Are there any scriptural references for Catholic priesthood?

[iaskquestions]

Are there any scriptural references for Catholic priesthood?

 

[Safe_Eagle]

Here’s a good link for you:

scripturecatholic.com/apostolic_succession.html#apostolic-I

 

[Prodigal_Son1]

That was a good link provided to you in the post above.

You might also find your question answered in the following. (There is possibly some duplication of verses as found through the link.)

2Ch 19:11 And Amarias the priest your high priest shall be chief in the things which regard God: and Zabadias the son of Ismahel, who is ruler in the house of Juda, shall be over those matters which belong to the king’s office: and you have before you the Levites for masters, take courage and do diligently, and the Lord will be with you in good things.

Mal 2:7 For the lips of the priests shall keep knowledge, and they shall seek the law at his mouth: because he is the angel of the Lord of hosts.

Eph 2:20 Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:

Eph 4:11 And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors:

1Co 12:28 And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors: after that miracles: then the graces of healings, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all doctors?

Act 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take.

Act 1:25 To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place.
Act 1:26 And they gave them lot, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

1Ti 3:1 A faithful saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth good work.

1Ti 3:8 Deacons in like manner: chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

1Ti 5:17 Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

1Ti 4:14 Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.

1Ti 5:22 Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins. Keep thyself chaste.

Act 14:23 (14:22) And when they had ordained to them priests in every church and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed.

2Ti 2:2 And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men who shall be fit to teach others also.

Tit 1:5 For this cause I left thee in Crete: that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee:

May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Prodigal Son1

 

[FCEGM]

Here are two more links for you on the subject:

catholic-legate.com/dialogues/ntpriesthood.html

catholic-legate.com/articles/w-priest.html

 

[iaskquestions]

Thanks guys!

 

[iaskquestions]

catholic-legate.com/articles/w-priest.html

This link didn’t work.

 

[FCEGM]

This link didn’t work.

Sorry; try this one:

catholic-legate.com/articles/w-priest.htm

(I had added an l to “htm”)

 

[Nita]

Sorry; try this one:

catholic-legate.com/articles/w-priest.htm

(I had added an l to “htm”)

I’ve always liked the Isaiah 66 passage included in the above article. It is an OT prophecy of a non-levitical priesthood:
Is 66:18-21 …and I am coming to gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and shall see my glory, … And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the LORD."

 

[panares]

Hello,
i am new to the discussion, but as a former Evangelical-Charismatic minister (to be, i was never ordained, but studied to be) for over 6 years before, by God’s grace, I came into the fullness of the Faith, i too had this question.

Here’s what helped me over come this obstacle…
Jude 11, “…they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”
St Jude is referring to the false teachers that have crept in.
How does this help answer the question? Well, one must go to Numbers 16. Without going into the whole story verse by verse, it’s about Korah who lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, trying to take on the priestly ministry for himself (and his followers) when God had already established the priesthood through Levi and Aaron…and he used as his argument, that all the people were holy and had a right to the tabernacle for themselves (v3). God later destroyed him and his followers (vv 23-35).
What struck me about this was that this is exactly what the Protestant Reformers were saying: “everyman a Pope!” we don’t need priests! we are all priests to God…
Well, that is true, we, the faithful, are a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:5), just as Israel was called to be a royal priesthood (Ex 19:5-6). But, just as Israel (the whole people being a priesthood) had God-ordained priests (the tribe of Levi) to minister before the Lord on the people’s behalf, so the NT people (the royal priesthood mentioned by Peter), has God-ordained men to minster to the Lord on their behalf as well (Jesus, his apostles and their successors).
What Jude is warning about is be wary of false teachers who, like Korah in the OT, try to usurp authority they don’t have.

I hope that helps…

 

[MarcoPolo]

Apologist Jimmy Akin did a “Priesthood Debate”…here is a link to his comments in the debate. He will go into the Old Testament priesthood fulfilled in the New.

 

[Bwsherman]

I just finished writing a paper about something very similar to this question. I dealt primarly with the understanding of Gen 14:18-20:

"18 But Melchisedech the king of Salem, bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the most high God, 19 Blessed him, and said: Blessed be Abram by the most high God, who created heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be the most high God, by whose protection the enemies are in thy hands. And he gave him the tithes of all. "

There are a number of things that can be pointed out in here (actually six pages worth), but I will give the highlights.

1. Melchisedech is recognized as a priest of the most high God (Elohim). He was a priest then before the establishment of the Levitical priesthood.
2. Abraham recognizes his priesthood by giving him the ‘tithes of all’.
3. St. Paul in Hebrews describes Christ as being a priest in the order of the Melchisedech. This phrase goes back to Psalms 109 v. 4 dealing with David. Christ is understood as being the fulfillment of the Davidic Kingdom.
4. The distinction between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood founded in Christ is then clear. One comes forth from the loin of Abraham and the other from Christ which is ‘without beginning and without end’.

There is much more that could be said, but I hope this gives a little bit of depth as to why the continuation of the priesthood. One could also look at section 1544 of the Catechism for more explanation.

 

[BRB]

Here’s what helped me over come this obstacle…
Jude 11, “…they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.”
St Jude is referring to the false teachers that have crept in.
How does this help answer the question? Well, one must go to Numbers 16. Without going into the whole story verse by verse, it’s about Korah who lead a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, trying to take on the priestly ministry for himself (and his followers) when God had already established the priesthood through Levi and Aaron…and he used as his argument, that all the people were holy and had a right to the tabernacle for themselves (v3). God later destroyed him and his followers (vv 23-35).
What struck me about this was that this is exactly what the Protestant Reformers were saying: “everyman a Pope!” we don’t need priests! we are all priests to God…
Well, that is true, we, the faithful, are a royal priesthood (I Peter 2:5), just as Israel was called to be a royal priesthood (Ex 19:5-6). But,
What Jude is warning about is be wary of false teachers who, like Korah in the OT, try to usurp authority they don’t have.

…

Very good point. A ‘little knowledge’ on any topic can be a dangerous thing. Church structure / hierarchy is essential.

For any new Christian to suddenly think they are capable of interpreting scriptures for themselves … and not willing to defer to the Churches teachings … is fraught with error potential.

 

[guanophore]

Are there any scriptural references for Catholic priesthood?

It is helpful to approach this study with the knowledge that the modern English word “priest” is a derivation of the Gk. transliteration of “presbyter”. When one examines the role and function of the elders in the NT, one can see the seeds of the modern priesthood.