Description
In recent years, numerous books have explored Christology (the nature of Jesus himself) and soteriology (his work as Savior), along with significant ecumenical documents on Christian ministry. Yet, despite this wealth of literature, there has been surprisingly little discussion about the priesthood of Christ—the foundation of all ministry, whether the universal priesthood of believers or ordained priesthood. This book seeks to address that gap by exploring, in light of Scripture and Christian tradition, the meaning of Christ’s priesthood.
The study begins with an examination of biblical sources before turning to the insights of the Church Fathers, Thomas Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, the Council of Trent, the 17th-century French School, John Henry Newman, T.F. Torrance, and the Second Vatican Council. The final two chapters present twelve key theses outlining the essential characteristics of Christ’s priesthood and what it means to participate in it through baptism and ordination.
