A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God. In Christianity, priests are ordained clergy who have been consecrated and set apart to serve God and the church through the administration of the sacraments, teaching of the scriptures, spiritual guidance of the faithful, and pastoral leadership of congregations.
The Bible establishes the priesthood as a central institution in the Old Testament, beginning with the Levitical priesthood instituted by God through Moses. The Levitical priests offered sacrifices, cared for the tabernacle/temple, and oversaw rituals and ceremonies. They acted as mediators between God and His people by making atonement for sins. While the Levitical priesthood was hereditary, opening only to male descendants of Levi, the New Testament priesthood is open to all believers in Christ.
The New Testament teaching on the priesthood emphasizes Jesus Christ as the one true High Priest (Hebrews 3:1). Through His perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus serves as the supreme intermediary between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). He offered the ultimate sacrifice once for all to make atonement for sin (Hebrews 10:1-18). Jesus has become our merciful and faithful High Priest, able to sympathize with our weaknesses and temptations (Hebrews 2:17-18; 4:14-16).
While Christ alone holds the unique role as eternal High Priest, the New Testament also presents the concept of a universal priesthood of all believers. All those who put their faith in Jesus are priests in the sense of direct access to God through Christ (1 Peter 2:5,9). Every Christian can approach God’s throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We also represent Christ and act as His ambassadors in ministering to others, offering spiritual sacrifices, and proclaiming the gospel (2 Corinthians 5:20; Romans 12:1; 1 Peter 2:9).
In addition to this universal priesthood, the New Testament refers to an office of priest/presbyter (Greek presbyteros) which designated appointed leaders and overseers within the early church structure. As the apostles established churches, they appointed elders (presbyteroi) to provide spiritual care and oversight to the congregations (Acts 14:23; 20:17; Titus 1:5). From the term presbyteros we get the English words priest and presbyter. These leaders were responsible for shepherding, teaching, and administering the church (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9).
Over time, a more defined hierarchy of leadership developed in many churches so that presbyters/priests served under the authority of bishops. The priesthood formally became one of the major orders of ordained ministry along with bishops and deacons. Priests administered the sacraments and cared for the spiritual needs of congregations under a bishop’s leadership. Candidates prepared extensively for the priesthood through prayer, study, and examinations. Among other qualifications, priests were expected to maintain lives of purity, sobriety and holiness as stewards of God’s grace.
In the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and some Lutheran traditions, priests are exclusively male. They must make a vow of celibacy, remaining unmarried as they devote themselves fully to serving Christ and His church. Most Protestant denominations rejected the requirement of celibacy and allowed married men to serve as pastors. Some Christian traditions use the term priest interchangeably with pastors/ministers, while others reserve it for those in hierarchical leadership roles.
Whatever the specific church governance structure, the New Testament presents all believers as part of God’s royal priesthood in Christ. All Christians have a responsibility to honor God, grow in faith, pray for others, share the gospel, and offer their lives in service to God’s kingdom. And church leaders, whether called priests, pastors, ministers, or elders, have a special calling to nurture believers and shepherd Christ’s flock through proclaiming the Word, caring for souls, conducting worship, administering sacraments, and maintaining gospel purity in doctrine and life.
The Bible offers rich insight into the nature and functions of the priesthood across both Old and New Testaments. Here is a more in-depth look at some key biblical passages:
Old Testament Priesthood
The foundation for the Old Testament priesthood is found in the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. God established a detailed system of sacrifices and rituals to allow His people to approach Him in worship and atonement. And He designated the Levites as the tribe set apart to serve Him as priests:
– Exodus 28-29 – God gives instructions for consecrating Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. Details are provided for their special vestments and process of ordination through sacrifice and anointing.
– Leviticus 8-10 – Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons, Nadab and Abihu, to serve as priests. Yet Nadab and Abihu are struck dead by God for improperly offering “unauthorized fire” (Leviticus 10:1). This shows the seriousness of serving God properly as a priest.
– Numbers 3:5-10 – God sets apart the tribe of Levi to serve Him as priests and assist the priests in service and duties related to the tabernacle.
– Deuteronomy 10:8 – The Levites are entrusted by God to carry the ark of the covenant, stand before the Lord, serve Him, and pronounce blessings in His name.
The priesthood continued as a central feature in Israelite society into the historical and wisdom literature. Priests offered sacrifices, carried the ark of the covenant, taught the Law, served in tabernacle/temple worship, inspected for diseases, and offered blessings to the people (see 1 Samuel 1-3; 1 Kings 8; 2 Chronicles 5-7; Psalm 132; Ezekiel 40-48; Malachi 1-2).
Key roles and duties of the Old Testament priests included:
– Representing the people before God through offerings, intercession, blessings
– Teaching and instructing people in the Law of Moses
– Keeping God’s dwelling place holy, clean, and ready for service and sacrifice
– Offering sacrifices to atone for sin, give thanks, consecrate worship
– Officiating sacred rituals and observing holy days/feasts
– Evaluating and dealing with impurity and disease
– Providing guidance and leadership to Israel as representatives of God
The priesthood provided the structure for Israel to live as the holy nation set apart to serve God and reflect His glory and grace to the nations.
