When did the Priesthood become obsolete?

The law and the prophets were until John.

The priesthood is absolutely NOT obsolete. it certainly is different than the OT priesthood though.

We [Orthodox] certainly believe in the universal priesthood of the believers. However, there are also those called to be presbyters (elders), or as we call them in English, priests. They are ordained by the laying of hands, and they preach, teach, and administer the sacraments.

First Apology of Justin Martyr said:

But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation.

Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the one presiding among the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water. And he, taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands.

And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to genoito [so be it].

And when the one presiding has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread, and wine mixed with water, over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion…

And this food is called among us Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined.

For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh (First Apology of Justin Martyr, ch 65-67. c.155AD).

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All4Christ said:

They are ordained by the laying of hands, and they preach, teach, and administer the sacraments

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do they do anything beyond that.

like the more weightier matters of the law. intercession, forgiveness, healing, etc.

A priest can grant absolution in confession. That would be one of the sacraments.

“May God Who pardoned David through Nathan the Prophet when he confessed his sins, Peter who wept bitterly for his denial, the Harlot weeping at His feet, the Publican and the Prodigal; May our same Merciful and loving God Pardon your every transgression, which you have committed, whether by word or deed or thought. For You are He who has the power to forgive sins, Christ our God, and to You we offer up glory together with Your eternal Father and Your holy, good, and life-creating Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.
-Orthodox Text for Confession

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Beyond that - we all offer intercessions, some are given the gift of healing, and we all are called to forgive each other. This applies to people who are and who are not presbyters.

Dave... said:

Hey All

I believe that the Catholic model of Priesthood is patterned after the OT priesthood. Is Orthodox similar to Catholicism? We don't need a priest to approach God, as explained in the OP. We have Jesus.

I ran a thread on the gift of healing not too long ago.

The Gift of Healing

The Gift of Healing. It's important to note that the gift of healing is healing through human agency. It's not when God sometimes answers faithful prayer, even sometimes miraculously. That would be a redefinition of the gift of healing and is unbiblical. Everyone has the right to cry out in...

www.christianforums.com

Administer the sacraments...the way that I see it is that Jesus is the end of the Priesthood in the NT. We have the high Priest Himslef living in us, and we are in Him. The OT Priesthood was connected to the Temple and served as a go between from man to God before we had the Mediator Himself living in us. It seems to me that this NT model is trying to do the same thing.

We are the Temples of God now. The curtain was torn. When we receive the Holy Spirit indwelling, He brings with Him the blood of Christ to cleanse us, the Temple of God. In the OT, they only had that in promise, not reality. Jesus is the living One True Church, when we are placed into Him (indwelling of the Holy Spirit), we are in the NT Temple, so to speak. In the presence of God. That's the way I see it.

What can the NT Priest do that we cannot do already directly with Jesus?

Dave

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[In advance, apologies for the length. I don’t mean to debate - just share my thoughts. This ended up being much longer than planned.]

We absolutely do not need a priest to approach God. (I would venture to say that Catholics agree with me in that, but I won’t speak for them.)

When I say priesthood in the New Testament, I am not talking about the Old Testament sacrificial priesthood. Christ is the one High Priest and the one mediator between God and man. What I mean is the structured ministry within the Church — bishops, presbyters, and deacons — appointed through the laying on of hands to shepherd the Church and administer the sacramental life of the body.

You can see in scripture that this role of presbyter in the church was given through the laying on of hands by those who were overseers / bishops (episcopos). (St Timothy was an early Bishop / Overseer of the Church).

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

I Timothy 4:14 (NKJV) - Do not neglect the gift that is in | YouVersion

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

bible.com

I Timothy 4:14 NKJV

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The initial appointment of the overseers (episcopos) and presbyters (elders) was done by the apostles:

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”


Acts 14:23 NKJV

Acts 14:23 (NKJV) - So when they had appointed elders i | YouVersion

So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

bible.com

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They administer the sacraments:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”


James 5:14 NKJV

James 5:14 (NKJV) - Is anyone among you sick? Let him c | YouVersion

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

bible.com

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Presbyters (Elders, or in English – Priests) could also be bishops or overseers (episcopos).

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church… Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”


Acts 20:17, 28 NKJV

Acts 20:28 (NKJV) - Therefore take heed to yourselves a | YouVersion

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

bible.com

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From scripture alone, you can see that there were presbyters (elders) of the local churches, overseers of the churches (episcopos/bishop), and deacons of the church. You can see that they held a special role that included shepherding the flock, appointment by laying on of hands, a special call to administer sacramental acts (ie anointing of oil and laying of hands for healing, ordination by laying on of hands, etc.), and more.

One interesting linguistic note is that the English word priest actually developed from the Greek word presbyteros (elder). Over time in English the word presbyter was shortened into prester and eventually into priest. So historically the word priest in the Christian context developed from the New Testament office of presbyter. The Greek word for “priest” ἱερεύς (hiereús) is distinct from the word using for Orthodox office of Presbyter - Πρεσβύτερος (Presbyteros - or priest in English).

We also pull from the historical witness for additional context.

Around 110 AD, St Ignatius of Antioch said in his Letter to the Magnesians:

Take care to do all things in harmony with God, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and with the presbyters in the place of the council of the apostles, and with the deacons, who are most dear to me, entrusted with the business of Jesus Christ.”


Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Magnesians, 6:1 (c. AD 110)

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St Justin Martyr in the second century gives a beautiful description of the sacramental life of the Eucharist in the early church:

Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands.

And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen…

And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.”


Justin Martyr, First Apology, Chapters 65–67 (c. AD 155)

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We can actually go even earlier.

Around 96 AD, Clement of Rome (often understood to be the Clement mentioned in Philippians 4:3) wrote to the church in Corinth and explained how the apostles appointed leaders for the churches:

The apostles have preached the Gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ from God. Christ therefore was sent forth by God, and the apostles by Christ… So preaching everywhere in country and town, they appointed their firstfruits, having tested them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons of those who should believe.”


Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 42 (c. AD 96)

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He then explains that the apostles expected this leadership to continue:

Our apostles knew through our Lord Jesus Christ that there would be strife over the office of the bishop. For this reason… they appointed those already mentioned, and afterwards gave instructions that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them in their ministry.”


Clement of Rome, First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 44

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We also see this reflected in the Didache, an early Christian instruction manual usually dated somewhere between 70–100 AD:

Therefore appoint for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, and truthful and proven; for they also carry out for you the ministry of the prophets and teachers.”


Didache, Chapter 15

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This is just a small sampling of evidence.

All that said – is this the Old Testament priesthood? No, it is not the same. There is one mediator between God and Man – Jesus Christ.

However, there is clearly an ordered ministry within the Church. There are those appointed to oversee, guide, shepherd, administer sacraments and more. People are chosen by the laying on of hands all the way back to the initial laying on of hands of the apostles.

Are we all priests? In a sense yes — we participate in the universal priesthood of believers.

However, we are not all appointed and called to the role of presbyter (elder/priest), bishop, or deacon.