Who Did Russell Actually Believe to Be the "Only Authority" in the Church?

(I am in the process of updating this with more quotes. - RRD)

The assertion is often made that Russell claimed to be the “only authority” to interpret the Bible, often attributing the present-day claims of the Jehovah's Witnesses “central authority” and “Jehovah's organization” teachings back to Russell. 

Many others actually attribute Russell with having special authority, although they usually do so indirectly. 

For the sake of brevity, we are not presenting everything Russell stated about this, but we have selected quotes that are succinct and to the point. We should also note that not everything that appeared in The Watch Tower of Russell's day was actually written by Russell. Sometimes Russell presented material written by others and stated so, but typically, the articles were presented without attribution as to who originally wrote the articles. Russell, however, was the editor, but especially in the last ten years of his life, we doubt that he actually read everything before it was printed in the Watch Tower magazine.

In the Watch Tower of October, 1887, page 6, we find the statement:

The only ones recognized as having special authority were the Apostles, whose teaching the true church has always had, and consequently never needed popes claiming to be 'Successor of St. Peter' in authority. The Apostle Peter needed no successors, and in his epistles opposes these would-be successors and their errors.

This can be found in Reprints 984.

Here Brother Russell makes it plain that he believed that only the apostles of Jesus had any special authority, and that they needed no successors. We know, however, that many have, indeed, in some way claimed to have some kind of special authority. Beyond the Roman Catholic Church, we find the Church of England, the Mormon leadership, the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses, who have claimed some special authority. However, so has the trinitarian orthodoxy leadership as a whole, since they have claimed that one must accept their added-on trinitarian doctrine in order to be a Christian. Furthermore, the leadership of  most, if not all, Protestant denominations, have, at some time, assumed some kind of authority over fellow believers. Russell, in effect, spoke against all such authoritarianism.

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In the Watch Tower of October/November 1888, we find that Brother Russell examined some claims made in an article that appeared in a magazine called The Living Church. This was evidently a publication of the Roman Catholic Church. The article presents two alleged views of the church, the Protestant view and the Catholic view. The article is quoted as saying:

"The Protestant idea of the Church is that it is a voluntary association of believers in Christ; that those who think alike upon religious subjects join together in a society and choose their pastor, who derives his commission and his authority from them. Consequently they are at liberty to prescribe what he shall and shall not teach, or to unmake their church and make another, precisely as the members of a club, or of a political party have a right to withdraw and form a new organization. The Protestant theory of the Church is that of an aggregation of individuals, 'who can rearrange themselves at will, and thus create new churches at every re-arrangement.' (Ewer.) The Catholic theory, on the other hand, is that it is an organization which God Almighty has founded once for all, to last to the end of time, and into which he invites men: it is His family, His household, His kingdom, His city. Its officers are commissioned by Him and hold their authority as teachers only from Him. In a word; the Catholic Church is not a democracy but an empire, not a republic but a kingdom. As such it comes to man with divine authority: its officers are under oath to the Eternal King, and they are to minister to man in His name and for Him." 

In both of the above views, authority is being assumed to have been given to the leaders of the church, whether Catholic or protestant.

Brother Russell, however, gave what he considered the Biblical view, which he believed to different from the two views presented above. We will not present all that Russell wrote, but we will quote some highlights.

God's church when completed and organized will be all that is given above as the Catholic or Episcopal view. But it is not yet completed, and hence not yet organized. When organized it will be clothed with power, and will be, “not a democracy but an empire, not a republic but a kingdom. As such it [will] come to man [the world – during the Millennium] with divine authority [and with power to back up that authority]. Its officers are [then, to be] under oath to the Eternal King, and they are to minister to man in His name and for Him.” All this, it is to be noted, fits exactly to the coming reign of the church, when it shall “bless all the families of the earth;” but it will not fit at all to the present state or condition. There is no organization to-day clothed with such divine authority to imperiously command mankind. There is no organization doing this to-day; though we are well aware many of them in theory claim that they ought to be permitted to do so; and many more would like to do so....

Thus seen, both the Catholic and the Protestant views of the Church are erroneous. The Catholic view gets the future organization applied to the present time, and the Protestant view, though ridding itself of some of that error, carries along enough of it to injure itself; for instead of admitting all consecrated believers into a "voluntary association," in which God would raise up his own teachers, Protestantism attempts also to organize and bind with creeds and confessions into various sects, each of which anxious to perpetuate itself and its ideas, selects and makes its own teachers in its own seminaries. 

