The Priesthood in England - Conclusion

Biblical Anthropology ^ | January 23, 2015 | Alice C. Linsley

[Jandy on Genesis]

Anglicans have held to the Roman account of the priesthood as an order originating with Jesus' Apostles. This idea was beautifully developed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict), who wrote:

Of great importance for our question is the fact that Jesus gave His power to the Apostles in such a way that He made their ministry, as it were, a continuation of His own mission. "He who receives you receives me". He Himself says to the Twelve (Mt 10:40; cf. Lk 10:16; Jn 13:10). Many other texts in which Jesus gives His power to the disciples could here be cited: Mt 9:8: 10:1: 21:23; Mk 0:7: 13:34; Lk 4:6: 9:1; 10:19. The continuity between the mission of Jesus and that of the apostles is once again illustrated with great clarity in the Fourth Gospel: "As the Father has sent me. even so I send you" (20:21: cf. 13:20; 17:18).

[Jandy on Genesis]

Understanding the continuity between the priesthood of old and the (all-male) Christian priesthood requires anthropological perspective.

[kalee]

For later

[JesusIsLord]

"Priesthood" is an interesting subject. The RC argument is based on tradition and their interpretation of scripture. It's all about the interpretation. The following are a few scriptures on priesthood. Read these passages in context. Ask yourself, who are the "us" and "you" being spoken to in these scriptures? Are they only "ordained priests" - or are they all Christians hearing letters written to the churches? You decide.

"And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father." Rev 1:5-6

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

[Jandy on Genesis]

Protestants don’t have sacraments and they don’t have priests. Both of these are Biblical, however. I won’t make any friends with this piece among Protestants, Roman Catholics or Jews. The historical and anthropological data raises doubt about the RC claim of priestly succession from Peter. Peter wasn’t a priest. The Jews will hate this because the research reveals that their narrative about priestly succession, beginning with Moses, is not Biblical or historical. The priesthood is older than Moses and Aaron. That is why Jesus’ priesthood is superior. He is a “priest in the order of Melchizedek.”