Christian Ministers Are Priests, And May Be Properly So Called.
Paul refers to himself as a "priest' in Romans 15:16,
"to be a minister (λειτουργὸν). of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest (ἱερουργοῦντα τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ,) the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit." (NASB)
λειτουργὸν (leitourgos) Strongs #G3011, .. a functionary in the temple or gospel.
λειτουργός,n \{li-toorg-os'}
a minister, servant ... of the temple ... of one busied with holy things ... of a priest
"The word here derives from the context [of] the priestly associations which often attach to it in the LXX" (Denney)
Joseph Henry Thayer: "one busied with holy things of a priest."
ἱερουργοῦντα (hierourgeō) Strong's #G2418, from a compound of G2411 and the base of G2041; to be a temple-worker, i.e. officiate as a priest (figuratively): - minister.
Joseph Henry Thayer: "to perform sacred rites, ...; used especially of person sacrificing ... ; trans. to minister in the manner of a priest, minister in priestly service ... of the preaching of the gospel."
A. T. Robertson: "Present active participle of ierourgew, late verb from ierourgo (iero, ergw), in LXX, Philo, and Josephus, only here in N.T. It means to work in sacred things, to minister as a priest."
The work of the New Testament ministry as being that of a priest is seen in Paul's admonition that he stood before the Church in Christ's stead (2 Corinthians 5:20, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [KJV]).
As the priest of the Old Covenant officiated at the altar in behalf of the people, so too does the ordained ministry of the New Covenant officiate at the Christian altar (i.e. the Lord's Table) in behalf of God's people. The Lord's Table is the only Christian altar mentioned in the New Testament: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." (Hebrews 13:10). The Apostle Paul, who, as we have already pointed out, saw himself as a priest of the Gospel of Christ, references the eucharistic bread and cup as precincts of the New Testament ordained ministry only, when he spoke of "the cup of blessing which we bless" and "the bread which we break,"(1 Corinthians 10:16). The Apostle's reference to "we" has the other apostles in view. It is just as inappropriate for the laity to break the bread and/or bless the cup of the holy eucharist as it is for them to anoint with the anointing oil. (See James 5:14, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:). Only the elders (the ordained priests) of the congregation have the biblical authority to anoint with oil. Many of our churches are so out of order that anyone anoints with the anointing oil and the saints are allowed to bless their own eucharistic elements, and eat and drink individually, whenever and wherever. This is a sad circumstance, and is, in fact, profane.
Further, as priests of the New Covenant, Christ gave His ministers the authority to remit the sins of the people, or to retain their sins upon them. (See John 20:23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.)
Moreover, the Christian priesthood is an official office that one cannot take upon one's self - one must be made so by those already functioning as such. This is demonstrated by the functioning relationship of the New Testament ministers such as we see between Peter, James, Barnabas, Paul, Timothy and Titus. See the following passages:
Apostolically Speaking,
☩Jerry L Hayes
The work of the New Testament ministry as being that of a priest is seen in Paul's admonition that he stood before the Church in Christ's stead (2 Corinthians 5:20, Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [KJV]).
As the priest of the Old Covenant officiated at the altar in behalf of the people, so too does the ordained ministry of the New Covenant officiate at the Christian altar (i.e. the Lord's Table) in behalf of God's people. The Lord's Table is the only Christian altar mentioned in the New Testament: "We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle." (Hebrews 13:10). The Apostle Paul, who, as we have already pointed out, saw himself as a priest of the Gospel of Christ, references the eucharistic bread and cup as precincts of the New Testament ordained ministry only, when he spoke of "the cup of blessing which we bless" and "the bread which we break,"(1 Corinthians 10:16). The Apostle's reference to "we" has the other apostles in view. It is just as inappropriate for the laity to break the bread and/or bless the cup of the holy eucharist as it is for them to anoint with the anointing oil. (See James 5:14, Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:). Only the elders (the ordained priests) of the congregation have the biblical authority to anoint with oil. Many of our churches are so out of order that anyone anoints with the anointing oil and the saints are allowed to bless their own eucharistic elements, and eat and drink individually, whenever and wherever. This is a sad circumstance, and is, in fact, profane.
Further, as priests of the New Covenant, Christ gave His ministers the authority to remit the sins of the people, or to retain their sins upon them. (See John 20:23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.)
Moreover, the Christian priesthood is an official office that one cannot take upon one's self - one must be made so by those already functioning as such. This is demonstrated by the functioning relationship of the New Testament ministers such as we see between Peter, James, Barnabas, Paul, Timothy and Titus. See the following passages:
1 Timothy 4:14, Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
2 Timothy 1:6, Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
Titus 1:4-7, To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. 5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
Apostolically Speaking,
☩Jerry L Hayes
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