When I was still a member of the Roman Catholic Church I recognized two distinct categories of people and these were the priests and the laymen. The priest was a custodian of the Word of God and even absolved the Papists of their sins. When I was still among the Papists I did not question the hierarchical religious priesthood since I never knew much about the Bible in the first place. Later on when I started studying the Word of God I discovered that a special class of priests was not mentioned in the New Testament. The priests are mentioned as a special category separate from the rest of the congregation only in the Old Testament. The Priests were chosen from the tribe of Levi and were the direct descendants of Aaron (Exodus 29:29). The Priests of the Old Testament had various duties including offering sacrifices, keeping the light burning in the temple, blowing the war trumpets, mediating cases and instructing the people in the law. The one scripture that summarizes their main duty states that, “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). This shows us that since men could not reach God directly in the Old Testament they had to pass through the priest who would offer a sacrifice that would cover the sins of the transgressors.
Throughout the New Testament, in the early church no mention is made of a special order of priests distinguished from the rest of the body of Christ. The root of this priestly fiasco is mentioned in Revelation where Jesus spoke about one of the doctrines that he hated most, “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:15). The doctrines of the Nicolaitans can be derived from the meaning of the Greek word “Nikolaiton” which means victory over the common people or victory over the laity. The word also means destruction of the people. This was a dangerous doctrine that resulted into the abominable deeds of the Nicolaitans which Jesus firmly said He also hates (Revelation 2:6).
“John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible” states that the doctrine of the Nicolaitans seems to design the doctrines of the church of Rome, which in this period took place; which forbid marriage to the priests, and recommended celibacy and virginity to others also; which were the source of all uncleanness and abominable lusts; for which pardons and indulgences were given, and, in process of time, brothel houses were set up, and licensed and encouraged by authority. The doctrines of the Nicolaitans included the destruction of the laity through denying them an opportunity to study the Bible for themselves and limiting their Biblical knowledge to what they heard from the seclusive and mysterious Priestly order. The Nicolaitans also mixed several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies.
The office of the Priest who offered sacrifices on behalf of the people became defunct after Jesus’ sacrifice but it was revived by the Roman Emperor Constantine 300 years after Jesus’ ascension. Constantine saw a flaming cross in the sky and then decided to ban all other beliefs in the Roman empire and introduced his new religion that later came to be called the Roman Catholic Church. Constantine was actually the first pope and later appointed Priests from among the idolatrous religious leaders. This Roman Catholic system created special costumes like cassocks and ceremonies for its priests to perform that included splashing holy water, waving incense smoke about, receiving confessions and killing Christ afresh at each mass through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. All these practices did not have any Biblical foundation. This was done to impress the followers and the people at large loved it but only their leaders really understood the religious phraseology and psychology used to control their followers who number close to one billion today.
In the New Testament, church leadership is not dealt away with but the offices mentioned do not include priests. The Church was given leaders by Jesus Christ, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11). These five leadership offices are sometimes called the five-fold ministry with the apostles and prophets at the helm (Ephesians 2:20). These leadership offices are assisted by deacons and others in the helps ministry (1 Timothy 3:10). The local churches were planted by Apostles throughout the book of Acts and the Apostles either ministered in these churches permanently or appointed a team of presbyters or elders who were apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers then moved on. When the veil was torn apart in the temple at Jesus’ death on the cross, it signified that the order and ministry of the Old Testament priests was dealt away with (Mark 15:38). Now every believer could enter into the Holy of Holies for themselves without the mediation of a Priest. Every born again Christian became a Priest as Apostle Peter elaborates, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:5,9). This scripture sets us free from the yoke of a special class of Priests that the Nicolaitans tried to enforce. All Christians are referred to as kings and priests of Jesus Christ throughout the book of Revelation (Rev 1:6, 5:10 & 20:6). This universal priesthood of the believer gives every believer the liberty to offer their own sacrifices of worship and finances to Jesus Christ without need for mediation. The Roman Catholic Priests who preside over the sacrifice or death of Jesus at every mass are aptly described in the scriptures where, “every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Hebrews 10:11). The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was made once and for all and does not have to be repeated by any priest. We can all partake of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross without the need for a mediator since the Holy of Holies and throne of grace are accessible to the universal priesthood of every born again Christian. As a Christian you are now your own priest with Jesus as your great High Priest. Away with the hierarchical religious priesthood!