The Functions and Titles, of the Priesthood

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The Functions and Titles, of the Priesthood
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1. Gods Representatives or Stewards (1)

• The Lord Christ described the twelve disciples as
  His stewards, which means His representatives.
  Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom
  the master puts in charge of his servants to give
  them their food allowance in due season Luke
  1241-42
• So here there is a distinction not all are
  stewards or the masters representatives, so
  not all are equal

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1. Gods Representatives or Stewards (2)

• St. Paul and all his assistants were also Gods
  representatives So then, men ought to regard
  us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted
  with secret things of God. Now it is required
  that those who have been given a trust must prove
  faithful 1 Cor. 41-2
• Here, the secret things of God are the
  sacraments of the Church

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1. Gods Representatives or Stewards (3)

• He also said when I preach the gospel, I have
  nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon
  me yes, woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
  For if I do this willingly, I have a reward but
  if against my will, I have been entrusted with a
  stewardship 1 Cor. 9 16 17

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1. Gods Representatives or Stewards (4)

• It was not only the twelve apostles who were
  designated as Gods entrusted ones, but also St.
  Paul , his assistants and the bishops or the
  overseers who came afterward. For a bishop must
  be blameless, as a steward of God Titus 17

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2. Christs Ambassadors (1)

• Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as
  though God were pleading through us we implore
  you on Christs behalf, be reconciled to God 2
  Cor. 518
• Pray and for me, that utterance may be given to
  me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known
  the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an
  ambassador in chains Ephesians 620

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3. Angels and messengers (1)

• This title is sometimes given to the men of the
  priesthood, and was clearly used about John the
  Baptist, who was a priest, and son of the priest
  Zechariah.
• I will send My messenger ahead of you, who will
  prepare your way Mark 12 , Mal. 31
• The title angel was also given to the shepherds
  (the bishops of the seven churches in the
  province of Asia, who were referred to as the
  angels of the churches

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3. Angels and messengers (2)

• We notice that the Lord Christ called the bishops
  of the churches of Asia, angels at the same time
  as He mentioned their failings. The priestly
  responsibility and authority do not change
  because of the failing of any priest as a human
  being.
• Infallibility belongs to God alone. Examining the
  peoples behavior and judging them is in Gods
  authority only for He can see into mens heart
  and mind

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3. Angels and messengers (3)

• If anyone should be overcome by an urge to
  criticize or judge one of the priestly fathers,
  then he should what the Bible says about the
  great prophet Elijah, who shut the heaven and
  opened it Elijah was a man with a nature like
  ours James 517
• The Divine Revelation used the term high priest
  for Joshua, despite his sin, saying to him See,
  I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will
  clothe you with rich robes. Zech. 34

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4. Pastors or Shepherds (1)

• The Lord Christ said to St. Peter Feed My
  lambstake care of my sheep John 21 15 -16
• St. Paul said to the bishops at Ephesus
  Therefore, take heed to yourselves and all the
  flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you
  overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
  purchased with His own blood Acts 2028

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4. Pastors or Shepherds (2)

• We find the same thing in the words of St. Peter
  to the bishops of the scattered churches, when he
  said Shepherd the flock of God which is among
  you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but
  willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly
  nor as being lords over those entrusted to you,
  but being examples to the flock and when the
  Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the
  crown of glory that does not fade away
  1Pet.52-4

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4. Pastors or Shepherds (3)

• On the distribution of responsibilities, St. Paul
  said that God gave some to be apostles, some to
  be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to
  be pastors and teachers, to prepare Gods people
  for works of service, so that the body of Christ
  may be built up Eph.411-12

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5. Fathers (1)

• Those who deny the priesthood say How can we
  call priests and bishops fathers, when our Lord
  Jesus Christ told His disciples do not call
  anyone on earth father, for you have one Father
  and He is in heaven Matt.239

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5. Fathers (2)

• Spiritual fatherhood has existed since the time
  of the Old Testament, when Abraham was said to be
  the father of us all (Rom.411), not only of
  those who were under the law, or who were his
  direct descendants, but also of all those who
  were to be of his faith.

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5. Fathers (3)

• St. Paul also said concerning Abrahams spiritual
  fatherhood He believed God, and it was credited
  to him as righteousness. Understand, then, that
  those who believe are children of Abraham.
  Gal.36-7

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5. Fathers (4)

• The words spoken by Elisha to Elijah, as the
  latter ascended into heaven, are another example
  My father, My father, the chariots and horsemen
  of Israel 2Kings 212
• Was Elisha wrong to have referred to Elijah as a
  father to him?
• Was David wrong to call Saul, his father See, my
  father, look at this piece of your robe in my
  hand 1 Sam.2411

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5. Fathers (5)

• Was also the righteous Job mistaken when he said
  I was a father to the needy? Job.2916
• The fatherhood of God was well acknowledged in
  the Old Testament, for it was God who had said
  My son, give Me your heart Prov.2326.
• Even before the Flood it was said the sons of
  God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful
  Gen.62

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5. Fathers (6)

• The New Testament also mentions spiritual
  fatherhood on many occasions. For instance, St.
  Paul called Timothy and Titus sons, when he said
  Timothy my true son in the faith 1 Tim.12 And,
  To Timothy, my dear son 2Tim.12 And To Titus,
  my true son in our common faith Titus 14

