21- Does priesthood contradict equality among the faithful?

 

St-Takla.org Image: Our Mother Virgin Mary, and the Holy Spirit صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: العذراء مريم أمنا، و رمز الروح القدس

Those who object to priesthood seem to confuse equality with role and variance in responsibility and grade of the different services.

They see a contradiction between levels of responsibility and equality in sonship to Christ.

They claim that the selection and anointing of a selective group of people is a character of the Old Testament. In this section we will show that God does not change His way with Man.

(James 1:17) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The third objection

Those who object against the idea of priesthood, say that we are all equal. They support their arguments with various verses from which we are going to take a sample.

(Gal 3:28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

(Mat 20:25-28) But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. {26} "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. {27} "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave; {28} "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

The Apostolic succession and the laying on of hands

Priesthood Books by H. H. Pope Shenouda III

Equality In Sonship Allows For Authority And Variations In Roles