Bob Prichard

Topic(s): Evangelism

While the Old Testament, particularly in the book of 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, rejected by the “builders” (religious authorities), but become 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 who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (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, serving as “lively [living] stones, are built up a spiritual house.” They are “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices.” Paul described the nature of the proper sacrifices Christians should offer in his letter to the Romans: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye 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. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5). “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (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. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad 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 prayer. At the same time, each member of this “holy priesthood” has a responsibility to seek out opportunities to minister, living a life of purity before the world.