priesthood

The role assigned to Israel (Exodus 19#19:6) and transferred to the church (1 Peter 2#2:9, Revelation 1#1:6): mediating God's presence to the world. Priests stood between God and the people. They offered sacrifices, maintained the temple, and taught God's law.

The teaching function gets repeated emphasis in Scripture. Leviticus 10#10:11 assigns it. Deuteronomy 33#33:10 confirms it. 2 Chronicles 17#17:9 records Levites carrying it out across Judah. Malachi 2#2:7 calls the priest "the messenger of the Lord of hosts" whose lips should guard knowledge. When priests failed at this, Malachi condemned them for showing partiality (Malachi 2#2:9) and Ezekiel condemned them for feeding themselves rather than the flock (Ezekiel 34#34:2-4).

In the OT, priestly garments could transmit holiness to unprepared people (Ezekiel 44#44:19). The priests had to change clothes before entering common spaces. Jesus reversed this dynamic: his holiness flowed outward to cleanse rather than contaminate (Luke 8#8:44).

Peter transfers the priestly identity to the church: believers are "a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2#2:9), drawing on Isaiah 43#43:20-21 and Exodus 19#19:6. The purpose remains the same: declare the excellencies of the God who called you.

Key Passages

Exodus 19#19:6, Leviticus 10#10:11, Deuteronomy 33#33:10, 2 Chronicles 17#17:9, Malachi 2#2:7-9, 1 Peter 2#2:9, Revelation 1#1:6, Revelation 5#5:10

Vault Notes

• 2020-12-12 Priests Were to Teach the Law and Judge
• 2020-12-20 Priests Responsible to Teach the Law
• 2020-12-20 Priests Criticized for Partiality in Malachi and James
• 2021-02-03 Levites and Priests Taught the Law Throughout Judah
• 2020-12-12 Priestly Garments Transmit Holiness Contrast with Jesus
• 2020-12-23 Isaiah 43 Background to Chosen People in 1 Peter 2
• 2021-01-28 Notes on 1 Peter 2-9 - Habit, Identity, Action

References

• The temple and the church's mission — the priesthood as part of the temple/mission theme
• BILD Encyclicals — apostolic teaching and the priestly teaching tradition
• Biblical theology — the priestly role in OT redemptive history