The Old Paths
A Kingdom of Priests
Every One of Them, Not a Class Above Them
Clergy over the People
At Sinai, Yahuah described the whole nation: “ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). When two men prophesied in the camp and Joshua wanted them stopped, Moses answered, “would God that all Yahuah’s people were prophets” (Numbers 11:29).
The apostles say the same to every believer: “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9), and Yahushua “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (Revelation 1:6). Yahushua warned against titles that lift one man over the rest: “be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master… and all ye are brethren” (Matthew 23:8).
The assembly has elders and overseers who serve, teach, and keep watch — but they are brothers among brothers, not a priesthood standing between the people and Yahuah. There is “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5) — and no second one, whether he wears a collar or a suit.