One of the Catholic articles of faith most Protestants have to vehemently deny is a New Covenant ordained priesthood. If they say there is no ordained priesthood then it makes it easier to be in non servium to the religion and ritual that is all across the New Testament that God established as part of our process of transforming grace through obedience to the faith. If they say there is no ordained priesthood then it is easier to deny Gods words, " This is my body", and " do this in memory of me." If there is no priesthood then there can be no consecration of the Eucharist. Inadvertently what they do not understand is that if there was no priesthood then there would be no salvation. The consecrated Eucharist is what is presented before the Father through Jesus Christ our mediator of the New Covenant, as the true Passover for the general redemption of the world. Satan has people who call themselves Christians, attacking their own salvation. Satan has preternatural intelligence. He makes Freud look like a kindergartner.
In the early church the way, was not a name, but was the narrow road of obedience to the faith in the sacramental life which among other things, keeps us from Satan's preternatural deceptions.
Modern Protestantism says there is only a priesthood of all believers while scripture shows an office with distinct functions for a priest. They falsely interpret Hebrews where Paul talks about our high priest Jesus Christ. If there is a high priest then there is a subordinate priesthood.
There is the chosen people, the holy nation , the Royal Priesthood we are baptized into and there is the office of priest inside the Royal Priesthood.
Elder and presbyter are in the etymology of priest. Hiereus means someone dedicated to the temple, a priest, but the word priest is not derived phonetically nor etymologically from Hiereus, it is derived from presbyteros in which the shortened form of the word is priest. When Peter refers to those who were baptized into the church entering the promise of Abraham fulfilled as the chosen people, the holy nation, the royal priesthood, he uses the word Herius meaning belonging to the temple which is the body of Christ. Inside the body is the leaders ; presbyteros.
First, try and remove false preconceptions from your thinking and see the function of priest in the New Testament.
This is why I left you in Crete, to ordain—— in every city as I have ordained you. Titus 1:5
Let the—— who rules well be worthy of double honor especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 1 Tim 5:17
Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the —— of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him. Jm 5:13
That I should be the —— of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost. Rm 15:16
Receive the Holy Spirit whose sins you shall forgive are forgiven. Jn 20:19
The chalice of benediction, which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ ? And the bread, which we break, is it not the partaking of the body of the Lord ?
1 Cor 2:16
God after establishing the Passover for the Jewish community, came to a Passover 1300 years later and said, "I strongly desire to celebrate this Passover with you". This is so amazing! And yet God established the true Passover for the general redemption of the world and Satan has the world rejecting it by rejecting His priesthood.
Do this in memory of me.
“The Apostles and early believers recognized the sacrificial character of Jesus' instruction, "Do this in remembrance (Gr. anamnasin) of me" is better translated "Offer this as my memorial sacrifice."
Anamnesis ("remembrance") has sacrificial overtones. It occurs only eight times in the NT and the Greek OT. All but once (Wisdom 16:6) it is in a sacrificial context (Hebrews 10:3, Leviticus 24:7, Numbers 10:10 and Psalm 38 [39] and 70 [70]). In these cases the term anamnesis can be translated as "memorial portion," "memorial offering," or "memorial sacrifice." Thus in the remaining two occurrences of anamnesis (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24), Christ’s words "Do this inremembrance of Me," can be translated as "Offer this for my memorial sacrifice."
The types are fulfilled in the heavenly reality of the Eucharist.
I have not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.
And thou shalt put upon them the dearest frankincense, that the bread may be for a memorial of the oblation of the Lord.
Leviticus 24:7
If at any time you shall have a banquet, end on your festival days, and on the first days of your months, you shall sound the trumpets over t
he holocausts, and the sacrifices of peace offerings, that they may be to you for a remembrance of your God. I am the Lord your God.
Numbers 10:10
Future fulfillment in the Eucharist.
For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 1:11
The apostles wrote while the temple was still standing and needed to distinguish the difference between the priests of the Old Covenant that offered bulls and goats and the priesthood of the new that ministered in the sacraments. It looks like they did so by modeling the priesthood according to the 70 elders who had the hands of Moses laid on them to convey the grace of God as Bishops have done to priests since the beginning of Christianity. Paul told Timothy, “ Do not lay your hands on anyone in haste.” In other words, try and make sure they are going to be worthy of the priesthood.
The word priest is not derived etymologically nor morphologically from Hiereus. It is derived from presbyteros.
This is why I left you in Crete, that you ordain elders/ presbyters/ presbyteros, in ever city, as I have appointed you.
Titus 1:5
Here Paul is writing to the bishop of Crete who would lay his hands on those entering the priesthood as Timothy did also. As bishops of the Catholic Church have done for 2000 years.
Paul ordained both Titus and Timothy to do so.
17Let the priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. 18For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin reprove before all that the rest also may have fear.
21I charge thee, before God and Christ
Jesus and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side. 22Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.
1 Tim 5:17-22 DRB
There is an evolution of the word presbyter or elder in the Bible that led from the formation of the 70 elders established by Moses to the Catholic priesthood.