Those who think Russell started the Jehovah's Witnesses'  organization should take note of what is stated above. Many do believe that Russell created what became called the JW authoritarian organization, and that this organization simply carried the name of Bible Students until 1931. The perception, however, is proven wrong by Russell's own statements, such as the above.

Please note that Russell did not believe that the church will be organized until "the Millennium". This is in reference to the time after Satan is to be abyssed, and the nations are no longer deceived. (Revelation 20:3) It will be then that the sons of God, now being selected out of the world that is now deceived, will be revealed. (Romans 8:19)  He plainly shows that the church is not yet "organized", and will not be until that future time when all nations will be blessed with a knowledge of the truth. And it is still true today. No one today is given authority today to exalt themselves as having authority over the church. Such authority will not be given until all nations will be blessed, which will only take place after Satan has been abyssed.

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Next, we find the following in the Watch Tower of August 1889, page 5:

Whatever "authority" such a minister or servant of the church possesses, is given him; he possesses no more "authority" than the humblest of his "brethren," the entire church, any of whom has the authority of God's Word (Matthew 28:19,20) to declare and to do any or every thing which it enjoins, according to his talents and opportunities and the desires of his fellow-believers to be served by him.

 One can find this in Reprints 1137.

Obviously, Brother Russell did not see the appointment of anyone as being elder as meaning that they were being given any special authority over fellow believers. 

By tradition, many have appointed some as “pastors”. The word “pastor” simply means “shepherd”. As such, everyone appointed to be an elder should be such a shepherd. Our Great Pastor, the Lord Jesus, has been given special authority.  (Ezekiel 34:23,24; Hebrews 13:10)Jehovah, Himself, as the Supreme Author as our Pastor, certainly has the highest authority in the universe. -- Psalm 23:1.

Those of the seed of Abraham will, in the future, become kings and princes with our Lord Jesus, and will, at that time be given authority. This does not mean that they have a right to assume any special authority in the present age, as many have done. 

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Additionally, we find some comments related to authority in the church in an article entitled “The Doctrinal Test in Methodism”. It appears that the idea that a Methodist member must accept all the doctrines of their article of faith was challenged by some and that such was no longer being required.

Part of the reply was this:

The Lord himself is the only rightful Head of the Church, and consequently the only authority in it. A recognition of his headship or supreme authority in the Church, and of his Word alone as its doctrinal standard, with faith in him as the Redeemer and in the power of his truth to sanctify, together with a recognition of the individual liberty of consecrated believers, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, is the only proper attitude of the Church. -- Watch Tower, March 1, 1892, page 67

Look for this in Reprints 1375.

In 1892, this clearly states that our Lord Jesus is the only rightful head of the Church, and the only authority in it. Then the article speaks of his Word, that is, the Bible, as being the only standard for doctrine. Of course, the only source to learn of Jesus and be obedient to him is the Bible. Contrary to what many claim, Russell never changed his mind on this.

Later, in an article entitled, “Zeal the Measure of Love”, The Watch Tower again touched on the authority Christians should recognize. There it is stated:

Nothing must be allowed to separate between us and the inspired Word if we would walk in the Light. Whatever "helps" really point us to the Bible as the only authority, and assist us in rightly dividing it, are profitable to us as servants and guides: but that which attempts to be to us instead of God's Word is a dangerous foe. -- Watch Tower, August 15, 1897, page 240..

It should be obvious that in 1897, Russell believed that the only authority in the church is the Bible. Although he did not specifically mention his books, it is obvious that he did not view his books as being the “authority”, but only as “helps”. Nevertheless, he more than likely also was referring to the helps provided by many other authors.

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In 1900, Russell presented the article entitled “Love As Brethren; Be Sympathetic, Be Courteous” referring to 1 Peter 3:8; 5:5,6. This article speaks how it is a mistake to regard various ones in a congregation who have been appointed in positions of service “as of a different class from the others of the flock, – a class vested with authority from God, and not amenable to the same regulations which govern all the members of the body.” The article then goes on to say:

The Apostle distinctly points out that a servant is not a ruler, that a servant has no authority. Indeed, so far as the true Church is concerned, the only authority in it is the Lord, the Head of the Church, and his Word, and the words of those whom he specially chose to be his mouth-pieces, the apostles. -- Watch Tower, July 1, 1900, page 195.

