Priesthood...in the New
Testament?...Today?
Introduction
While the responsibilities of priesthood under the Mosaic Law were clearly outlined in the
Old Testament, many Christians don't realize that Jesus defined His priesthood in the New
Testament.
Since Jesus said he 'would build his church,' shouldn't Jesus church today be setup today,
with the same Priesthood that He established in His own day? See the list of Jesus'
priesthood offices below to see and know that it still exists.
Purpose
What is the purpose of 'Priesthood?' Priesthood carry out two specific purposes:
1) To stand in the stead of Jesus to perform the ordinances of His Church ( Baptism,
Communion, Laying on of Hands, etc.,)
2) To 'perfect' or teach people about God's laws, covenants, promises and plan of
salvation.
History
Jesus' complete Priesthood historically started with Adam, and was passed down through to
Abraham's sons, as explained in latter-day revelation:
DC 104:28a Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan,
Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of
his posterity, who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed
upon them his last blessing.
While the High Priesthood existed prior to Moses, In Moses day, iniquity among God's
covenant people caused some of the higher priesthood roles to be unfulfilled, for a time,
in Israel:
Exodus 34:1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two other tables of stone, like unto
the first, and I will write upon them also, the words of the law, according as they were
written at the first on the tables which thou brakest; but it shall not be according to
the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst; therefore my holy
order, and the ordinances thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go
up in their midst, lest I destroy them.
The Nephites in America had the priesthood also, but their righteousness caused them to
have the higher offices of priesthood restored even before Jesus' birth.
Why is Jesus Priesthood named after Melchisedec?
Jesus' priesthood has two divisions on earth: the Melchisedec, and the Aaronic, including
the Levitical priesthood.
The real name of the priesthood is after Jesus name, since he is the author and ruler over
it. Melchisedec was a man who lived between Noah and Abraham. The reason why Melchisedec
is mentioned is as follows:
DC 104:1b Why the first is called the Melchisedec priesthood, is because Melchisedec was
such a great high priest: before his day it was called the holy priesthood, after the
order of the Son of God;
1c but out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too
frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood
after Melchisedec, or the Melchisedec priesthood.
So, to avoid using the Creator's name too casually, the priesthood title was given
Melchisedec's name. The real name for the priesthood is the 'Order of the Son of God.'
(Genesis 14:28 , Hebrews 7:3 , Alma 9:73)
Moreover, the lesser priesthood, the 'Aaronic,' is designed to be an appendage of the
higher, the Melchisedec:
DC 104:8a The second priesthood is called the priesthood of Aaron, because it was
conferred upon Aaron and his seed, throughout all their generations.
8b Why it is called the lesser priesthood is, because it is an appendage to the greater,
or the Melchisedec priesthood, and has power in administering outward ordinances.
Didn't the Priesthood end with the Law of Moses?
Jesus priesthood existed prior to the law of Moses. Some Christian's teach (mistakenly)
that priesthood did not continue after the sacrifices, burnt offerings, etc., ended. This
is not true, as the list below, demonstrates: ordinations to many offices of Jesus'
priesthood continued with the Apostles (Mark 3:13, Acts 14:23 , I Timothy 2:7 , II Timothy
4:22 , Titus 1:5 , Titus 3:15 , Hebrews 5:1 , Hebrews 7:3 ).
The purpose and power of this priesthood has been restored today.
Note that was a spiritual parallel to the priesthood under Moses exists: While priests in
Moses' day were asked to carry out many physical sacrifices and unusual (to us) offerings,
they all had a spiritual lesson to teach. While the physical offerings are done away,
however, even Paul taught that the priesthood were to offer up 'spiritual sacrifices' unto
God:
I Peter 2:5 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.
'Spiritual sacrifice' means especially to cleanse oneself from the sin of the world.
Priesthood are called to teach the people to do likewise, coming unto Jesus with broken
hearts and contrite spirits:
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart,
2 Nephi 1:72 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the
law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can
the ends of the law be answered.
According to scripture, Jesus priesthood, established in the beginning of the world, shall
exist in the end of the world also (Genesis 6:7 ).
Wasn't priesthood given only those of the tribe of Levi?
