“Grig, with all due respect, the text is clear.”
Yes, and nowhere does it say in any wording that one becomes endowed with any kind of priesthood simply by being a believer. It also clearly lays out that one must be called and ordained as Aaron was and give several examples of church leaders (including Christ) ordaining individuals.
Be honest with yourself and look at what I posted objectively. The whole idea never even existed before the Reformation when it became necessary to establish some kind of claim to authority separate from the authority claimed by the Catholics.
I have no fear of standing before God to be judged, I hope to see you there too, and I hope that by that time you will have ceased to put your faith in the interpretations of men and accept the true prophets that God has called in these latter days.
The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
So far, you have quoted extensively (though very selectively... single sentences on the most part) from early believers, and have made repeated reference to your ‘apostles’, councils, and approval of ‘prophetic’ statements by men.
I have referenced Christ and the word of God.
Which of us has put their trust in men, and which in Jesus Christ?
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I have given you scripture in detail, which you seem unable to understand.
If a writer (Peter in this case) is addressing an audience of all who have been given “new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1Pe 1:3), and then continues to address this audience continually as ‘you’, then he is continually talking about all of them.
As you come to him, the living Stone- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him- you also , like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pe 2:4-5)
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1Pe 4:9)
It does not say a 'priesthood of all believers', true. It talks of a priesthood made up of all who have been given "new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". I would call those believers, but if you choose to be silly then we can use the full text.
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(Grig wrote) It also clearly lays out that one must be called and ordained as Aaron was and give several examples of church leaders (including Christ) ordaining individuals.
Each believer in Christ is called by God, (”called (by God) to belong to Jesus Christ” (Ro 1:6)), yet you seem to only recognize human ordination.
As to your use of Hebrews 5 to imply ‘ordination’ of priests, perhaps we should post a more complete passage?
Every HIGH PRIEST is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices. (He 5:1)
No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So CHRIST also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a HIGH PRIEST. But God said to him,
“You are my son, today I have become your Father.” (He 5:4-5)
This is clearly talking about ordination by God of a HIGH PRIEST, not a priest. He then goes on to talk about how Christ fulfills this role. There is no mention of common priests in this at all... to quote you, perhaps I should say that you "read into them what was not there", or "jumped to a conclusion". This type of cheap debating trick to try to discredit others is not how one arrives at truth. Kindly stop trying to sow doubt and confusion by such ungodly methods. Lies and confusion are the tools of Satan, not God.
You make a great show of questioning others' interpretation... yet your own interpretation would ask us to ignore simple rules of grammar, logic, and plain text. Once again I ask you... are you deliberately trying to sow confusion, or are you truly so blind that you cannot see what has been freely given?
Understanding scripture requires the Holy Spirit. If you have hardened your heart so much that you can no longer hear His voice, then there is little use continuing this discussion.
If you hear His voice, yet pretend to not do so, then you had best listen while there is still light.