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To: annalex

“Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood . (1 Timothy 4:14) “

“14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.” - that’s how the Bibles I read, reads. I have consistently defended Biblical eldership. Not priesthood! Except for our eternal High Priest, Jesus himself.

OK, there is no priesthood today. Jesus is our priest. He offers Himself. There is no further offering.

“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” Hebrews 2:17

The “priesthood” today is all of God’s people, as addressed in 1 Peter (hey, that’s Peter talking!)

“(1) Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:”

(please note he is addressing all the church in all these areas, not some special priests offering some sort of sacrifice on behalf of the people, but all us pilgrims)

“you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ...”

He is talking to the early church, all of us, not a special group of men. We are all priests in that sense, but not in the RC sense, where Jesus is constantly being re-sacrificed.


624 posted on 04/10/2013 11:15:40 AM PDT by Persevero (Homeschooling for Excellence since 1992)
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To: Persevero
Sorry for responding out of order.

eldership

Your translations are biased. The original says "του πρεσβυτεριου", "of the presbytery". The word "priest" in English derives from "presbyter". That your Protestant translations mangle the meaning is no proof of what the original means. Translate as you will, there is a status conferred by imposition of hands, i.e. sacramentally ans there is plenty of scriptural evidence (I cited some, there is more) that these "presbyters" were functioning as priests.

OK, there is no priesthood today

Cuz you say so? I count many priests as my friends.

Hebrews 2:17

Of course, but that does not mean a mortal priest cannot serve in the person of Christ the High Priest. You yourself cite 1 Peter 2:5 which positively calls a lot of people priests.

all of us, not a special group of men

In 1 Peter 2:5, indeed St. Peter describes the priesthood of all Catholic men, who have priestly duties toward their households, but as noted from scripture above, that does not mean there is not sacramental ministerial priesthood as well.

640 posted on 04/10/2013 5:31:19 PM PDT by annalex (fear them not)
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