The old testament documents that the Levites (i.e. male descendants of the tribe of Levi)
were to be the priests over Israel:
Deuteronomy 21:5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy
God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the Lord; and by their
word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried;
Some confuse this issue and believe that no other man (of another tribe, or Gentile, for
that matter) could be spiritually called to priesthood. Not so. If one considers that
Jesus, himself, bore the title 'High Priest' of his priesthood (Hebrews 3:1 , Hebrews 4:14
, Hebrews 6:20 ), and realizes the Jesus, himself, was not of Levi, but of Judah, (Paul
was of the tribe of Benjamin, Acts 13:21 , Romans 11:1 and was ordained an apostle, etc.)
one realizes that Jesus' priesthood was not solely confined to the Levitical lineage.
Can anyone just 'claim' priesthood? Who can have it?
Two groups of people have claim on priesthood: those with a literal heritage from the
House of Israel, and those spiritually called by God to have this responsibility.
First, literal descendants of the Levites of the House of Israel have claim to priesthood
by lineage. This is not only supported by modern revelation through Joseph Smith Jr. in
1830, but recent genetic studies have proven that a gene on the male chromosome exists of
literal Levitical priesthood holders. This genetic 'marker' is only found of those whose
priesthood passed from father to son. People of this order are found among orthodox Jews,
and even people (correctly) claiming lineage through the lost tribes of Israel. (Click
here to read more on this current scientific discovery). Food for thought: how did Joseph
Smith 'know' this would be a genetic truth, that literal descendants of Aaron could
'prove' their lineage, unless God truly revealed it to him? In 1830, no such genetic
evidence existed!
Second, those called by God. Paul stated that no one could just 'sign up' for priesthood
responsibility, or worse, pay to have it.
Hebrews 5:4 And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as
was Aaron. (...and how was Aaron called? by a prophet, Moses.)
In Paul's day, a man named Simon saw the apostles bestowing the Gift of the Holy Ghost by
the laying on of hands. Seeing this, he wanted to be able to do what they did because of
their priesthood authority. He offered money for the privilege. (Bad move on his part.)
The apostles' response:
Acts 8:20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought
that the gift of God may be purchased with money.
Simon couldn't buy it. Neither can anyone today 'buy' priesthood--it comes by the calling
of God through his senior priesthood, by revelation only.
Does Priesthood, as a whole, change?
Hebrews 7:23 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
How was Priesthood 'handed down?'
DC 68:2g but by virtue of the decree concerning their right of the priesthood descending
from father to son, they may claim their anointing, if at any time they can prove their
lineage, or do ascertain it by revelation from the Lord under the hands of the above-named
presidency.
DC 104:18 The order of this priesthood was confirmed to be handed down from father to son,
and rightly belongs to the literal descendants of the chosen seed, to whom the promises
were made. This order was instituted in the days of Adam, and came down by lineage in the
following manner:
Also, interesting to note, that Joseph's words " ..rightly belongs to the literal
descendants of the chosen seed..." have been genetically proven. Research in the last
couple years has identified in the Cohen (Literal descendants of the tribe of Lehi--the
orthodox Jewish priesthood) have found that a gene exists only within those who have
priesthood. It is only transferred from father to son. It is on the Y-Chromosome. Only men
have Y-chromosomes; women do not.
A Nova (PBS) show made this statement, almost identical to Joseph Smith's revelation
nearly 160 years earlier:
"...The results are stunning. A group of genetic markers ...- is seen in about 10% of
the general Jewish population and in over 50% of the Cohanim. The long-held Jewish belief
that priestly status is passed from father to son over the centuries seems to be confirmed
in the genes. " from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/transcripts/2706israel.html
Other related scientific articles:
http://www.ramsdale.org/dna13.htm
http://www.sciencenews.org/archives/19981003/bob1.asp
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1998/07/980714071409.htm
Isn't it only the Inspired Version that talks about Melchisedec's priesthood?
No. Recent evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls have verified that the understanding given
to Joseph Smith regarding Melchisedec's priesthood was correct: a dead sea scroll fragment
passage calls him "a priest in the assembly of God":
[MLKY] CDQ KWHN B({*D}[T )L]
. . . Melchi]zedek, priest in the asse[mbly of God . . .
(From http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_sd/med_melchizedek_art.html )
Apparently God was 100% correct when he had Hebrews 7:3 corrected to read:
Hebrews 7:3 For this Melchizedek was ordained a priest after the order of the Son of God,
which order was without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning
of days, nor end of life. And all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made
like unto the Son of God, abiding a priest continually.
