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BACKGROUND
DEFINITION OF TERMS
MELCHIZEDEK
MELCHIZEDEK
PRIEST
PRIESTS AND LEVITES
I. The biblical data
II. Wellhausen’s reconstruction
III. Some reactions to Wellhausen’s reconstruction
IV. Priesthood in the New Testament
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
DEFINITIONS - For serious students
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Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE PRIESTHOOD TODAY continued |
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| THE DECLINE OF THE CHURCH |
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 The church grew, and naturally, leadership numbers grew also.
With the end of the first apostolic age, marked by the death of the apostle John, round 100AD, the principles on which the church operated started to move away from a spiritual orientation to an increasingly worldlier one.
By the end of the second century, two leaders of the church, Hippolytus and Tertullian, revived the notion of a set apart, special priesthood, from ordinary believers.
By the end of the 4th century, following the Roman Emperor Constantine’s Romanization and institutionalism of the church, the priestly office was again formalized and the laity reduced to second class status in ministry.
This resulted in the Dark Ages! Dark because people were discouraged, effectively prevented, from relating directly with the ‘light’, that is Jesus. The people were taught to follow the priests, rather than Jesus.
John 8:12
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| EMERGENCE FROM THE DARK AGES |
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 We tend to think of the Reformation as being instigated entirely by Luther. However the end of the Dark ages and the beginning of the reformation of the church effectively began with the Bible being translated into the modern languages of the time and being able to become more widely available through the invention of the printing press.
The Biblical concept of the universal priesthood of all believers was revived by radical groups such as the Lollards, adopted by Luther and became one of the central tenets of Protestantism.
The Reformed Churches struggled with the practical application of this principle. Some, such as the Brethrens avoided formal leadership and titles diligently, while others eventually appointed ‘ministers’ (literally meaning ‘servant’), in the case of the Baptists, to be subject to the laity.
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| THE REALITY TODAY |
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 With a few exceptions, most churches today have titled, paid clergy, to run the church. This is accepted, indeed encouraged by the congregations, for it absolves them of the responsibility for doing the work. Sadly too, many prefer to have an intermediary between themselves and God, rather than seeking Him for themselves.
From what I have both read and observed, there is a pattern of supposed ‘maturity’ that happens within a church grouping.
Since the time of the Reformation, God has gradually been re-establishing His truths, slowly lost from the end of the first century, after the end of the first apostolic age, back into the church.
This re-establishment has been a slow process, involving many groups of people, because of the pattern we are about to see.
God is always seeking people who are dissatisfied with the present level of revelation and want more of Him. For we will never know all there is to know about God until the return of Jesus, God in the flesh.
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 Through the Holy Spirit, God gives a new revelation to a group of such people. These people are on fire! Sold out to God! Enthusiastic to spread the revelation they have been given! Highly evangelistic! Meet in informal groups! Have leaders but not superiors! The leadership is sold out to the people and is voluntary.
The movement grows. People are attracted to the people, mostly the leaders, rather than the revelation. The leaders get lifted up. We need to get organized. There are so many of us now that we need a church building to meet in. Our leadership must be full time to look after us. Religion kicks in. We need to give leaders titles. We must group together in a formal denomination to preserve what God has given us.
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 Now the leaders start to think that the next generation of leaders needs to be trained in the ways of the group, in their God given revelation, so that it can be perpetuated. A Bible School is set up, at first informally, then as a Theological College offering degrees. Now, of course, all future leaders must have our degree. We develop a pay scale - and superannuation. The leadership role soon becomes a job rather than a calling. We see those in leadership as being different, (and superior) to the congregants. People come to rely upon us. We become a new informal priesthood, being intermediaries between our people and God. And of course, we have it all. We are successful, for we have the latest and final revelation - not like that other old church down the road!
Gradually, the former radical, revelatory grouping develops their own way of doing things, becoming mature and a part of the establishment. Listening to God goes out the window - for this is the way we do things around here. Religion replaces revelation. Form overcomes substance. Enthusiasm is stifled by tradition.
