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?
----------------
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.
------------
(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.
“The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”
And because I fear God, I have no reason to fear his judgment.
“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’ve quoted scripture, the word of God, both ancient and modern, all from God’s prophets and apostles.
“I have referenced Christ and the word of God.”
and then read things into it not in the text.
“Which of us has put their trust in men, and which in Jesus Christ?”
I’m sure we won’t agree on that now, but we will some day.
“It does not say a ‘priesthood of all believers’, true.”
It also doesn’t say that one has priesthood simply because they are a believer. You interpret those verses to mean that, but it is not stated and it is not the only way to interpret those verses.
“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”.”
1 Pe 2:4-5 talks of the church (spiritual house), it being composed of believers (living stones) and it (the church) also having the priesthood of God. It is logically flawed to go from that to concluding that believers all have the priesthood just because they believe.
“Each believer in Christ is called by God”
I’m talking about being specifically called to the priesthood by revelation, as was Aaron some time AFTER he was a believer in God.
“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.”
“And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.” (Ex 28:41)
Ex 40:15 And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office:
So, in other words, a high priest is ordained the same as a priest (ie: Aaron). Hardly surprising, why should one priesthood holder need ordination and others not? I also posted NT verses about elders and others being ordained. There is no exemption from ordination specified for any office, even apostles were ordained.
“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.”
No attempts to lie, deceive or confuse here. Just a poor mortal trying to express himself as clearly and honestly as he can in spite of his imperfection.
“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?”
I am deliberately trying to impart the truth of God to you. I can see you POV, but in all honesty I don’t accept it as correct.
“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.”
I have sought the confirming witness of the Holy Ghost in these things by praying to God in the name of Christ for it. God has answered me, I hear his voice and follow as best I can.