.  The Bible gives both generic and specific instructions.  Generic instructions authorize everything within the general area named.  Specific instructions authorize only the doing of the thing specified, thereby showing a lack of authority for the things of the same class (coordinates), which are not specified.

Noah was instructed to make an ark of gopher wood (Gen. 6:14). There are many kinds of wood, but a certain kind was specified. Thus no other kind of wood was authorized. The only way Noah could do what was commanded was by respecting the principle of specific authority. This does not mean that he could not use a hammer, saw, scaffolding, etc.—incidental expedients, but it does mean that he could not use other kinds of wood—coordinates of the material specified.

Both generic and specific authority are illustrated in the instructions for the first passover lamb.  "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats" (Exo. 12:5).  Notice that the order was specific in that the lamb had to be either from the sheep or the goats, not other kinds of animals.  It was at the same time, however, generic in that it allowed a choice within the area named—sheep or goats.  Other specifications were: a male (not a female), of the first year (not of the second or third year), and without blemish (not with blemish).

Specific Instructions allow only that which is specified.  Generic instructions allow choices within the general area indicated.

The importance of respecting the principle of specific authority is also demonstrated in the tragic case of Nadab and Abihu (Lev. 10:2).  The law specified the fire to be used.  These priests "offered strange fire."  The reason their fire was illicit is explained in the last of the verse: "which he commanded them not."  The New English Bible translates this more expressly as "fire which he had not commanded."

Thoughtful students will see the same principle in the elements of the Lord's Supper.  Jesus authorized the bread and the fruit of the vine.  No passage says not to use milk, apple pie, or strawberry jam.  Such prohibitions are not needed because the proper food and drink have been specified.  Specific instructions for the bread, however, do not preclude the use of a plate to pass it—a mere expedient for doing what is commanded.

The New Testament is specific in instructing that believers are to be baptized (Mark 16:16).  There is no text that forbids the baptism of infants, but nonetheless infant baptism is clearly not authorized.  It is not authorized because the proper subjects for baptism have been specified.

Specifications: Inclusive and Exclusive

Specifications are by their nature both inclusive and exclusive.  A specification requires a certain thing.  But at the same time a specification always implies restrictions, whether the restrictions are stated or not.  The specifications on a blueprint, for example, require the contractor to include the items specified, but these same specifications imply that coordinate items are not authorized.  If the plan calls merely for brick facing without specifying what kind of brick, the authority is generic; any kind of brick can be used.  If, however, red brick is specified, red brick must be used and brown, black, or white brick are not authorized.  Still, to keep in mind how the principle applies, the red brick specification would not preclude the use of scaffolding, trowels, etc., as incidentals, or expedients, in carrying out the instructions.

A New Testament Hermeneutic

Applying the principle of generic and specific authority is not an arbitrary hermeneutic, but one applied by the New Testament itself.  The writer of Hebrews makes a forceful use of the principle of specific authority.  He shows that under the law of Moses there was specific instruction that priests were to be of the tribe of Levi.  But regarding any other tribe, "Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."  The writer concluded, therefore that for Christ (who was of the tribe of Judah) to be a priest, the law had to be changed: because as long as the law specified the tribe of Levi, no priest could come from another tribe (Heb. 7:11‑14).  Thus the validity of the principle of specific authority is clearly demonstrated by one whose interpretation of Scripture was inspired by God.

Music–Specific or Generic?

Just as there are different specific kinds of wood that fall under the generic of wood; different kinds of animals that fall under the generic of animals; and different kinds of food that fall under the generic of food: so there are different kinds of music that fall under the generic of music.  Two kinds of music are instrumental music and singing.  They are obviously coordinate to each other because it is possible for each to be performed independently of the other.

If the New Testament had given a generic instruction to produce music in worship, the principle of generic authority would allow either or both kinds of music.  But the instruction is not generic; it is specific.  As regards kinds of music, a coordinate kind of music is not authorized.

The specification of singing, therefore, parallels the specification of gopher wood for the ark, a lamb for the Passover, bread and fruit of the vine for the Lord's Supper, and believers as subjects for baptism—all things required by specific authority.  Instrumental music is not specified and is, therefore, parallel to such unauthorized innovations as would have been pine for the ark, a heifer in place of the lamb, jam on the Lord's Table, and infant baptism—all unauthorized coordinates of the things specified.

Quibbles are sometimes raised regarding the authority for such things as songbooks, but the principle is that things which are subordinate to, or expedients related to, the thing specified are authorized.  Songbooks are not another kind of music.  They are expecient for performing the thing specified.  Remember that tools could be used in building the ark as long as the only wood used was gopher wood.

Further, singing is a generic as regards such things as the parts of harmony. One may sing bass, tenor, alto or soprano.  These are subordinates to the generic of singing.  But in any case it is still singing.  Singing is not generic, however, as regards instrumental music.  One might as easily swim by flying, walk by riding, or immerse by sprinkling as he could sing by playing an instrument!

Generic Authority

We have especially emphasized the force of specific authority.  Most, if indeed not all, unscriptural innovations would be avoided if the implications of specific authority were respected.  There are, however, also problems that arise from failure to respect generic authority.  These problems relate to efforts to limit the liberty God has given us.  Such is aptly described as "making laws where God has made none."  Disregard of generic authority has been the cause for the anti‑Sunday school faction, the anti‑orphan home faction, the one‑cup faction, and other like things.

Generic authority allows choices within the general area indicated.  A simple illustration of this is in the command to "go" (Mark 16:15).  "Go" is generic as regards various modes of travel–walking, riding, flying, etc.  Any of these would be acceptable.  Also acceptable would be any incidentals or expedients which would be used in obeying the command–shoes, horse, car, etc.  Generic authority allows anything within the genus, and all otherwise lawful expedients pertaining to it.

Boundaries Set

The principle of generic and specific authority pertains to the boundaries set by positive divine instructions.  A boundary marks both what is excluded and what is included.  Where there are many negative instructions or prohibitions, God's positive laws are also effective in defining the perimeters of acceptable action.

To illustrate again, a child's fenced play yard sets boundaries wherein the child is to play.  The fence is specific in defining limits.  All yards beyond the fence are not authorized; they are out of bounds.  On the other hand, the fence is generic in allowing the child to play anywhere within the authorized area.

The doctrine of Christ defines the perimeters of things pleasing to God, and to go beyond, or to fail to abide in, these boundaries is to break fellowship with God (II John 9).  The excluding boundaries of specific authority and the including boundaries of generic authority cannot be ignored without adding to or subtracting from the word of God (Deut. 4:2; Rev. 22:18‑19; cf. Matt. 18:18; I Pet. 4:11).

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