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 God cries!
He searches out another group of people who are hungry for Him.
Sadly, we never learn, and the process repeats itself. And so today, we have great numbers of denominations with a fantastic godly heritage but who, in reality, are spiritually dying or dead.
You may think I am exaggerating but I do ask you to prayerfully consider what is written above to see where you are in your walk with Jesus. Can God get through to you or have you placed boundaries of precious theology and tradition in the way?
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| WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY? |
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 Interestingly the concept of the priesthood of all believers, of kingdom and priests, is a concept found from nearly the beginning of the Old Testament to the end of the New.
Exodus 19:5-6
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 Indirectly confirmed, for example, in Psalms;
Psalm 50:23
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 This is found throughout the New Testament, as we shall see, and concludes in Revelation in the same way it started in Exodus.
Revelation 1:5-6
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 The institution of communion has been used as justification for a ministerial priesthood because Jesus and Paul gave it, but this is truly clutching at straws. For the truth is that we are all priests and equally able to participate in the giving and receiving of communion.
In fact, the concept of a new, separate priesthood is simply missing from both the teachings of Jesus and those of the other New Testament writers.
If there was to be another priesthood, it would have had to have been established by Jesus. The Roman Catholic Church would have said initially that Peter was the priestly rock upon whom the church was founded but, without getting into detail, it is obvious that ‘the rock’ is Jesus himself.
1 Corinthians 10:3-4
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 Therefore there can only be the one priesthood today.
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| <i>NEXT WEEK:</i> A REVELATON OF....... THE 3 PRIESTHOODS concludes |
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 ... with a look at the principle of the priesthood of all believers.
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| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
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 It is interesting how behavior patterns of humans, even the most godly ones, follow patterns through the generations.
Pride assails us all! We seemingly come to know how to do things better than God! But we don't, of course, do we! Revivals die because men learn God's pattern, then do things without relying upon the Lord any more!
Lord, Help us!
BIBLE ARCHAEOLOGY
Ancient Caesarea Harbor
In 10 B.C. Augustus Caesar decided to rebuild a small coastal station called Strato's Tower into a new city, which would be renamed Caesarea Maritima, in honor of Augustus. He allotted the task to the architectural mastermind Herod the Great. Herod built a harbor at Caesarea that would become one of the wonders of the ancient world. He built a massive breakwater which formed a horseshoe of protection around the whole bay. On the coast he built some of the most impressive works of architecture in the Roman world. He built an amphitheater, a citadel, a palace, a hippodrome, city walls and gates, paved squares with huge statues, and other marvels of Graeco-Roman civilization. It was here in Caesarea where the prefect Pontius Pilate lived, the foundation of his house was on a rock in the middle of the harbor and is still there to this day.
Caesarea was also a spectacular location to build a city, because it was right in the center of the Plain of Sharon, one of the most fertile areas in the world. Centuries of rains from the clouds formed by the nearby Mediterranean Sea showered the Judean hills, and brought plenty of rich soil to irrigate the plain where Caesarea was situated. The climate was always fairly warm and never out of control. Oranges, figs, lemons, grapes, almonds, and even olives in the hills, grew in abundance. Anyone coming into Judea from anywhere in the Graeco-Roman world would marvel at this awesome Jewish city with all the spectacles of Hellenistic art, architecture and culture. It became the administrative center of the Roman procurators of the province of Judea, and also became the headquarters of the Roman legions. Caesarea was indeed a thriving place during the first century A.D., during the time of Jesus and the apostle Paul.
Acts 21:8 - And the next [day] we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was [one] of the seven; and abode with him.
Acts 25:6 - And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought.
Acts 8:40 - But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
The ancient harbor at Caesarea is important in the study of Biblical archaeology, and many artifacts are still being discovered. There have been extensive excavations in this ancient city which are still going on today, much of which are underwater explorations.
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So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
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A DAVID'S DOODLING
880. Believers believe, while disciples live what they believe.
David Tait
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And then;