The Priesthood of Some Believers

by Colin Bulley, David F. Wright

Overview

The author examines the Christian literature of the first three centuries for evidence of the development both of the special priesthood of the ordained and the general priesthood of all believers. He demonstrates that the development of the special priesthood was closely linked to the emerging
division between the clergy and the laity, and that these developments harmed the expression of the general priesthood. 'The Priesthood of Some Believers' is the only detailed and comprehensive study of the way the development of the special priesthood affected that of the general priesthood.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781842270349
Publisher:	Authentic UK
Publication date:	03/08/2018
Series:	Studies in Christian History and Thought Series
Pages:	350
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Rev Dr Colin Bulley (PhD, BD, BA) is Academic Dean and Vice Principal of Redcliffe College in Gloucester, UK.

Table of Contents

Foreword     IX
Preface     XI
Introduction     1
Aim and outline     1
Some remarks on terminology     2
Modern Discussion of Priesthood     3
Reasons why study of this subject is important today     3
Non-priestly issues raised     6
Issues regarding the priesthood of the ordained     8
Summary and relevance of these issues to this study     17
Priesthood in the New Testament     20
Are church leaders viewed as priests in a way different from other believers?     20
Attitudes towards priesthood, temple and cult     30
NT teaching on the Christian, the church and ministry     44
Conclusion     48
The Developing Understanding of Church Leaders as Priests in the First Three Centuries     51
The Apostolic Fathers     51
The period of the second-century Apologists     59
Tertullian     68
Hippolytus     77
Clement of Alexandria     85
Origen     94
Cyprian and the Western church in the mid-third century     111
The Didascalia Apostolorum     125
Summary and conclusion     132
Developments in theUnderstanding of the General Priesthood in the First Three Centuries     141
The Apostolic Fathers     141
The period of the second-century Apologists     150
Tertullian     162
Hippolytus     176
Clement of Alexandria     180
Origen     188
Cyprian and the Western church in the mid-third century     203
Other third-century material     210
Summary and conclusion     216
Developments bearing on the Relationship between the General and Special Priesthoods     227
The Apostolic Fathers     228
The period of the second-century Apologists     237
Tertullian and the North African Church c.195-215     250
Hippolytus and the Roman church c.220-235     263
Clement and the Alexandrian church c.180-c.200     274
Origen and the Alexandrian and Caesarean churches c.200-c.250     279
Cyprian and the Western church in the mid-third century     292
Other third-century material     306
Summary and conclusion     312
Summary and Conclusion     316
Summary and conclusion thus far     316
Related matters and further conclusions     320
Bibliography     327