daniel1212:
No, it is allegorical language that Christ sees his work among the gentiles as a “priestly role” in that his work with the gentiles is to offer them as a sacrifice to God, so it has allegorical notion to it yes, but it points to reality of priesthood. The Protestant interpretation here means figuratively, Paul did not see his ministry at all as a Priest. He did, and he certainly had a Liturgical/Sacerdotal understanding of the Eucharist as indicated in his 1st Epistle to the Corinthians.
His priesthood is not his own, but is ultimately linked to the priesthood of Christ, the one eternal Priest, Saint Paul, as all ordained clergy with sacerdotal functions only make present through their ministerial priesthood the one eternal Priest, Christ. It is Christ priesthood acting in and through his Church, in particular ways with the ordained Priests and Bishops [administering sacraments of Eucharist, Annointing of the Sick, reconciliation, etc] and in a certain way with the entire Church, the universal priesthood as stated in the 1 Letter of Peter.
Edit:
I meant “No is allegorical language that Saint Paul sees his work among the Gentiles....
That is not all necessary. Paul is doing what all believers do, offering their bodies, and praise and works to God to His glory. Soli Deo gloria = Glory to God alone. Nothing uniquely sacrificial to a pastor here.
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. (Php 4:18)
Thus all believers are called an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1Pe 2:5)
The Holy Spirit is both careful to state that, but not once title pastors distinctively priests, leaving Caths to do what He failed to for them.
And why not, after all men like St. Alphonsus Ligouri, whose writings were declared free from anything meriting censure by Pope Gregory XVL (1839) in the bull of his canonization, asserted,
The supreme power of the priestly office is the power of consecrating...Indeed, it is equal to that of Jesus Christ... Indeed it is greater even than the power of the Virgin Mary [who is said to be all but almighty herself]...The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows his head in humble obedience to the priest's command. - http://www.archive.org/stream/alphonsusworks12liguuoft/alphonsusworks12liguuoft_djvu.txt Vol. 12, p. 2