What Is the Priesthood of Believers?

According to The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge—the three primary differences between Catholics and Protestants are: their views of the Bible; the concept of the grace of Christ; and, the phrase the priesthood of believers.

We’ve already discussed the Bible and the grace of Christ. Today we’ll tackle the priesthood of believers.

 The Priesthood of Believers:

As far as the last element of Protestantism, the universal priesthood of believers, Protestants believe that through Christ they have been given direct access to God, just like a priest.

Under the universal priesthood of believers concept, God is equally accessible to all the faithful, and every Christian has equal potential to minister for God.

As you can imagine, this point-of-view stands in direct opposition to the concept of a clerical class . . . a spiritual aristocracy or hierarchy . . . within the Catholic Church. As a lifelong Catholic, I was taught that the priest’s role was to stand between me and God.

The Catholic Encyclopedia’s argument is: “The universal priesthood of believers is a fond fancy which goes well with the other fundamental tenets of Protestantism. For, if every man is his own supreme teacher and is able to justify himself by an easy act of faith, there is no further need of ordained teachers and ministers of sacrifice and sacraments.”

In other words, because the Protestant reliance on the Bible and a universal priesthood of believers diminishes the need for priests to perform ceremonies and sacraments, it is hopelessly flawed.

Although many religions use priests, most Protestant faiths reject the idea of the priesthood as a group that is spiritually distinct from lay people . . . the general population.

Non-Catholic Christian churches typically employ ministers and pastors who perform many of the same functions as Catholic priests such as clarifying Scripture, performing baptisms and marriages, etc.

In many Protestant denominations the professional clergy is viewed as servants acting on behalf of the local believers.

This is in contrast to my experience and view of Catholic priests as a group of men who have a distinct authority over their congregation . . . and spiritual role different from—and high above—those of us sitting in the pews.

The Protestant universal priesthood of believers outlook is believed to be derived from several passages of the New Testament. The exact meaning varies from denomination to denomination, but it generally refers to a doctrinal responsibility of every member of the Christian faith to spread the Good News of Jesus.

Like many of the differences between Catholics and Protestants, the priesthood of believers concept appears to have started withy Martin Luther.

While Luther didn’t use the exact phrase “priesthood of all believers” in 1520, he suggested in his writing To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation that all baptized Christians are “priests” and “spiritual” in the sight of God.

Referencing 1 Peter 2:9—“You are a royal priesthood and a priestly kingdom”—and Revelation 5:10—“Through your blood you have made us into priests and kings”—Luther argued that all Christians are consecrated priests through Baptism.

Based on 1 Timothy 2:5—“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus”—most Protestants today recognize Christ as the only mediator between themselves and God.

Catholics insist that priests are vital to Christian life. They argue that doing away with priests nullifies non-Catholic Christians’ legitimacy as an effective worship group. Without priests, Catholics suggest that there is no connection to Jesus.

The Bible passage Protestants often use in rebuttal of the Catholic priest class is Hebrews 7:23–28:

²³ There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. ²⁴ But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever.²⁵ Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.

²⁶ He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven.²⁷ Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. ²⁸ The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.

A little later in this blog, I will discuss more about priests and the Catholic clergy. Remember, though, this salient point: its staunch belief in the moral and spiritual superiority of its priests is one of the three important differences between Catholics and Protestants.

 In our next post, we’ll examine: How Roman is the Roman Catholic Church?

This blog is being written as a resource to ease the transition from being a Catholic to whatever faith choice the former Catholic chooses to follow. The intent of this effort is to help former Catholics deal with that separation and, prayerfully, strengthen their relationship with Jesus.

All of the thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are the author’s. In all matters of faith, you should do your own research, pray, and be guided by your conscience and Holy Scripture.

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