Priesthood (Catholic Church)

The priest is in Christianity, as in many other religions, an official of worship. The exact understanding of the priest inherent religious force or its mediation differs between the Christian confessions. The German word priest comes from the Greek πρεσβύτερος, presbyteros, " elder". The word presbyter is derived in most European languages ​​it. Other languages ​​found in the word to the semantic field of Greek ἱερός, hieros, " holy, consecrated " or Latin sacerdos, "priest".

Ordination

The ordination is in the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Old Catholic and Anglican churches, the second stage of the three stage Sacrament of Orders. Even the Christian community knows the priesthood, but not other levels of ordination.

Early Christianity

The New Testament seems to provide no mediating priest class for the emerging Gentile Christianity: " For there is one God, one is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" ( 1 Tim 2:5 EU). Therefore, the title of the high priest the early Gentile Christianity used exclusively in the view of Jesus Christ, such as in Heb 4:14-16 EU, EU 5:1-6. The term of the priest in the cultic sense ( Kohanim, hiereus ) is used in the New Testament for all who believed in Jesus Christ (eg, 1 Peter 2:9 EU, Rev 1.6 EU). The offices mentioned in the New Testament are the service functions mainly Gentile followers of Jesus Christ.

By the growth of the Gentile mission, the Gentile Christian communities and their institutional strengthening, through the development of new Christian liturgy and doctrine, not least because of the anti-gnostic debate, won the offices of weight. In the second century, to today's widespread tripartite structure formed out: bishop, elder ( presbyteros ) and deacon. The German concept of the priest has etymologically " presbyteros " developed from the Greek term.

Understanding of ministry

In several churches, a different understanding of the priesthood has developed:

Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican theology

In the understanding of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Old Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, the bishops, priests and deacons are by ordination (ordination ), which is a sacrament of God forever by a special character ( indelible character ) from the Christian believers segregated and discriminated within the people of God from the laity. You are empowered within the people of God to a particular ministry. Within the three-stage Sacrament of Holy Orders ( bishop - presbyters ( " priests " ) - deacon ) are the first two priestly offices, while the deacons are not appointed to the priesthood but for service. However, this was seen in the early days of Christianity differently, such as in the Didaskalia Apostolorum, which provides the deacons metaphorically about the priest.

In the Roman Catholic Church, the priestly offices are limited to men; There were exceptions in the states of the Eastern Bloc. The majority of the Old Catholic Churches of the Anglican Communion and practiced the ordination of women.

In succession to the apostles the task of the priest is to proclaim the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments, especially the management of the Eucharist. The priest is there " in persona Christi ". So the consecration confers a special relationship with Christ. The sacrament legitimizes the continuation of priestly functions in the Church of Christ. The Roman Catholic tradition with this view since the 11th century celibacy, which applies in the Orthodox churches only for bishops. The bishops of the Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches see themselves in the unbroken succession of the Apostles, which is passed through the imposition of hands and prayer of consecration (Acts 8,18 EU, EU Acts 14:23, Heb 6.2 EU, 2 Tim 1:6 EU ).

A priest normally stands in front of a parish as pastor. However, priests can be entrusted with other tasks, such as a medal, to ecclesiastical centers ( places of pilgrimage, etc.), in the Ordinariate, in hospitals, homes, schools, Catholic theological faculties, academies, etc. In the Old Catholic Churches there are also numerous priestesses and priests who preside over any own community but carry out their duties honorary addition to one or a full-time clergy.

Since the Second Vatican Council, the universal priesthood of all in Baptism and Confirmation associated with Christ people will be made ​​more explicit. (However, speaking Catholic theology rather from the common priesthood. ) This is carried out according to Catholic view but not in equal participation, but the interaction of the church members, depending on the appointment and term of office (see: hierarchy).

In church the priest wears vestments as chasuble, alb, stole. However, other liturgical services do ( acolyte, readers, cantors ), wear liturgical ( in memory of the christening gown predominantly white ) clothing that reflects all the common baptismal priesthood (see: Liturgical garment). The cassock was formerly the usual everyday dress of the Catholic priest. Today, priests can wear civilian clothes, but it should be recognizable as a priest.

Lutheran theology

The term priest is for Lutheran pastors possible, in the German and other countries, however, rather unusual.

An application of the term "priest" for Lutheran clergy is found in the confessional writings of the Evangelical Lutheran Church:

" In contrast, in our churches waiting for the priests of their duties fairly, teach, and preach the gospel, preach Christ, that we are not to our works sake, but for Christ's sake have forgiveness of sins and a gracious God. [ ... ] And if so, the Lord's Supper or the Mass shall be the daily sacrifice genennet so want cheaper so hot in us the fair. [ ... ] So we now keep the preaching of the Gospel and the right usage of the sacraments with us, so we have no doubt the daily sacrifice. "

The BSLK course, go with the term " priest " for the Lutheran clergy to own. So is circumscribed the content of the priestly ministry, which coincides with the doctrine of justification, the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments einseztungsgemäßen because of the confessions.