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5. Fathers (7)

• When St. Paul wrote to Philemon he said I
  appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my
  son while I was in chains Philemon 10
• St. Paul didnt only call these individuals his
  sons, he also referred to whole congregations as
  his children they were those to who he was a
  spiritual father

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5. Fathers (8)

• He said to the Galatians My dear children, for
  whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until
  Christ is formed in you Gal.419.
• He also writes to the Corinthians I am not
  writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my
  dear children. Even though you have ten thousand
  guardians in Christ, you do not have many
  fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father
  through the gospel 1Cor.414-17

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5. Fathers (9)

• St. John, like St. Paul, was also called a
  spiritual father. He writes to the believers My
  dear children, I write this to you so that you
  will not sin and I have no greater joy than to
  hear that my children are walking in the truth
  1John 21, 3John4
• St. Peter referred to Mark as his son when he
  said She who is in Babylon, chosen together
  with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my
  son Mark 1Pet.513

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5. Fathers (10)

• If the Lords instruction here about not to call
  anyone father were taken literally, it would
  result in the abolition of the physical
  fatherhood too, because that is an earthly
  fatherhood!!!
• The Lord Jesus Christ delivered this commandment,
  and in fact this whole chapter, in the context of
  abolishing the old religious leaderships, such as
  that of the Scribes and Pharisees.

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5. Fathers (11)

• So this was a clear assault on the fatherhood of
  the Scribes and the Pharisees, and had nothing to
  do with the spiritual fatherhood found in the New
  Testament.
• We understand the phrase do not call anyone
  father that it was intended only for the
  apostles and their successors, who were not to
  have fathers on earth, yet the rest of the people
  were to have spiritual fathers as we learned
  before.

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6. Teachers (1)

• Not all believers have the authority to teach but
  only those to whom it is given. That is why it
  says in Romans 127 If a mans gift isteaching,
  let him teach
• St. Paul said that in the church God has
  appointed first of all apostles, second prophets,
  third teachers.. 1Cor.1228

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6. Teachers (2)

• He also says It was He who gave some to be
  apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
  evangelists, and some to be pastors and
  teachers Eph.411
• This verse makes a connection between pastoral
  care and teaching. And since bishops are
  Shepherds of Gods flock, we find that one of the
  conditions of being a bishop is that he must be
  able to teach 1Tim.32

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6. Teachers (3)

• The Lord Christ commissioned His apostles to
  teach when He said to them Go into all the
  world and preach the good news to all creation
  Mark 1615 and, go and make disciples of all
  nations, baptizing them and teaching them to
  obey everything I have commanded you
  Matt.2819-20

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6. Teachers (4)

• There are some people, however, who want to learn
  directly from the Holy Spirit! They misunderstand
  the words of the Bible They will all be taught
  by God John 645
• If God had wanted us to learn directly from Him,
  then why would He have given to some to be
  teachers? Eph.411

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6. Teachers (5)

• We can understand the phrase They will all be
  taught by God better if we bear in mind another
  verse which is He who listens to you listens to
  Me he who rejects you rejects Me.. which the
  Lord addressed to His disciples. Luke 1016
• This means that the source of teaching is God,
  and it is His instruction which issues from the
  mouth of the priest.

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6. Teachers (6)

• There is another verse that requires some
  explanation, and it is the words of our Lord to
  His saintly disciples Nor are you to be called
  teacher, for you have one Teacher, the Christ.
  Matt.2310
• This phrase was said by the Lord only to His
  disciples, not to all the believers.

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7. Spiritual guides and leaders (1)

• Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God
  to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life
  and imitate their faith Heb.137
• Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.
  They keep watch over you as men who must give an
  account. Obey them so that their work will be a
  joy, not a burden, for that would be of no
  advantage to you Heb. 1317

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7. Spiritual guides and leaders (2)

• The elders who direct the affairs of the church
  well are worthy of double honor, especially those
  whose work is preaching and teaching 1Tim.517
• It is obvious that this work is not for everyone
  to perform. This kind of direction is direction
  in the Lord, in spiritual or church affairs,
  which is particularly concerned with relations
  between the people and the Lord.

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8. Priests (1)

• Clergymen of all levels are called priests, in
  exactly the same way as in the army all can be
  referred to as soldiers.
• The Lord Jesus Christ was referred to as a priest
  and also a high priest, by virtue of His being
  the head of all the priests in the New Testament.
• The priestly nature of Pauls work was also
  mentioned in Rom.1516

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8. Priests (2)

• The word priest occurs many times in the New
  Testament, yet in the translations of some of the
  versions of the Bible, we find the word elder
  replacing it.
• For instance The elders who direct the affairs
  of the church well are worthy of double honor..
  1Tim.517
• And I left you in Cretethat you might
  straighten out what was left unfinished and
  appoint elders in every town, as I directed you
  Titus 15

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8. Priests (3)

• St. Peter also referred to himself as an elder
  priest when he said To the elders among you,
  I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christs
  sufferingbe shepherds of Gods flock that is
  under your care, serving as overseers.. 1Peter
  51-2
• At the outset of his second and third letters,
  St. John wrote The elder, to the chosen lady..
  2John1 and The elder, to my dear friend Gaius..
  3John1