Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, priests hold a significant role as mediators between God and His people. The office of the priesthood is divinely instituted and sanctified by God, emphasizing the sacred nature of their duties and responsibilities. The concept of sanctification, which means to be set apart for a holy purpose, is central to understanding the priestly office.Old Testament Foundations The establishment of the priesthood is primarily detailed in the Old Testament, particularly within the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. The tribe of Levi was chosen by God to serve in the tabernacle, with Aaron and his descendants appointed as priests. Exodus 28:1 states, "And bring near to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him from among the Israelites to serve Me as priests—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron." The sanctification of the priests involved specific rituals and offerings, as outlined in Leviticus 8. The consecration ceremony included washing with water, clothing in sacred garments, anointing with oil, and the offering of sacrifices. Leviticus 8:30 records, "So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood from the altar and sprinkled them on Aaron and his garments, as well as on his sons and their garments. In this way, he consecrated Aaron and his garments, and his sons and their garments." Duties and Responsibilities Priests were tasked with performing sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and teaching the Law to the people. They acted as intermediaries, offering sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people and to maintain the covenant relationship between God and Israel. Leviticus 10:10-11 highlights their teaching role: "You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean, so that you may teach the Israelites all the statutes that the LORD has given them through Moses." The High Priest The high priest held a unique position within the priesthood, serving as the chief religious leader. He alone could enter the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to make atonement for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16). This role prefigured the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice. New Testament Fulfillment In the New Testament, the priesthood is fulfilled and transformed through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14 declares, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess." Christ's priesthood is superior, as He is both the priest and the sacrifice, offering Himself once for all (Hebrews 7:27). Believers are also described as a "royal priesthood" in 1 Peter 2:9 , indicating that through Christ, all Christians are sanctified and called to serve God. This priesthood of all believers emphasizes direct access to God and the responsibility to live holy lives, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Conclusion The office of the priesthood, sanctified by God, is a profound testament to His desire for holiness and order in worship. From the Levitical priests to the ultimate High Priest, Jesus Christ, the theme of sanctification underscores the sacred duty of those called to serve in His presence. Torrey's Topical Textbook Exodus 29:44And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library April the Sixteenth Priests of the Lord Perfection in Faith Entire Sanctification in Patriarchal Times. Article xxiii (xi): of the Marriage of Priests. The Priesthood of Christ Strange Fire Epistle Li. To Antonianus About Cornelius and Novatian. A New Order of Priests and Levites The Rent Veil Christians, Temples of the Living God Resources What is the cause of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church? | GotQuestions.orgWho were the priests of On? Was Joseph wrong to marry the daughter of a pagan priest (Genesis 41)? | GotQuestions.org Who are the Chemarim / Chemarims in Zephaniah 1:4? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Priests were Sometimes: Corrupters of the Law Priests were Sometimes: Drunken Priests were Sometimes: Greedy Priests were Sometimes: Profane and Wicked Priests were Sometimes: Slow to Sanctify, Themselves for God's Services Priests were Sometimes: Unjust Priests were to Live by the Altar As They had No Inheritance Priests: After the Exodus Young Men (First-Born) Deputed to Act As Priests: All Except Seed of Aaron Excluded from Being Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Anointing With Oil Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Clothing With the Holy Garments Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Lasted Seven Days Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Offering Sacrifices Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Partaking of the Sacrifices of Consecration Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Placing in Their Hands the Wave-Offering Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Purification by Blood of the Consecration Ram Priests: Ceremonies at Consecration of Washing in Water Priests: Divided by David Into Twenty-Four Courses Priests: During Patriarchal Age Heads of Families Acted As Priests: Each Course of, had Its President or Chief Priests: First Notice of Persons Acting As Priests: Garments of Laid up in Holy Chambers Priests: Garments of Often Provided by the People Priests: Garments of Purified by Sprinkling of Blood Priests: Garments of The Bonnet Priests: Garments of The Coat or Tunic Priests: Garments of The Girdle Priests: Garments of The Linen Breeches Priests: Garments of Worn Always While Engaged in the Service of the Tabernacle Priests: Garments of Worn at Consecration Priests: Garments of Worn by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement Priests: Generally Participated in Punishment of the People Priests: Made of the Lowest of the People by Jeroboam and Others Priests: Might Purchase and Hold Other Lands in Possession Priests: No Blemished or Defective Persons Could be Consecrated Priests: On Special Occasions Persons not of Aaron's Family Acted As Priests: Punishment for Invading the office of Priests: Required to Prove Their Genealogy Before They Exercised The Priests: Required to Remain in the Tabernacle Seven Days After Priests: Required to Wash in the Brazen Laver Before They Performed Priests: Revenues of a Fixed Portion of the Spoil Taken in War Priests: Revenues of all Devoted Things Priests: Revenues of all Restitutions when the Owner Could not be Found Priests: Revenues of First of the Wool of Sheep Priests: Revenues of First-Born of Animals or Their Substitutes Priests: Revenues of First-Fruits Priests: Revenues of Part of all Sacrifices Priests: Revenues of Redemption-Money of the First-Born Priests: Revenues of Show-Bread After Its Removal Priests: Revenues of Tenth of the Tithes Paid to the Levites Priests: Sanctified by God for the office Priests: Services of Blessing the People Priests: Services of Blowing the Trumpets on Various Occasions Priests: Services of Burning Incense Priests: Services of Carrying the Ark Priests: Services of Covering the Sacred Things of the Sanctuary Before Removal Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Jealousy Priests: Services of Deciding in Cases of Leprosy Priests: Services of Encouraging the People when They Went to War Priests: Services of Judging in Cases of Controversy Priests: Services of Keeping the Charge of the Tabernacle Priests: Services of Keeping the Sacred Fire Always Burning on the Altar Priests: Services of Lighting and Trimming the Lamps of the Sanctuary Priests: Services of Offering First Fruits Priests: Services of Offering Sacrifices Priests: Services of Placing and Removing Show-Bread Priests: Services of Purifying the Unclean Priests: Services of Teaching the Law Priests: Services of Valuing Things Devoted Priests: Services of, Divided by Lot Priests: Services of, Ineffectual for Removing Sin Priests: Special Laws Respecting: All Bought and Home-Born Servants to Eat of Their Portion Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Children of, Married to Strangers, not to Eat of Their Priests: Special Laws Respecting: No Sojourner or Hired Servant to Eat of Their Portion Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Defile Themselves by Eating What Died or Was Torn Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Defile Themselves for the Dead Except the Nearest of Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Drink Wine While Attending in the Tabernacle Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Not to Marry Divorced or Improper Persons Priests: Special Laws Respecting: Restitution to be Made To, by Persons Ignorantly Eating of Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Eat of the Holy Things Priests: Special Laws Respecting: While Unclean Could not Perform Any Service Priests: The Four Courses Which Returned from Babylon Subdivided Into Priests: The Sons of Aaron Appointed As, by Perpetual Statute Priests: Thirteen of the Levitical Cities Given To, for Residence Related Terms Meal-offering (120 Occurrences) Meat-offering (111 Occurrences) |
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