Theme · liturgical
Priesthood
At Sinai, God sets apart the tribe of Levi and Aaron's house for priestly service — they offer sacrifices, teach the law, and mediate between a holy God and a sinful people. When the priesthood becomes corrupt, the prophets denounce it and point to a better priest. Psalm 110 prophesies a priest after Melchizedek's order. Jesus fulfills this as the priest who needs no successor. Peter declares that all believers are a royal priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God — the mediatorial function once restricted to a few now belongs to the whole people of God.
Related doctrines
Passages expressing this theme
- 1Chr 25:1 — Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the num
- 1Cor 4:1 — Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
- 1Pet 2:5 — Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
- 1Pet 2:9 — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- 1Sam 2:35 — And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
- Deut 10:8 — At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
- Deut 33:8 — And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;
- Exod 3:1 — Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
- Exod 19:6 — And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
- Exod 28:1 — And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Itham
- Exod 29:1 — And this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them, to minister unto me in the priest’s office: Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish,
- Ezra 7:6 — This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his G
- Heb 4:14 — Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
- Heb 5:6 — As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- Heb 7:17 — For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- Heb 7:24 — But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
- Heb 7:25 — Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
- Heb 9:10 — Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
- Heb 10:11 — And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
- Heb 11:32 — And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
- Hos 4:6 — My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will
- Isa 28:7 — But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way t
- Isa 61:6 — But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
- Lev 8:12 — And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.
- Lev 16:2 — And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will
The Church Fathers on Priesthood
For if any one will consider how great a thing it is for one, being a man, and compassed with flesh and blood, to be enabled to draw nigh to that blessed and pure nature, he will then clearly see what great honor the grace of the Spirit has vouchsafed to priests; since by their agency these rites are celebrated, and…
For you know undoubtedly that those that are by us named bishops, and presbyters, and deacons, were made by prayer, and by the laying on of hands; and that by the difference of their names is showed the difference of their employments. For not every one that will is ordained, as the case was in that spurious and…
Here the apostle speaks of the gift of teaching, which the chosen bishop received. "By prophecy," that is, by the command of the Holy Spirit, as was said above. That is, of bishops. For it was not priests who ordained a bishop. See what amazing power the laying on of priestly hands has.
Which very thing, too, we observe to come from divine authority, that the priest should be chosen in the presence of the people under the eyes of all, and should be approved worthy and suitable by public judgment and testimony; as in the book of Numbers the Lord commanded Moses, saying, "Take Aaron thy brother, and…
"And I will take from them priests and Levites." From whom? This is not yet so clear, meaning either those sent to call them out from the nations or from those who were thus called out. For the divine disciples served through Christ as priests. But many were called to the priesthood, and many are still called who…
For the peace and order of the Lord's whole household will be shaken, if what is required in the body be not found in the head. Where is that precept of the blessed Apostle Paul uttered through the Spirit of God, whereby in the person of Timothy the whole number of Christ's priests are instructed, and to each one of…