The Sacrament of the Priesthood
The Sacrament of the Priesthood
The existence of the three ranks of the priesthood since the time of the Apostles.
What does the word “brethren” mean? Does it imply absolute equality without leadership?
The men of the priesthood are shepherds, ambassadors for Christ, angels of the churches,
and ministers of the New Covenant. They are also fathers, teachers, stewards, and guides.
In the previous issue, we explained how the priesthood is not for all people, but rather for a specific group whom the Lord chooses, sends, and for whom He determines the place and nature of the mission. No one takes this office upon himself, but only the one who is called by God, as Aaron was. This was the case in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The priesthood has been a mission, an anointing, and the laying on of hands. We now continue our discussion of this subject.
11. The Three Ranks of the Priesthood and Their Mention in Scripture
Scripture mentions the ranks of bishop, priest, and deacon.
Concerning the bishop, it is said:
“A bishop then must be blameless, as a steward of God” (Titus 1:7).
“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2).
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
Saint Paul begins his Epistle to the Philippians saying:
“Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1).
The rank of priests is mentioned in what is said about Paul and Barnabas:
“So when they had appointed elders for them in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord” (Acts 14:23).
This rank is translated in some versions as “elders,” as seen in (Titus 1:5), (James 5:14), and (1 Timothy 5:17, 19).
As for the rank of deacons, it is mentioned in (Philippians 1:1), (1 Timothy 3:8), and in the ordination of the seven deacons (Acts 6).
12. The Requirements for These Ranks
If this ministry were for all people, Scripture would not have laid down specific qualifications, such as: “able to teach,” “husband of one wife,” “having children in submission,” “having a good testimony from those outside,” and so forth.
Not everyone, therefore, is a bishop, priest, or deacon. Saint Paul, at the beginning of his Epistle to the Philippians, addresses it “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons” (Philippians 1:1), thus distinguishing bishops and deacons from the rest of the believers.
13. Some Say That All Are Brethren (That Is, Equal, with No Leadership)
Here we ask: does brotherhood mean absolute equality, or equality in a specific sense while allowing for different ranks?
Christ Himself called us brethren, and it is said of Him that He “is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrews 2:11). Does this mean that all people are equal to Christ? God forbid. For Christ Himself said: “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am” (John 13:13). They are His brethren because He shared in human nature, yet He remains Teacher and Lord. Brotherhood here does not imply absolute equality.
All believers are brethren, yet Scripture says:
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles… Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers?” (1 Corinthians 12:28–29).
If there are apostles, then there are those to whom they are sent. If there are teachers, then there are those who are taught. Thus, there are leaderships and authorities.
A similar passage appears in Ephesians 4:11:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
Since there are shepherds, there must be a flock—and the flock is not at the same level as the shepherds. Are students equal to teachers? Thus, leadership exists.
Scripture also says:
“Nevertheless, neither is man independent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11).
Does this brotherhood before God mean equality in responsibility? No. For the same chapter says:
“The head of woman is man” (1 Corinthians 11:3).
We are all brethren before God—children of Adam and Eve, children of the Church, children of God. We are equal in justification, renewal of nature, sonship, and membership in the Body of Christ. Yet as members, we differ in our roles and responsibilities, according to what God has allotted to each a measure of faith (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12).
Scripture says:
“Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
If there were no ranks, leaderships, and authorities in the Church, it would turn into chaos. This reminds us of what Scripture says:
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
Leadership in the Church is not domination like that of earthly kings, but rather authority for order and for carrying out the will of God, as will be explained later.
14. The Men of the Priesthood Are Stewards of the Lord
When Peter asked the Lord, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” the Lord replied:
“Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?” (Luke 12:41–42).
Here we see a steward who gives spiritual food to the servants of the Lord—a continuous food, since no generation can do without spiritual nourishment. Certainly, not all people are stewards; otherwise, over whom would they be appointed?
The Apostle says:
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1).
Here again we see the terms “stewards” and “the mysteries of God.”
Saint Paul also says concerning his preaching:
“For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me… for a stewardship has been entrusted to me” (1 Corinthians 9:16–17).
Are you, like Paul, entrusted with a stewardship?
Thus, all servants who have received a gift for ministry are described in Scripture:
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
Who else in the New Testament is called a steward? The bishop. For the Apostle says:
“A bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God” (Titus 1:7).
15. The Men of the Priesthood Are Servants of Christ, Servants of the New Covenant
Saint Paul says:
“Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1).
He also says that they have “the ministry of the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:8), and that God gave them “the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18).
He further says:
“Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant” (2 Corinthians 3:6).
16. The Men of the Priesthood Are Also Shepherds
Although Christ said of Himself that He is “the good shepherd” (John 10:11), He nevertheless called some to be shepherds. He said to Peter:
“Feed My lambs… Tend My sheep” (John 21:15–17).
The Apostle also says:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles… and some pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).
Saint Paul said to the bishops of Ephesus:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28).
Saint Peter said to his fellow elders:
“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly” (1 Peter 5:2).
17. The Men of the Priesthood Are Ambassadors for Christ
Saint Paul says:
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
He also says of himself:
“The gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains” (Ephesians 6:19–20).
18. The Men of the Priesthood Are Angels of the Churches
Thus Christ called the shepherds of the seven churches in Asia, saying that they are “the angels of the seven churches” (Revelation 1:20).
Specifically, He said:
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write… to the angel of the church in Smyrna… to the angel of the church in Pergamos…” (Revelation 2:1, 8, 12).
John the Baptist, the priest, the last priest of the Old Testament, was also called an angel (Mark 1:2).
19. The Priesthood Is Authority from God
From the beginning, Christ called His disciples and “gave them authority” (Matthew 10:1).
He then gave them the authority to bind and loose (Matthew 18:18), which He had given them earlier (Matthew 16:19), and the authority to forgive sins (John 20:23).
We all know the authority of the Apostle Peter in the case of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1–11), the authority of the Apostle Paul with Elymas the sorcerer (Acts 13:11), his authority in delivering the immoral man of Corinth to Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5), and his authority in restoring him (2 Corinthians 2:7–10). The people carried out Paul’s commands.
Saint Paul also clarified priestly authority in issuing anathemas upon men or even angels (Galatians 1:8–9).
He said to the Corinthians:
“According to the authority which the Lord has given us for edification and not for your destruction” (2 Corinthians 10:8; 13:10).
And he said to them:
“I will not spare” (2 Corinthians 13:2).
