Quote:
Originally Posted by Puritanhead  I think it's trifling over semantics. We Protestants profess a belief in the priesthood of all believers based on doctrine revealed in Gospels and more particularly Pauline epistles. Pastors are in a sense play a mediator/priestly role between congregants in a church body and God, in much the same way an evangelist has a connection with the person he witnesses to. But we all know we believers have access to the throne of grace through prayer in Jesus Christ. |
What exactly are you referring to as a trifling over semantics? I asked you to discuss the implications of the verse in several areas. Please clarify.
Of course the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is not here being attacked, as I mentioned the clear affirmation of that doctrine as found in the first epistle of the apostle Peter in my OP, but I find that Paul states this in a very striking manner which, as seems obvious by the response (or lack thereof so far) on the PB, is a difficult thing for most Protestants to wrap their heads around. I myself am interested in studying this in greater depth, both in regards as to what relationship this role of Paul spiritually/metaphorically had with OT priestly function, as well how that would apply to modern ecclesiological practice (which no one can doubt has been influenced far more by corporate business terminology and paradigms of thought, even in Reformed churches, than anything else).
For the record, I have never heard this passage and its imagery discussed or preached upon in a Protestant church, and I have grown up in them all of my life, so I was interested in hearing a few lucid thoughts from the crowd.
Have any of you here ever heard this passage preached upon in worship, discussed in a Sunday school or bible study, or exegeted in a seminary course on the Pastoral Ministry, or have you preached/taught/exegeted this to others? Maybe this line of approach would be a more profitable pursuit if a discussion of the passage itself proves to difficult for the board.
Edited to add: Please don't post links to Wikipedia when attempting to illumine an exegetical or theological subject, or at least cite a basic ST or commentary before so doing. Anyone can put up any manner of silliness on that site - it is not to be seen as a substitute for serious personal research!