Topic(s): Bible Study, Evangelism, Old Testament

While the Old Testament, particularly in Leviticus, gave elaborate ceremonies for the ordination of priests, the New Testament contains none. The reason that there is no ordination ceremony for the priesthood in the New Testament is that the New Testament teaches the priesthood of all believers.

Speaking to Christians (not clergy), Peter wrote, “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” (1 Peter 2:5). Peter then discussed the importance of Christ, who was rejected by the builders (religious authorities), but became the precious “chief corner stone” of the church to believers (1 Peter 2:6–8). He then added, “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him . . .” (1 Peter 2:9).

Under the Old Covenant, the priest was to intercede between God and man, and to offer the necessary sacrifices to God. Peter said that Christians are “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices.” Paul described the nature of the proper sacrifices Christians should offer: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). The reasonable service of Christians is to present their own bodies as living sacrifices to God. God condemned King Saul for taking it upon himself to offer unauthorized sacrifices (1 Samuel 13:12–13; 15:22), so the priesthood of all believers is a significant change.

The emphasis of the New Testament is that every individual member of the church is important. Paul compared the church to a human body, with Christ as its head and the body made up of all the members (Romans 12:4–5; cf. Colossians 1:18). As individual members of the body of Christ, all Christians, as a “royal priesthood,” and a “holy priesthood,” have a ministry to the world. When the church was under great persecution by the Jews, the apostles remained in Jerusalem, but the members scattered and “went every where preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Those preaching the word were simply Christians, members of the church.

Since Christians are a royal priesthood, there is no need for an earthly priesthood to intercede for Christians with God. All Christians may approach God directly through Christ in prayer. At the same time, each member of this holy priesthood has a responsibility to minister, living a life of purity before the world. —Bob Prichard