Duties of new testament priests

In the New Testament, the term "priest" (Greek: ἱερεύς, hiereus) refers to a member of the Jewish priestly class, who served in the Temple in Jerusalem. After the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the early Christian church continued to recognize the importance of priestly ministry, but with a new focus on the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10).

In the New Testament, the duties of priests are not as clearly defined as they were in the Old Testament, but we can gather some information from the following passages:

  1. Offering sacrifices: Priests continued to offer sacrifices, but now they were offered to God through Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11-14; 10:1-14).
  2. Interceding for others: Priests were to intercede for the people, praying to God on their behalf (Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 5:7).
  3. Teaching and preaching: Priests were to teach and preach the word of God to the people (Acts 6:4; 15:35).
  4. Leading worship: Priests were to lead the people in worship, including singing, praying, and offering sacrifices (Hebrews 13:15).
  5. Caring for the poor and needy: Priests were to care for the poor and needy, as Jesus had done (Matthew 25:31-46).
  6. Maintaining spiritual purity: Priests were to maintain their own spiritual purity, setting an example for the people (Hebrews 7:26; 10:1-14).
  7. Administering the sacraments: Priests were to administer the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, which were seen as a continuation of the Old Testament rituals (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
  8. Guiding the church: Priests were to guide the church, providing spiritual leadership and direction (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5-9).

In the New Testament, the term "priest" is not limited to a specific group of people, but is applied to all believers who have been made priests through their faith in Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10). This means that every Christian has a priestly ministry, and is called to exercise their spiritual gifts and abilities to serve others and build up the body of Christ.