Priesthood

In the New Covenant there is not a priesthood in a manner of priesthood that exists in present Christian denominations.  The Old Testament congregation included the office of a priest.  In the New Covenant God has not designated a distinct office of a priest in between Him and the believers.  There is only one High Priest, the man Messiah Yeshua (1 Tim 2:5) and His body, the congregation as priests.

The Hebrew word for priestly office is כמרות (400 ת + 6 ו + 200 ר + 40 מ + 20 כ) = 666, its numerical value.

From the word כמר (KAMAR) a Christian priest, cf. כהן (KOHEN) a priest who is a descendant of Aaron.

1 Peter 2:5: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Yeshua the Messiah.” and Rev. 1:6: “…And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; …”

Designating a clergy in congregations at the post apostolic time is not a Biblical act.  E.g. Eph. 4:11 in New Testament shows us that there are certain “ministers” in the congregation: “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”  But these ministries are entirely different than the present office of priesthood in Christian denominations.

Moshe Zew