SPLIT: Priesthood of all believers

[israelrock22]

A study of the New Testament reveals that all Christians are priests. Peter said, “You too are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5; The New Catholic Translation). Thus, all Christians are of that holy priesthood and can offer unto God spiritual sacrifices. All have the right to go directly to God through Jesus Christ, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Peter continued, “You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). Revelation 1:6 says, “…Who has made us a royal nation of priests in the service of his God and Father.” Consequently, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that all Christians are priests. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, he is added to the body of Christ and is thereby partakers of God’s holy priesthood. As priests, all can offer up spiritual sacrifices and draw nigh to God through the mediatorship of Jesus.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

aaa

 

[Tomster]

A study of the New Testament reveals that all Christians are priests. Peter said, “You too are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5; The New Catholic Translation). Thus, all Christians are of that holy priesthood and can offer unto God spiritual sacrifices. All have the right to go directly to God through Jesus Christ, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Peter continued, “You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). Revelation 1:6 says, “…Who has made us a royal nation of priests in the service of his God and Father.” Consequently, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that all Christians are priests. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, he is added to the body of Christ and is thereby partakers of God’s holy priesthood. As priests, all can offer up spiritual sacrifices and draw nigh to God through the mediatorship of Jesus.

Your point?

 

[panevino]

the OT verse below is reflected in 1pet2:9

Exo 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.

The OT included a general and ministerial priesthood.

Just as the NT does.

Ie: 1 pet2:9, rom 15:16, acts 8:17

 

[elvisman]

A study of the New Testament reveals that all Christians are priests. Peter said, “You too are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:5; The New Catholic Translation). Thus, all Christians are of that holy priesthood and can offer unto God spiritual sacrifices. All have the right to go directly to God through Jesus Christ, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Peter continued, “You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people he claims for his own to proclaim the glorious works of the One who called you from darkness into his marvelous light” (I Peter 2:9). Revelation 1:6 says, “…Who has made us a royal nation of priests in the service of his God and Father.” Consequently, the New Testament repeatedly teaches that all Christians are priests. When one obeys the gospel of Christ, he is added to the body of Christ and is thereby partakers of God’s holy priesthood. As priests, all can offer up spiritual sacrifices and draw nigh to God through the mediatorship of Jesus.

In the Old Testament, there were three levels of Priests: Aaron, the High Priest, the Levitical/Ministerial Priesthood, and the rest of the people were a General Priesthood of believers.

**In the New Testament, there are also three levels of Priests: Jesus, our High Priest (1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 7:22-25), the Ministerial/Levitical Priests (James 5:14-15) and the General Priesthood of all Christians (1 Peter 2:5-9).

*Just as with all New Testament fulfillments, the fulfillment is always *more glorious than the Old Testament type. **

Finally, in the Epistle of Jude, we read the warning about those who would usurp Church Authority by assuming the ministerial priesthood without the Church’s consent (Jude 1:11). In this passage he compares them to the rebellion of Korah and their subsequent punishment (Numbers 16:1-35; 31:16).

 

[Randy_Carson]

As priests, all can offer up spiritual sacrifices and draw nigh to God through the mediatorship of Jesus.

Hmmm…let’s look at this more closely.

Korah and the Priesthood of All Believers

In the book of Exodus, we read the following:

“The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg and Zicri.” (Exodus 6:21)

“The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. These were the Korahite clans.” (Exodus 6:24)

There’s not much in these two verses to catch anyone’s eye, to be sure. However, one of these people, Korah, became famous much later on, and I’m going to encourage you to review the entire story for you from the 16th & 17th chapters of the Book of Numbers. Due to space limitations, I’ll highlight a couple of key verses that we’ll consider more closely.

Chapter 16

**Korah, Dathan and Abiram **

1 Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent 2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. **3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” **

4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the LORD will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. 6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers 7 and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the LORD. The man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”

8 Moses also said to Korah, "Now listen, you Levites! 9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the LORD’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. 11 It is against the LORD that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?"

…

23 Then the LORD said to Moses, 24 "Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’ "

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, c] then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.”