“Word Study
Elders ( Jas 5:14)
Presbyteros (Gk.): an "elder", "elderly man", or "presbyter". The word is used 66 times in the NT. It has its primary background in the OT and Jewish tradition, where "elders" (Heb., zeqenim) referred to the tribal leaders of Israel appointed by Moses (Ex 24:1; Num 11:16) and to the members of a city's judicial council (Josh 20:4).
By the first century, it was a collective name for Pharisaic teachers (Mt 15:2), for a group within the Jewish high court, the Sanhedrin (Mt 26:3), and for the senior officials of a Jewish synagogue. This notion of ruling and religious elders carried over into Christian tradition and was applied to its own appointed leaders (Acts 14:23
; 15:2; 20:17; 21:18). An "elder" or "presbyter" thus came to refer to an ordained shepherd of the Church who preached the gospel and administered the sacraments (1 Tim 5:17; Tit 1:5; Jas 5:14). The English word "priest" is derived from this Greek term.”
Priest is not derived etymologically nor morphologicaly from Hiereus, it comes from presbyteros.
From the earliest days of Christianity there were priests consecrating the Eucharist and leading the church. Bishops were overseers and priests . Priests who were not bishops were under the direction of bishops.
Teachings of the Apostles Syriac
The city of Rome, and all Italy, and Spa
in, and Britain, and Gaul, together with all the rest of the countries round about them, received the apostles' ordination to the priesthood from Simon Cephas, who went up from Antioch
Teachings of the Apostles Syriac
And by ordination to the priesthood, which the apostles themselves had received from our Lord, did their Gospel wing its way rapidly into the four quarters of the world.
Irenaeus of Lyons Book 4 ch 8.3 (120-180 ad)
And all the apostles of the Lord are priests, who do inherit here neither lands nor houses, but serve God and the altar continually.
The Didache(c. 70 A.D.)
But concerning the Eucharist, after this fashion give ye thanks.
First, concerning the cup. We thank thee, o
ur Father, for the holy vine, David thy Son, which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus Christ thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
And concerning the broken bread. We thank thee, our Father, for the life and knowledge which thou hast made known unto us through Jesus thy Son; to thee be the glory for ever.
As this broken bread was once scattered on the mountains, and after it had been brought together became one, so may thy Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth unto thy kingdom; for thine is the glory, and the power, through Jesus Christ, for ever.
And let none eat or drink of your Eucharist but such as have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for of a truth the Lord hath said concerning this, Give not that which is holy unto dogs. ( 9:1-5)
On the Lord's Day of the Lord gather together, break bread and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions SO THAT YOUR SACRIFICE MAY BE PURE. Let no one who has a quarrel with his neighbor join you until he is reconciled by the Lord: "In every place and time let there be OFFERED TO ME A CLEAN SACRIFICE. For I am Great King," says the Lord, "and My name is wonderful among the Gentiles." (14:1-2)
St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 A.D.)
I have no taste for corruptible food nor for the pleasures of this life. I desire the Bread of God, WHICH IS THE FLESH OF JESUS CHRIST, who was of the seed of David; and for drink I DESIRE HIS BLOOD, which is love incorruptible. (Letter to the Romans 7:3)
Take care, then, to use one Eucharis
t, so that whatever you do, you do according to God: FOR THERE IS ONE FLESH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and one cup IN THE UNION OF HIS BLOOD; one ALTAR, as there is one bishop with the presbytery… (Letter to the Philadelphians 4:1)
They [i.e. the Gnostics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they do not confess that THE EUCHARIST IS THE FLESH OF OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in his goodness, raised up again. (Letter to Smyrnians 7:1)
St. Justin the Martyr (c. 100 - 165 A.D.)
We call this food Eucharist; and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration [Baptism], and is thereby living as Christ has enjoined.
For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, AND BY THE CHANGE OF WHICH our blood and flesh is nourished, IS BOTH THE FLESH AND THE BLOOD OF THAT INCARNATED JESUS. (First Apology, 66)
Moreover, as I said before, concerning the sacrifices which you at that time offered, God speaks through Malachi [1:10-12]…It is of the SACRIFICES OFFERED TO HIM IN EVERY PLACE BY US, the Gentiles, that is, OF THE BREAD OF THE EUCHARIST AND LIKEWISE OF THE CUP OF THE EUCHARIST, that He speaks at that time; and He says that we glorify His name, while you profane it. (Dialogue with Trypho, 41)
Did Paul perform a priestly function of sanctifying an oblation through the Holy Spirit?
That I should be the minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles; sanctifying the gospel of God, that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and sanctified in the Holy Ghost.
Rm 15:16 DRB
Berean Study Bible
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God
World English Bible
that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God
Young's Literal Translation
for my being a servant of Jesus Christ to the nations, acting as priest in the good news of God
Mystery, mysterion, sacramentum, sacrament.
Consider us priests as dispensers of the
sacraments of Christ ( including the oblation)
Is this sanctified set apart, made holy cereal offering a prophecy fulfilled
Yes or no?
For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, my name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to my name a clean oblation: for my name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts.
Mal 1:11
Did the early church believe that the apostles were priests ?
I think the evidence is indisputable
And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch: 22{21}Confirming the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith: and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God. 23{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
Acts 14:21 DRB
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