Psalms 132 Priest

Catholics insist there is a distinct class of Priest in the New Testament. Others believe in the priesthood of all believers. There isn't much evidence for a Catholic priesthood but there are a few verses in the Old and New Testament to deal with.

As mentioned in a different article Christ listed priest and presbyter as different offices. The Catholic teaching priest meant presbyter is false.

Yet there are passages showing priests in the New Testament.

Rev 1:6  AndG2532 hath madeG4160 usG2248 kingsG935 andG2532 priestsG2409 unto GodG2316 andG2532 hisG848 Father;G3962 to himG846 be gloryG1391 andG2532 dominionG2904 for ever and ever.G1519 G165 G165 Amen.G281

Notice the idea isn't just priests, but kings and priests. Christians are both. The question is are all Christians kings and priests, or just the apostles and prophets, or is it speaking of a priesthood like Catholics practice.

We know John includes himself, because he uses the term "Us". This priesthood is from Christ and toward the Father. It includes the Apostles. The antecedent is the 7 churches of Asia and those whom Christ has washed with his blood. Thus, John sees all the washed as kings and priests. In v1 the revelation is for God's servants. So the kings and priests are God's servants.

The question is whether all Christians are God's servants. We do know that when Christians are baptized they are servants, they become servants.

Rom 6:16  KnowG1492 ye not,G3756 thatG3754 to whomG3739 ye yieldG3936 yourselvesG1438 servantsG1401 toG1519 obey,G5218 his servantsG1401 ye areG2075 to whomG3739 ye obey;G5219 whetherG2273 of sinG266 untoG1519 death,G2288 orG2228 of obedienceG5218 untoG1519 righteousness?G1343

All who obey Christ are servants.

Rom 6:22  ButG1161 nowG3570 being made freeG1659 fromG575 sin,G266 andG1161 become servantsG1402 to God,G2316 ye haveG2192 yourG5216 fruitG2590 untoG1519 holiness,G38 andG1161 theG3588 endG5056 everlastingG166 life.G2222

The word servant involves all who have become obedient to the Name of Christ.

Also, all Christians though servants are also Lord's, as Paul used Lords in the plural sense.

Gal 4:1  NowG1161 I say,G3004 That theG3588 heir,G2818 as long asG3745 he(G5550) isG2076 a child,G3516 differethG1308 nothingG3762 from a servant,G1401 though he beG5607 lordG2962 of all;G3956

Gal 4:2  ButG235 isG2076 underG5259 tutorsG2012 andG2532 governorsG3623 untilG891 theG3588 time appointedG4287 of theG3588 father.G3962

Gal 4:3  EvenG2532 soG3779 we,G2249 whenG3753 we wereG2258 children,G3516 wereG2258 in bondageG1402 underG5259 theG3588 elementsG4747 of theG3588 world:G2889

The idea all Christians are kings and all are priests isn't far fetched but has support in scripture.

We see this at the end of the Revelation where all partaking of the first resurrection are kings and priests.

Rev_20:6  BlessedG3107 andG2532 holyG40 is he that hathG2192 partG3313 inG1722 theG3588 firstG4413 resurrection:G386 onG1909 suchG5130 theG3588 secondG1208 deathG2288 hathG2192 noG3756 power,G1849 butG235 they shall beG2071 priestsG2409 of GodG2316 andG2532 of Christ,G5547 andG2532 shall reignG936 withG3326 himG846 a thousandG5507 years.G2094

All who take part are rulers with God, and all priests.

 

This helps  explain Psalms 132:16, whether it is speaking of the Old Testament priesthood, or speaking of Christians, or speaking of Old Testament priests becoming Christians.

Psa 132:16  I will also clotheH3847 her priestsH3548 with salvation:H3468 and her saintsH2623 shall shout aloud for joy.H7442 H7442

Is this speaking of Old Testament Priests becoming Christians.

Act_6:7  AndG2532 theG3588 wordG3056 of GodG2316 increased;G837 andG2532 theG3588 numberG706 of theG3588 disciplesG3101 multipliedG4129 inG1722 JerusalemG2419 greatly;G4970 andG5037 a greatG4183 companyG3793 of theG3588 priestsG2409 were obedientG5219 to theG3588 faith.G4102

or is it speaking of Christian priests, as Revelation says all who partake of the 1st resurrection are priests and rulers.

Either way there is no proof within the verses of the Catholic priesthood, or of elders only being priests.

Psalms 132:12-16 seems to correlate with Revelation 2-3

Psa 132:12  IfH518 thy childrenH1121 will keepH8104 my covenantH1285 and my testimonyH5713 thatH2097 I shall teachH3925 them, their childrenH1121 shall alsoH1571 sitH3427 upon thy throneH3678 for evermore.H5704 H5703

Psa 132:13  ForH3588 the LORDH3068 hath chosenH977 Zion;H6726 he hath desiredH183 it for his habitation.H4186

Psa 132:14  ThisH2063 is my restH4496 for ever:H5704 H5703 hereH6311 will I dwell;H3427 forH3588 I have desiredH183 it.

Psa 132:15  I will abundantly blessH1288 H1288 her provision:H6718 I will satisfyH7646 her poorH34 with bread.H3899

Psa 132:16  I will also clotheH3847 her priestsH3548 with salvation:H3468 and her saintsH2623 shall shout aloud for joy.H7442 H7442

This corresponds with Revelation

Rev_3:21  To himG846 that overcomethG3528 will I grantG1325 to sitG2523 withG3326 meG1700 inG1722 myG3450 throne,G2362 even asG5613 I alsoG2504 overcame,G3528 andG2532 am set downG2523 withG3326 myG3450 FatherG3962 inG1722 hisG848 throne.G2362

It seems this right is for all who overcome, not just for a limited priesthood.