There are no Christian "priests" or "Pope" in the New Testament

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This post was taken from another thread where it was off topic.

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons…
Seeking12 said:
This is the biblical extent of the 2 named offices named in the NT
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St. Paul refers to himself as a “priest” (Romans 15:16) and a “father” (1 Corinthians 4:15), which is what pope (papa) means. And there’s another office - “presbyter” or “elder” (Acts 14:23).

More info.
 
One theory I have heard is that in much of the time that the New Testament was being written there were still Jewish priests of the Temple, or at least a recent memory of them. To avoid confusion the New Testament writers used the term presbyter for the Christian office.
 
What it comes down to is a Sola Scriptura argument. The simple fact is that Sola Scriptura is not supported by the Scriptures! Next question please.
 
Luke65 said:
St. Paul refers to himself as a “priest” (Romans 15:16) and a “father” (1 Corinthians 4:15), which is what pope (papa) means. And there’s another office - “presbyter” or “elder” (Acts 14:23).

More info.
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I have never read a version of Romans 15:16 that uses priest. ESV, NIV, KJV, NASB
those are the four I have…🤷
 
There is no rapture either, but that dosn’t stop some people from telling us it is real
 
Joe_Kelley said:
One theory I have heard is that in much of the time that the New Testament was being written there were still Jewish priests of the Temple, or at least a recent memory of them. To avoid confusion the New Testament writers used the term presbyter for the Christian office.
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It is certainly true that there were still priests under the old covenant. There is not reason to suppose that, after their conversion, they were given any special duties in the Church.

Acts 6:7

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

I have read that “priest” is an Latin derivation of “presbyter”.
 
BrianH said:
I have never read a version of Romans 15:16 that uses priest. ESV, NIV, KJV, NASB
those are the four I have…🤷
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Rom 15:16 But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God 16 to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the **priestly service **of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

priestly service = hierourgoúnta

It’s definitely “priestly service”.
 
Exodus 28:1 and 19:6 – shows the three offices of the Old Testament priesthood (1). high priest – Aaron (Ex. 28:1); (2). Ministerial priests – Aaron’s sons (Ex. 19:6; 28:1); and (3). Universal priests – Israel (Ex. 19:6).

The New Testament priesthood also has three offices: (1) High Priest – Jesus Christ (Heb. 3:1); (2) Ministerial priests – the ordained bishops and priests (Rom. 15:16; 1 Tim. 3:1,8; 5:17; Titus 1:7); and (3) Universal priests - all the baptized (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Rev. 1:6).

scripturecatholic.com/the_church.html#the_church-VI
 
JPUSC said:
Well duh, the Bible isn’t a dictionary.
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No, but it does reflect the beliefs and practices of the early church. So, if there were priests in the role they are today, and a “pope” there is an expectation that such a record might be found there.
 
Regarding the Pope, or Holy Father.

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” - Matthew 16:18-19

Jesus gives St. Peter the “keys to the kingdom of heaven”. Compare the idea of keys to the Old Testament:

“And I will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.” - Isaiah 22:22-23
 
guanophore said:
No, but it does reflect the beliefs and practices of the early church. So, if there were priests in the role they are today, and a “pope” there is an expectation that such a record might be found there.
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It does not follow that such a record will use the words “pope” and “priest”…rather the record will show the facts.

Now please look at the Epistle of Paul to Titus.
Paul appoints Titus to be in charge in Crete, and to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:v 5)
In First Timothy, we see Paul appointing Timothy to a position of authority, and giving him instructions for carrying out his duties.
In chapter 3, Paul tells Timothy what to look for in a bishop, and in a deacon.
In chapter 4: v 11, Paul explicitly instructs Timothy to “Command and teach these things”.-- which clearly establishes that in Paul the Apostle’s eyes Timothy has authority to both command and teach.
So we have three levels of authority. - the Apostle, the bishop and the deacons.
EphelDuath, in post # 13, has already quoted evidence to show that the office of pope exists, and that Simon Peter was the first to hold it.
 
SHW said:
NASB at Biblegateway.com has “priest.”
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I was just going to say that! But I’ll add that Young’s Literal Translation, which is literal word for word, also has “priest”. And so do other versions. But it doesn’t matter if its translated “priestly service”, only an ordained priest can perform priestly duties. And of course, if Paul was serving the Church as a priest, then the other Apostles were too, and those whom they ordained, too. God only has to say it once - once! 🙂
 
Reepicheep said:
It does not follow that such a record will use the words “pope” and “priest”…rather the record will show the facts.

Now please look at the Epistle of Paul to Titus.
Paul appoints Titus to be in charge in Crete, and to “appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:v 5)
In First Timothy, we see Paul appointing Timothy to a position of authority, and giving him instructions for carrying out his duties.
In chapter 3, Paul tells Timothy what to look for in a bishop, and in a deacon.
In chapter 4: v 11, Paul explicitly instructs Timothy to “Command and teach these things”.-- which clearly establishes that in Paul the Apostle’s eyes Timothy has authority to both command and teach.
So we have three levels of authority. - the Apostle, the bishop and the deacons.
EphelDuath, in post # 13, has already quoted evidence to show that the office of pope exists, and that Simon Peter was the first to hold it.
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Do you equate episkipos (overseer) with presyteros (elder)?
 
guanophore said:
Do you equate episkipos (overseer) with presyteros (elder)?
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I don’t speak Greek. I rely on the English translations.
The epistles make it clear that Paul set Titus and Timothy in place to have authority over districts, and expected them to appoint men to have authority over towns.
Whatever word you use for it, the hierarchy exists.
Call them bishops or elders, priests or deacons.
Holy Scripture shows they existed from the earliest generation of the Church.
 
The English word “priest” comes from the Greek word “presbyteros” which is used throughout the New Testament.
 
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