TOM: Yet Scripture proves that you are wrong again, very wrong:

Titus 1:5
For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and shouldest ordain priests in every city, as I also appointed thee:

RESPONSE: Those are not a separate caste of priests--they are pastors (bishops) of their own local congregations. The entire congregations (if not reprobate) were priests because the entire Body of Christ are priests.

Eph 2:20
Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:
A
RESPONSE: Yes? Apostles and prophets are among the priests that are all those in the Body of Christ.

Eph 4:11
And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors,

RESPONSE: Ditto, the entire congregation are priests, among whom are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Apostles and prophets are offices that no longer exists.

1 Cor 12:28-29
(28) And God indeed hath set some in the church; first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly doctors; after that miracles; then the graces of healing, helps, governments, kinds of tongues, interpretations of speeches. (29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all doctors?

RESPONSE: Ditto--again. All priests which make up the entire Body of Christ are not Apostles--those were only the ones Christ Himself appointed. All priests which make up the entire Body of Christ are not prophets--prophecy is finished and there are no more prophets. All priests which make up the entire Body of Christ are not teachers. All priests which make up the entire Body of Christ are not pastors (bishops) of their own local congregation. But all the Congregation of Christ--His Temple--are priests.

Acts 1:20
For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take.

RESPONSE: Though apostles were never local pastors (bishops) because of the unique functions of their offices--they traveled about and could not oversee a local congregation as that would have necessitated their remaining at that congregation, the Apostles had a sort of "bishopric" (however never mentioned in their regard in the NT) as this Psalm mentions that encompasses really all of the Body of Christ because they were the ones who laid down the Foundation of Christ, which is Christ and His Gospel--not Peter. In this regard, all the Apostles had an equal office--not one was over the other.

Acts 1:25-26
(25) To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. (26) And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

RESPONSE: Ditto. I don't see anywhere here that says they solely are priests. Apostles are just a few of the priests that make up the entire Body of Christ.

1 Tim 3:1
A faithful saying: if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

RESPONSE: Yes? A pastor (bishop) of his own local congregation is just as much a priest as are all the Body of Christ.

1 Tim 3:8
Deacons in like manner chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre:

RESPONSE: Nothing to do with this.

1 Tim 5:17
Let the priests that rule well, be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine:

RESPONSE: Actually the word is "elders" here, not specifically "priests". At any rate, elders are also just as much priests as are the rest of the entirety of the Body of Christ.

1 Tim 4:14
Neglect not the grace that is in thee, which was given thee by prophesy, with imposition of the hands of the priesthood.

RESPONSE: The actual word used here is "presbytery", in Greek presbyterion, which means "body of elders, of the elders of any body (assembly) of Christians. Once again, this is referring to the elders, and elders are just as much priests as the entirety of the Body of Christ are priests.

1 Tim 5:22
Impose not hands lightly upon any man, neither be partaker of other men's sins. Keep thyself chaste.

RESPONSE: Nothing to do with that--and BTW, it was not referring to celibacy. The word was "pure", and this means that he was to be defiled by no other teaching than that which the Apostles had taught him. If he innovated from that which was taught by the Apostles, he would no longer be pure and would be teaching impure doctrines.

Acts 14:22
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.

RESPONSE: That's verse 23, not 22. And the word was not priests but "elders". Same as above, elders are among the entirety of priests that make up the entirety of the Body of Christ. Not all in the Body of Christ were elders, but all were priests.

2 Tim 2:2
And the things which thou hast heard of me by many witnesses, the same commend to faithful men, who shall be fit to teach others also.

RESPONSE: Yes? These men would be other pastors and other elders, among the entirety of the Body of Christ which all are priests. Only another pastor (bishop) could ordain another pastor or elder. While there was only one pastor (bishop) per congregation, there could be any number of elders in a congregation. But once a pastor (bishop) ordained another pastor (bishop), that second pastor was in no way answerable to the first pastor. The purpose for ordaining a pastor was because there was enough of a number of persons making up a congregation who would need a pastor.


You have shown no hierarchy of priests. You have only shown that Scripture reveals certain offices among the entirety of the Body of Christ who all are priests.

Last Edited By: ryld Mar 13 11 8:46 AM. Edited 2 times.