Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood (του πρεσβυτεριου). (1 Timothy 4:14)
Sacraments confer grace. Ordination is a sacrament.
There is no head man.
the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops (επισκοπους ), to rule (ποιμαινειν) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28)
The Church therefore has people who rule over it.
I do not see celibacy as elevated over married sexuality
I would that all men were even as myself [i.e. celibate] [...] He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. [33] But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. [34] And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (1 Cor. 7:7, 32-34)
Etc. You read, and you shape what you read into what you want to read. That is the Protestant method. If you read the Holy Scripture with open heart and open mind, you will become, like me, Catholic and save your soul.
“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.
“e Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops to rule;) the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood (Acts 20:28)
The Church therefore has people who rule over it. “
Yes, I know. They are elders, also properly translated as bishops. They rule together. There is no head man. There is no supreme bishop.
“I would that all men were even as myself [i.e. celibate] [...] He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. [33] But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. [34] And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband. (1 Cor. 7:7, 32-34) “
Yes, this is Scripture, and it is true. However, there is more Scripture than this. Paul does say he wishes all were as he is (and he was married) -
“Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?” (1st Cor 9:5)
and the marriage bed is “honorable”
“Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4)
Paul says he has no commandment from the Lord about it
“Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.” (1st Cor 7:25)
So we take all of Scripture together as a whole, not pitting it against itself; and we learn that it is right and appropriate for some to remain single, and for others to marry; one is not more godly than the other. We might note that Mary, who is venerated extremely among R. Catholics, was a married woman!