From OT rabbis to NT priests

[Deanna Leonti]

Can we look at the historical point from O.T. Rabbi to N.T. Priest?

Thank You,

Deanna

[Father David Moser]

Can we look at the historical point from O.T. Rabbi to N.T. Priest?

I don't know that these two offices have any substantial connection. The Rabbi is/was a scholar, one learned in the law and the prophets, an expert on the talmudic commentary on the scripture. He really has no ordained role. He is the leader of the local synagogue, or gathering of the men of the community and takes the first place in prayer. But it was not really a special "calling" but more something that was related to knowledge of the law and seniority. There probably is a closer connection between an islamic imam and the office of rabbi than between the rabbi and the Orthodox priest. The priest is one who is set aside by God and the Church to administer the sacraments and guide the flock in his care in the path of salvation. He is put in this position not by learning and study or even by age and seniority, but rather by the sacrament of ordination in which the grace of the priesthood is bestowed upon him by the Holy Spirit through the laying on of the bishop's hands. If there is any relationship to an OT office, I would say that the NT priest is closer in role and substance to the OT priesthood (although there are still significant differences in th nature of the two).

Fr David Moser

[Kosta]

Originally the Jerusalem church was considered a sect of judaism. The original apostles and other jewish-christians still attended temple worship, we can assume then that James may have been viewed as a rabbi within the lineage of mainstream judaism, unfortunately we have no documentation on how the jews viewed James, or even how the first jewish-christians viewed him as leader in relation to judaism.

Many aspects of practises within christianity are found in the jewish sect of the essenes, this includes baptism, a belief in the immortality of the soul, also the essenes considered there common meal to be sacramental in nature and did not share it with outsiders. In fact even their version of a "catechumen" who would be given probation for 3 years was excluded from theur meals until he was fully accepted as one of their own.
One aspect of the Essenes which was similar to the Church in Jerusalem was the members held all possesions in common. The president of the essene congregations was strictly obeyed.

That the NT priest is the one who consecrates the Eucharist, which is the bloddless sacrifice would parralel the ot priesthood (NT= saducees) where the priests sacrificed the animal offerings.
Most likely the NT priesthood has retained elements of all three: rabbi (especially the pharisaic rabbis who always preached the ressurection and many of whom were christians) , OT priesthood (saducees), president over his congregation paralleling the essene leadership.

If Christianity has jewish roots or as some believe a continuation of judaism then having retained elements of all three groups is actually common sense since Josephus the historian in his Antiquities writes:

"The jews since antiquity have had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves, that of the Essenes, the Saduccees and third the philosophy of those called the pharisees

"

[Deanna Leonti]

Thank You
for your replies.

Deanna