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a person; (4) the “high priests” were at that period mere puppets of Roman authorities
who deposed them at will, with the result that the title was used more loosely than in
former days.
The divine institution of the priesthood culminated in the “high priest,” it being his
duty to represent the whole people, e.g., Lev. 4:15, 16; ch. 16. The characteristics of the
Aaronic “high priests” are enumerated in Heb. 5:1-4; 8:3; 9:7, 25; in some mss., 10:11
(
RV
, marg.); 13:11.
(b) Christ is set forth in this respect in the Ep. to the Hebrews, where He is spoken of
as “a high priest,” 4:15; 5:5, 10; 6:20; 7:26; 8:1, 3 (
RV
); 9:11; “a great high priest,” 4:14;
“a great priest,” 10:21; “a merciful and faithful high priest,” 2:17; “the Apostle and high
priest of our confession,” 3:1,
RV
; “a high priest after the order of Melchizedek,” 5:10.
One of the great objects of this Epistle is to set forth the superiority of Christ’s High
Priesthood as being of an order different from and higher than the Aaronic, in that He is
the Son of God (see especially 7:28), with a priesthood of the Melchizedek order. Seven
outstanding features of His priesthood are stressed, (1) its character, 5:6, 10; (2) His
commission, 5:4, 5; (3) His preparation, 2:17; 10:5; (4) His sacrifice, 8:3; 9:12, 14, 27,
28; 10:4-12; (5) His sanctuary, 4:14; 8:2; 9:11, 12, 24; 10:12, 19; (6) His ministry, 2:18;
4:15; 7:25; 8:6; 9:15, 24; (7) its effects, 2:15; 4:16; 6:19, 20; 7:16, 25; 9:14, 28; 10:14-17,
22, 39; 12:1; 13:13-17.
Note:
In Acts 4:6 the adjective
, “high priestly,” is translated “of the high
priest.”
PRIESTHOOD, PRIEST’S OFFICE
A. Nouns.
1.
$
(
, $1
, 2406) denotes “a priesthood” (akin to
$
, see
below), “a body of priests,” consisting of all believers, the whole church (not a special
order from among them), called “a holy priesthood,” 1 Pet. 2:5; “a royal priesthood,” v.
9; the former term is associated with offering spiritual sacrifices, the latter with the royal
dignity of showing forth the Lord’s excellencies (
RV
).¶ In the Sept., Exod. 19:6; 23:22.¶
2.
$
(
, $ "
, 2420), “a priesthood,” signifies the office, quality, rank and
ministry of “a priest,” Heb. 7:11, 12, 24, where the contrasts between the Levitical
“priesthood” and that of Christ are set forth.¶ In the Sept., 1 Chron. 29:22.¶
3.
(
, $ &
, 2405), “a priesthood,” denotes the priest’s office, Luke 1:9;
Heb. 7:5,
RV
, “priest’s office.”¶
B. Verb.
$
(
, $ "
, 2407) signifies “to officiate as a priest,” Luke 1:8, “he executed
the priest’s office.”¶
PRINCE
1.
(
$
, 747), primarily an adjective signifying “originating,
beginning,” is used as a noun, denoting “a founder, author, prince or leader,” Acts 3:15,
“Prince” (marg., “Author”); 5:31; see
AUTHOR
, No. 2.
2.
(
/$
, 758), the present participle of the verb
, “to rule”; denotes “a
ruler, a prince.” It is used as follows (“p” denoting “prince,” or “princes”; “r,” “ruler” or
“rulers”): (a) of Christ, as “the Ruler (
KJV
, Prince) of the kings of the earth,” Rev. 1:5; (b)