A further precipitation, the Lutheran priest phrase in the song We thank you, O faithful God of the Lutheran theologian Nicolaus Selnecker found, the song can be found as Beichtlied in the Evangelical Lutheran Church hymnal of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church. It says in verse 2:

"Through priest mouth you say, My child, you are forgiven all sins go, and sin no more and Allweg you to me bekehr. "

In everyday parlance for Lutheran pastor finds the term "priest" is also in the Lutheran churches of the Baltic states and Scandinavia. The Lutheran churches in Germany and other Lutheran churches belonging to the Lutheran World Federation to use for their pastor usually not the term " priest ". They refer to Martin Luther's doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, which is conductive for the priest expression of the other Protestant churches ( see below). Through the ordination or consecration to the ministry also how it can be called in the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church, the priest is ordered for special service to the proclamation of the Word and administration of the sacraments, blessed and sent. In the proclamation of law and gospel and the administration of the sacraments, he represents Christ and is available to the community. By ordination among prayer and laying on of hands, the Holy Spirit is communicated effectively and the pastor of Christ authorized on his behalf and on his behalf to teach, preach and administer the sacraments. Can therefore be understood as a consecration to the ministry of sacramental character with the Lutheran Confessions ordination, such as the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church.

" But where you want the sacrament of the Order called a sacrament of the ministry and the Gospel, it would have no greater burden to call ordination a sacrament. Because the ministry God has appointed and commanded, and has wonderful promise of God. If you want to understand that is the sacrament of the Order (Spiritual Authority), so you 'd also the laying on of hands a sacrament call. Because the church has God's command that they should order a preacher and Diakonos. "

The Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church and numerous Lutheran churches outside Germany the Lutheran priest to wear the vestments, Alba, stole and chasuble, or even alb and stole as a sign that he is the owner of the ministry and empowered by Christ to publicly teach and administer the sacraments.

Lutheran pastors see themselves in the teaching of succession, which includes the staff succession with, in the continuity of a holy catholic and apostolic Church. However, a sacrificial priesthood, as it is believed by Lutherans in the Roman Catholic theology, they reject. With the Evangelical Lutheran confessional writings the ministry of the apostolate is derived.

" Now, because Paul clearly testifies he did not want ansuechen that he allowed to preach to him, even in those days, as at the last he had come to him at Petro, we have a certain doctrine that the Predigtampt by the common profession of the Apostles herkomment, and is not that all that some person of Peter have professional or confirmation. "

The ministry is reserved in most churches bekenntnislutherischen men. The vast number of Lutheran churches worldwide practice the ordination of women.

Protestant Theology

The Protestant theology refuses, citing the ecclesiology of their interpretation of the New Testament a special priesthood in the Church on principle. A Protestant pastor is not a priest. All the baptized have equal share in the priesthood of Christ. The ordination of the Protestant pastor or pastors shall be a mandate and an act of blessing, not as a sacrament. In Reformed and Presbyterian churches, the word " presbyter ," produced as " priests " of presbyteros, for the member of the municipal council, the presbytery, and is therefore not to be confused with a priest, pastor or priest. In the evangelical Christians in contrast to the Catholic ministerial priesthood, the priesthood of all believers is true.

Ecumenical Perspectives

The contrast in the view of ecclesiastical offices and in the question of their legitimacy is now one of the biggest obstacles of Church unity. In the understanding of the priestly ministry, there are also approximations. Most churches agree now agree that there is a special office in the Church, which also represents the opposite of Christ to the community. This office is evangelischerseits at the Rectory, Catholic side seen in the Episcopate.

In Roman Catholicism, a single legally fixed subdivision of priestly services without access to the sacramental understood apostolic succession is not allowed. It starts from an ordained ministry, in the episcopal ordination has its fullness. The College of Bishops confirmed it by the succession in the rite of laying on of hands the remains of the whole Church in succession to the teaching of the apostles. Thus, as a priest of the church only teach and guide, who is appointed by a bishop to do so. The Protestant Church knows the succession in terms of adherence to the true apostolic doctrine. There, when thinking Catholic side unilaterally legally and evangelischerseits not unilaterally pneumatologically, quite ecumenical points of contact.

Latter-day Saints ( "Mormon " )

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints, the priest is the third or highest office in the Aaronic Priesthood. In this church there is a general ministerial priesthood of men. Each boy may be ordained to the priesthood in the normal case at the age of sixteen. A maximum of forty-eight priests form a quorum, a group that meets regularly. The duties of the priest in the Aaronic Priesthood are to preach, teach, expound, exhort, baptize, and administer the sacrament in sacrament meeting. He may at the direction of the bishop ( church leaders ) ordain other priests, teachers, and deacons. It helps the bishop to watch over the community by helping needy and elderly and " peacemaker " is. It also supports the bishop in the care and maintenance of church buildings and grounds.