Thus Russell, in 1900, again affirms that the only authority in the church is the Lord Jesus, through his apostles and the Word, that is, the Bible. Obviously, he did not see himself as being an authority or “the authority”, nor did he see the Watch Tower Society of his day as being or representing any central authority here on earth over the Church.

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In June of 1900, Russell presented an article entitled, “Of Whom and For Whom Do We Speak?” This article addresses the question raised by some of Russell's use of “we” in his articles, etc. Some had thought that Russell may be speaking as an authority on behalf of a sect, or a religious party, etc. Russell explained that his usage of the word “we” referred only to himself as editor of the publications of the Watch Tower. He did not speak for any sect, party, creed or confession. Among the things presented in the article, however, was this:

We recognize the Bible as a divine revelation, the only standard of truth, and endeavor to keep close to its letter and spirit. But "we" will neither bind others to "our" convictions nor permit any to bind "us" to theirs. The only fixed creed we recognize is the simple and fundamental one -- that God sent his Son, who died for our sins; and that through faith in this, and obedience to him, to the extent of our ability, we shall be saved. All who so confess are "Christians" and are to be treated as "brethren." They should be assisted to grow in knowledge and grace, but should be accorded fullest liberty, -- "The liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." Neither directly nor indirectly has anyone a right to make a creed for them nor to otherwise speak for them and then imply their "disloyalty" and "heresy" if they attempt to resent misrepresentations. -- The Watch Tower, June 1, 1900, page 175.

The above is almost the very opposite of what is now presented by the Jehovah's Witnesses' Watchtower. The article speaks of treating other Christians as “brethren” in Christ, even if they do not agree with “our” convictions. The article speaks against setting up a creed as being a standard for accepting each other as “brethren”.

Additionally, we will also point out that at various times, even many who profess to be “Bible Students” have set up a standard beyond what is written for acceptance of association of fellow believers. Some have set for the idea that one has to accept Brother Russell as the faithful and wise servant or accept certain teachings -- beyond the fundamentals -- of Russell or the teachings of some other “leader” as a basis for fellowship. While Russell preached against such, sectarianism has many times prevailed even among the Bible Students. 

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Concerning his Studies in the Scriptures, The Watch Tower Society also published an article in 1910, entitled, “Is Reading the Scriptures Studies Bible Study?” (Watch Tower, September 15, 1910, page 298) While we cannot be certain that Russell wrote the article, he probably at least edited it. Nevertheless, among what is said in the article, the following may be found:

"The six volumes of SCRIPTURE STUDIES are not intended to supplant the Bible.... It is for each one to think for himself, however, and to guide his conduct in every way accordingly.... We should say, "I will not take it because these studies say so; I wish to see what the Bible says." And so we would study the Scriptures in the light of these SCRIPTURE STUDIES; we would prove every point, or disprove it, as the case might be. We would be satisfied with nothing less than a thorough investigation of the Bible from this standpoint... because the Scriptures are the standard.... 'SCRIPTURE STUDIES' NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE BIBLE." -- Watch Tower, September 15, 1910, page 298.

The article was written to endeavor to answer the question proposed. The conclusion is yes, but only in the case where one has already looked up the scriptures and verified that what is being said in the Scriptures Studies is in harmony with the Bible. Even then, as shown in the article, if one finds some error, the Bible should take precedence over what is stated in the Scripture Studies. The article does show that Russell regarded the Bible as “the standard”, not his Studies. This is in harmony with many other statements made before 1910.

Just before Russell died, Russell had the following printed in The Watch Tower, August 15, 1916, page 248:

Let it be borne in mind that the Society exercises no authority, makes no criticism, but merely gives advice; and that in the interest of the Lord’s Cause and the Lord’s people.

This statement is repeated in the book, What Pastor Russel Said, page 518, This may have been stated in response the some of the Bible Students at that time who were indeed regarding Russell or the Watch Tower as having authority.

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The above was originally posted on November 6, 2009; Updates made May 5, 2014; August, 2014; June/July 2023.

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For more related to Russell and authority see our links provided on the Authority and Organization page.