Understanding the Priesthood: The Old Testament - Dr. John Bergsma
Understanding the Priesthood: The Old Testament - Dr. John Bergsma Understanding the Priesthood: The Old Testament - Dr. John Bergsma
advantage to you. e. The synthesis: (1) Jesus appointed leaders (the apostles) with a ________________ duty to “do this in remembrance of me” as well as to baptize, etc. (2) When the Church became too big, the apostles laid hands on others to help them fulfill their C________________. (3) After the death of the apostles, these episcopoi (overseers) and presbuteroi (elders) continued the Apostle’s mission, with their A______________________. (4) So it is today. (5) There is no other model of Church government except this ______________________ system of appointment. V. A Postscript: What about calling priests “Father”? Do we take Jesus literally when he says “Call no one on earth ‘Father’”? No, because we follow the example of the Apostles. The Apostles (and even Jesus himself) call human beings “father” in the following NT scriptures: Luke 16:24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in anguish in this flame.’ Rom. 4:11 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of the righteousness which he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have righteousness reckoned to them, Rom. 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants — not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham, for he is the father of us all, Phil. 2:22 But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 1Cor. 4:15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 1Cor. 10:1 I want you to know, brethren, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, Gal. 1:14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 16 For more Bible studies on CD and DVD, visit www.JohnBergsma.com.
1Th. 2:11 for you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you 1Tim. 5:1 Do not rebuke an older man but exhort him as you would a father; treat younger men like brothers, Philem. 1:10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment. 1John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. This last example is interesting, because the Apostle John is probably speaking not to literal fathers but to the “elders” (Gk. presbuteroi) of the congregation: i.e. the priests. 17 For more Bible studies on CD and DVD, visit www.JohnBergsma.com.
- Page 1 and 2: Understanding the Priesthood: The O
- Page 3 and 4: II. The Priesthood of Noah: Gen. 8:
- Page 5 and 6: Ex. 4:22 And you shall say to Phara
- Page 7 and 8: Is. 61:5 Aliens shall stand and fee
- Page 9 and 10: Priesthood in the New Testament I.
- Page 11 and 12: f. The High Priestly Prayer (John 1
- Page 13 and 14: other hand, a better hope is introd
- Page 15: 2. M________________ 3. Excellent p
advantage to you.<br />
e. <strong>The</strong> syn<strong>the</strong>sis: (1) Jesus appointed leaders (<strong>the</strong> apostles) with a<br />
________________ duty to “do this in remembrance of me” as well as to baptize,<br />
etc. (2) When <strong>the</strong> Church became too big, <strong>the</strong> apostles laid hands on o<strong>the</strong>rs to<br />
help <strong>the</strong>m fulfill <strong>the</strong>ir C________________. (3) After <strong>the</strong> death of <strong>the</strong> apostles,<br />
<strong>the</strong>se episcopoi (overseers) and presbuteroi (elders) continued <strong>the</strong> Apostle’s<br />
mission, with <strong>the</strong>ir A______________________. (4) So it is today. (5) <strong>The</strong>re is<br />
no o<strong>the</strong>r model of Church government except this ______________________<br />
system of appointment.<br />
V. A Postscript: What about calling priests “Fa<strong>the</strong>r”?<br />
Do we take Jesus literally when he says “Call no one on earth ‘Fa<strong>the</strong>r’”? No, because we<br />
follow <strong>the</strong> example of <strong>the</strong> Apostles. <strong>The</strong> Apostles (and even Jesus himself) call human<br />
beings “fa<strong>the</strong>r” in <strong>the</strong> following NT scriptures:<br />
Luke 16:24 And he called out, ‘Fa<strong>the</strong>r Abraham, have mercy upon me, and send<br />
Lazarus to dip <strong>the</strong> end of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in<br />
anguish in this flame.’<br />
Rom. 4:11 He received circumcision as a sign or seal of <strong>the</strong> righteousness which<br />
he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. <strong>The</strong> purpose was to make him<br />
<strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r of all who believe without being circumcised and who thus have<br />
righteousness reckoned to <strong>the</strong>m,<br />
Rom. 4:16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that <strong>the</strong> promise may rest on<br />
grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants — not only to <strong>the</strong> adherents of <strong>the</strong><br />
law but also to those who share <strong>the</strong> faith of Abraham, for he is <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>the</strong>r of us all,<br />
Phil. 2:22 But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a fa<strong>the</strong>r he has<br />
served with me in <strong>the</strong> gospel.<br />
1Cor. 4:15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many<br />
fa<strong>the</strong>rs. For I became your fa<strong>the</strong>r in Christ Jesus through <strong>the</strong> gospel.<br />
1Cor. 10:1 I want you to know, brethren, that our fa<strong>the</strong>rs were all under <strong>the</strong><br />
cloud, and all passed through <strong>the</strong> sea,<br />
Gal. 1:14 and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my<br />
people, so extremely zealous was I for <strong>the</strong> traditions of my fa<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />
16<br />
For more Bible studies on CD and DVD, visit www.<strong>John</strong><strong>Bergsma</strong>.com.
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