The Priesthood and Scripture
The apostles were warned not to covet special titles and honor from men:
Matthew 23:11 11 He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself
shall be exalted.
QUESTION: Is it inappropriate to call a priest or the Pope 'father'?
ANSWER: Jesus condemned the coveting of special titles of honor (rabbi/teacher, father
and master) in Matthew 23:2_13, not the appropriate use of titles of honor. While some
single out 'father' for special attention, these same individuals accept the title of
teacher or have schools with a 'headmaster'. All three titles are treated equally, and
are used throughout Scripture:
John 3:10 Jesus calls Nicodemas a 'master of Israel'
Ephesians 6:9 Paul calls those in charge of servants 'masters' (and many other verses)
1 Corinthians 3:1 Paul urges Christians not to 'contend with their teachers'
1 Timothy 2:2 Paul calls Bishops 'a teacher'
4 Kings 2:12 _ Elisha calls Elijah 'father'
Acts 7:2 Stephen refers to Abraham as 'father'
Acts 9:10 Paul refers to Isaac as 'father'
1 Corinthians 4:14 Paul refers to himself as a spiritual 'father': I write not these
things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.
15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers.
Certain offices were outlined in Scripture:
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ; to all the saints in
Christ Jesus, who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
Acts 14:22 And when they had ordained to them priests* in every church, and had prayed
with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, in whom they believed.
* WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY DEFINITION: Priest n. [OE. prest, preost, AS. preóóst, fr. L.
presbyter, Gr. elder, older, n., an elder, compar. of an old man, the first syllable of
which is probably akin to L. pristinus. Cf. Pristine, Presbyter.] 1. (Christian Church)
A presbyter elder; a minister; specifically: (a) (R. C. Ch. & Gr. Ch.) One who is
authorized to consecrate the host and to say Mass; but especially, one of the lowest
order possessing this power. Murdock.
QUESTION: If the New Testament Church regarded 'elders' as 'priests', why didn't they
call them that plainly?
ANSWER: Matthew 5:17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets.
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
The Old Testament priesthood was in place, up until AD 70, and the establishment of a
'new' (non_Aaronic) priesthood would have alienated potential Jewish converts.
1 Corinthians 9:21 To them that are under the law, as if I were under the law,
(whereas myself was not under the law,) that I might gain them that were under the law.
To them that were without the law, as if I were without the law, (whereas I was not
without the law of God, but was in the law of Christ,) that I might gain them that were
without the law.
22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all
men, that I might save all.
Avoiding the term 'priest' removed a obstacle which Jews would have objected to.
Because of the nature of their work, 'elders' began to be called 'priests' by the
Church which became more and more 'gentile'. The dictionary word derivative clearly
shows this.
A celibate priesthood/clergy is presented as an ideal for those called to serve:
Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and
there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made
themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.
1 Corinthians 7:7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his
proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.
8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so
continue, even as I.
7:20 20 Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
7:34 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.
QUESTION: Paul's writings in Timothy and Titus mention a married clergy...isn't the
Roman Catholic Church being unscriptural in requiring a celibate priesthood?
ANSWER: There is not Scriptural mandate for or against celibacy. From the time of Pope
Gregory VII (Hildebrand), the Church has elected to make celibacy a requirement for the
priesthood based on practical considerations along with the advantages annunciated by
St. Paul. Married men may be Deacons and hold other offices (Acolyte).
The priesthood has been reserved for men only based on Scriptural precedent:
Numbers 18:7 But thou and thy sons look ye to the priesthood: and all things that
pertain to the service of the altar, and that are within the veil, shall be executed by
the priests.
10 Thou shalt eat it in the sanctuary: the males only shall eat thereof, because it is
a consecrated thing to thee.
1 Timothy 2:12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to use authority over the man:
but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed; then Eve.
QUESTION: Isn't the prohibition for woman to participate a priests a reflection of the
cultural chauvinism of the culture in which the Bible was written?
ANSWER: The Bible records women in positions of influence (Deborah the prophetess in
Judges 4:4 and wicked queens like Jezabel in 4 Kings) and many holy women in the New
Testament whose faith and devotion was stronger at times than that of most apostles
(Mary Magdalene). But, they never were given any official position by Jesus or His
apostles.
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