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

Korah rebelled against the authority and leadership of Moses and Aaron by declaring, “all the community is holy”. To restate a portion of the above for emphasis, “If God is in our midst, then whoever is leading us will have His support. Or, going further (though this is not expressed): If we are all holy, what need is there for someone like Moses to instruct us, or why is there need for laws to make us holy? Since the people are holy, commandments from without are not necessary.” In a way, Korah was right! God declared the entire nation of Israel to be a nation of priests in the book of Exodus.

Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him out of the mountain, saying, "This is what you shall tell the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:3-6)

However, Korah’s error was not in his understanding of the “priesthood of all Israelites”, but in his rebellion against God and the authority God had vested in Moses and Aaron. God’s answer to this challenge was swift and final.

(cont.)

 

[Randy_Carson]

Let’s recap: the entire nation of Israel was a “kingdom of priests”, the tribe of Levi served as a ministerial priesthood, and Aaron served in the highest place. Thus, in the Old Testament, we find a foreshadowing of the New Testament priesthood that includes the Priesthood of All Believers, the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood consisting of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and Jesus, our eternal High Priest.

In the book of Jude, the author notes that there were some within the early Church who had rejected the authority of the Bishops and Priests, and he links their error directly to that of Korah and his followers who rebelled against God and the authority of the leaders He had placed over His people, Israel.

Today, there are Christians who refuse to accept the authority of the Catholic Church and the Bishops who have been established as its leaders. They believe that the “priesthood of all believers” replaces the ministerial priesthood in Christ’s church, and they reject the episcopate completely. The unfortunate incidents of the 15th century began in “protest” and rebellion against authority – not true reform, and that same rebellious spirit continues to proclaim a message that promotes denominational division.

 

[steve_b]

Let’s recap: the entire nation of Israel was a “kingdom of priests”, the tribe of Levi served as a ministerial priesthood, and Aaron served in the highest place. Thus, in the Old Testament, we find a foreshadowing of the New Testament priesthood that includes the Priesthood of All Believers, the ministerial or hierarchical priesthood consisting of Bishops, Priests and Deacons, and Jesus, our eternal High Priest.

In the book of Jude, the author notes that there were some within the early Church who had rejected the authority of the Bishops and Priests, and he links their error directly to that of Korah and his followers who rebelled against God and the authority of the leaders He had placed over His people, Israel.

Today, there are Christians who refuse to accept the authority of the Catholic Church and the Bishops who have been established as its leaders. They believe that the “priesthood of all believers” replaces the ministerial priesthood in Christ’s church, and they reject the episcopate completely. The unfortunate incidents of the 15th century began in “protest” and rebellion against authority – not true reform, and that same rebellious spirit continues to proclaim a message that promotes denominational division.

Nicely done.

Gal 5:20-21 describes dire consequences for those who dissent and divide and remain that way. It’s true for the 1st century, as it was for the 16th century, as it is today.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Nicely done.

Gal 5:20-21 describes dire consequences for those who dissent and divide and remain that way. It’s true for the 1st century, as it was for the 16th century, as it is today.

:tiphat:

 

[panevino]

Let’s recap: …

In the book of Jude, the author notes that there were some within the early Church who had rejected the authority of the Bishops and Priests, and he links their error directly to that of Korah and his followers who rebelled against God and the authority of the leaders He had placed over His people, Israel.

…

Hi Randy,
enjoyed your above posts.
can you elaborate on the link to Korah provided in Jude.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Hi Randy,
enjoyed your above posts.
can you elaborate on the link to Korah provided in Jude.

Take a look at Jude…the relevant passage is here:
Jude 1:10-12 (New International Version)

10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.

What more can I provide?

 

[panevino]

Take a look at Jude…the relevant passage is here:
Jude 1:10-12 (New International Version)

10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. 12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.

What more can I provide?

thanks.

I had looked up Jude on my iphone - KJV translation
which has Jude1:11 as follows
Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

i’ve since looked up other translations and the greek/hebrew words used and can see that it is a direct link of Korah.

thanks again.

num 16:8 ko·rach; 7141 Korah
jude 1:11 kore 2879 N-PRI Korah
biblos.com/jude/1-11.htm