Jesus Christ as High Priest
While the Old Testament presents the grandeur and significance of the Levitical priesthood, the New Testament reveals its inadequacy to deal with the weight of human sin. Animal sacrifices could not provide full, permanent atonement. And even the most righteous priest was still a flawed sinner. The system pointed forward to the need for a greater High Priest and once-for-all sacrifice.
Jesus came as the perfect fulfillment of the priesthood. Through His sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and mighty resurrection, Jesus accomplished God’s plan of redemption and became the supreme High Priest of the new covenant.
– Hebrews 3:1 – Jesus is called the Apostle and High Priest of our confession. This connects Him as God’s supreme messenger and mediator.
– Hebrews 4:14 – He is the great High Priest who has passed through the heavens.
– Hebrews 7 – This extensive chapter explains how Jesus is like the mysterious priest-king Melchizedek, a type pointing to Christ. Thus, Jesus serves as High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek with an indestructible life (7:16).
– Hebrews 8-10 – Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant established in His blood. His perfect sacrifice sanctifies and perfects for all time those who are called. Now we can draw near to God with full assurance through Christ, our forerunner who opened the way through the curtain of His flesh (10:19-25).
The Gospels reveal how Jesus’ entire ministry prepared Him to serve as High Priest and living sacrifice:
– Jesus showed compassion as one acquainted with grief and willing to lay down His life for the sheep, like a shepherd priest (Isaiah 53:3-6; John 10:11-18).
– He cleansed lepers, demonstrating His power over impurity (Matthew 8:1-4; Leviticus 14).
– Jesus taught deep truths, serving as greater Prophet and Priest revealing God Himself (Deuteronomy 18:15-19; Mark 12:35-37).
– His prayers for others, like at Lazarus’ tomb, display intercession with God’s power (John 11:41-44).
– By giving His body and blood at the Passover feast, Jesus instituted the new covenant (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
Christ lived out His earthly ministry in perfect obedience to God’s will, so He might become the sacrifice to end all sacrifices as High Priest. His priesthood far surpasses the Levitical system in bringing us near to God forever.
Priesthood of All Believers
Along with presenting Jesus as High Priest, the New Testament also contains a doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Through faith in Christ, all Christians gain access to God’s presence and are called to serve as priests offering spiritual sacrifices.
Key verses include:
– 1 Peter 2:5,9 – We are being built into a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
– Revelation 1:6; 5:10 – Jesus made us a kingdom of priests to serve His God and Father.
– Romans 12:1 – We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, as an act of spiritual worship.
– Hebrews 13:15 – Through Jesus we can continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God.
– Romans 15:16 – Paul describes his priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God as a minister of Christ Jesus.
As part of a royal priesthood in Christ, all believers can:
– Directly approach God’s throne of grace through prayer and worship (Hebrews 4:16; 10:19-22)
– Intercede for others through prayer and sharing the gospel
– Offer personal sacrifices of praise, acts of service, devotion to God
– Help sanctify the world by living holy lives and pointing people to Christ
– Represent Christ to the world as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20)
The Bible urges all Christians to fulfill their call to service as part of God’s priesthood under the headship of Christ.
Church Leaders as Priests/Presbyters
While all believers are priests in a general sense, the New Testament also establishes an office of priest/presbyter as appointed leaders within the church structure. As the apostles established churches, they appointed elders (presbyterous) to care for the spiritual needs of the congregations:
– Acts 14:23 – Paul and Barnabas appoint elders for the churches in each city of their missionary journey.
– 1 Timothy 3:1-7 – Qualifications are given for overseers/elders as church leaders.
– James 5:14 – Elders anoint and pray over the sick.
– 1 Peter 5:1-5 – Peter instructs the elders to shepherd God’s flock willingly and eagerly.
– Titus 1:5 – Paul commands Titus to appoint elders in every town.
These elders/presbyters provided spiritual leadership through shepherding, teaching, and directing the affairs of the churches. By the late first century, the terms elder (presbyter) and bishop (episkopos) came to designate separate offices in church leadership. From presbyter comes the English term priest as a leader authorized to perform Christian rituals and oversee congregations under the authority of bishops.
Qualifications for church elders/priests focused on spiritual maturity and exemplary character along with abilities to teach, guide, and refute false doctrine (1 Timothy 3:1-7; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Titus 1:5-9). As stewards of God’s mysteries, they were to keep hold of faith with a clear conscience (1 Timothy 3:9; 4:14-16). Appointed leaders exercised authority while remembering they are under-shepherds serving the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 5:1-4).
In many traditions today, priest continues to designate an office of ordained ministry involving spiritual leadership over a congregation or parish. Priests are called to model sacrificial devotion to God as they carry out pastoral duties and sacramental functions.
Conclusion
The Bible provides a rich theology of the priesthood from the Old Testament practice to its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. God instituted the priesthood to allow His people to draw near Him. The need for atonement and mediation found perfect resolution through Christ’s priestly ministry. He became the ultimate High Priest and living sacrifice through His incarnation, sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection triumph.
All who put their faith in Jesus inherit the blessing of direct access to God as members of a royal priesthood. We can approach God’s throne of grace to receive mercy and help. We also represent Christ in prayer, living out holiness, sharing the gospel, and serving God’s kingdom. Church leaders carry out pastoral and sacramental duties as priestly stewards of God’s grace. Across its many expressions, the biblical priesthood centers on bringing people near to God through Christ, our perfect High Priest.
