Who Are Preachers, Pastors, And Priests?

Introduction

Greetings…

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Who Are Priests?

Some Say Priests Today Are…

Most world religions have those titled as priests in their religion.

These would including Hinduism, Paganism, Shintoism, Buddhism, etc.…

Several groups in the realm of Christendom have specific roles wherein people are titled with the name priest.

Some of those that have such include Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, some Lutheran.

Of these various groups of Christendom most hold to the same basic responsibilities wherein the priests are concerned.

They are typically ordained by a higher ranking person such as a “bishop.”

They are typically expected to administer the sacraments, take confessions, and provide spiritual guidance, and preach the weekly sermons.

It is important to note that this is a title they hold no different than what we consider for elders, deacons, and preachers.

But what does…

God Says Priests Today Are…

There is no doubt that there were specifically titled priests under the Law of Moses.

They were to teach, preserve, and make act as judges concerning the law of Moses was concerned (Deuteronomy 31:9-13; Deuteronomy 17:8-9).

They were to offer sacrifices & keep the daily temple duties such as keeping the altar fire burning (Leviticus 1:5-9; Leviticus 6:8-13).

They were to oversee the festivals and holy days (Leviticus 23).

There are many more as well.

Does God talk about priests in the New Testament and are Christians to be called priests?

Though Christians are not given the title priests Christians are called to priests due to their duties as Christians.

Peter would write in in 1 Peter 2:9…

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…

How does a Christian “live like a priests” today?

Being a priest as a Christian means we are able to draw near to the throne of grace with confidence and assurance.

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Being a priest as a Christian means we able draw near to God with a full assurance of faith.

Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Being a priests as a Christian means we are able proclaim the excellencies of our Messiah.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Being a priest as a Christian means we are a part of God’s kingdom tasked with serving our God here on earth.

Revelation 5:9–10 ESV

9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

Summary

So, yes there are New Testament priests but no they are not a special class of Christians but rather all Christians are priests.

Who Are Preachers?

Some Say Preachers Today Are…

Pastors or shepherds of the congregation where they preach.

Though some denominational groups don’t typically call their preacher a pastor such as Catholics, Episcopals, Quakers, and Jehovah’s Witnesses, most denominations do call their preachers pastors.

Though the term “pastor” which is Latin for “shepherd” is found describing the men we will talk about in our next point throughout most of church history it wasn’t until the Reformation movement that we find it limited to the specific role of preachers.

Luther began using the term “pastor” to describe ministers who preached and administered sacraments in the local congregations.

Those calling themselves Lutheran in Germany and Scandinavia commonly referred to their preachers as pastors.

Calvin, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536), described those that preached as “pastors.

This title became standard in the Reformed churches.

By the 17th century we start finding the term “pastor” as the default title for preacher the majority of denominations?

There is no doubt that preachers are not only found in the early church but we find preaching is expected.

Preachers are to preach the word whether people want to hear it or not.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Preachers can be both local or traveling.

1 Timothy 1:3–4 ESV

3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

Philippians 4:15–16 ESV

15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Preachers are the ones expected to ordain the elders in the congregation.

Titus 1:5 ESV

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you

Summary

However, the real question comes down to whether or not preachers are pastors according to the bible.

So…

Who Are Pastors?

God Says Pastors Today Are…

Those who meet the qualifications of an elder also known as a shepherd, and also known as a overseer.

In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 we see the qualifications for the overseers.

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

In Titus 1:5-16 we see the qualifications for elders who are also overseers.

Titus 1:5 ESV

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you

Titus 1:7 ESV

7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain

In 1 Peter 5:1-5 we see Peter had been appointed as an elder but in this we him describe how he and his fellow elders should be.

1 Peter 5:1–2 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly

Summary

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Conclusion

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Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Acts 17:30 ESV

30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent

Luke 14:33 ESV

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

Matthew 10:32–33 NKJV

32 Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 ESV

1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures

Romans 6:3–5 ESV

3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 John 1:7 ESV

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

James 1:12 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.