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If the Catholics ''did'' have the authority, then Protestants were wrong to leave in the first place. | If the Catholics ''did'' have the authority, then Protestants were wrong to leave in the first place. | ||
And, the Church rejected the view that the priesthood was "non-transferrable." Biblical scholarship has now "caught up" to this view, but Joseph Smith had it right in the first place. | And, the Church rejected the view that the priesthood was "non-transferrable." Biblical scholarship has now "caught up" to this view, but Joseph Smith had it right in the first place. | ||
===Reading Hebrews 7:24=== | |||
As seen above, most critics of the LDS Church rest most of their argument against the LDS doctrine of priesthood on {{s||Hebrews|7|24}}: | |||
:But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an ''unchangeable'' priesthood.{{ea}} | |||
The critics of the LDS Church interpret the word "unchangeable" as meaning non-transferable. Therefore, they say, the Priesthood that Christ held (the Melchizedek Priesthood) could not be transferred to anyone. But, as we have seen, this relies on an out-dated reading of the Greek. Such a view was defensible in the 19th century; it can no longer be sustained. | |||
But, even if we grant the critics' obsolete reading, could this be the correct interpretation? If so, there is a glaring contradiction within this very chapter, for verse twelve says the priesthood has changed: | |||
:''For the priesthood ''being changed'', there is made of necessity ''a change'' also of the law.''({{s||Hebrews|7|12}}) {{ea}} | |||
Either the priesthood is transferable (changeable), from Christ to others, or it is not. Which verse are we to believe? Let's take a closer look at this "unchangeable" priesthood in {{s||Hebrews|7|11-24}}: | |||
* ''11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical (Aaronic) priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) '' | |||
(under the Aaronic priesthood, the people received the law of Moses -- an eye for an eye) | |||
* ''what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? '' | |||
(Those that hold the authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, also hold the authority of the lessor, or the Aaronic Priesthood) | |||
* ''12 For the priesthood being changed, '' | |||
(Here is a glaring contradiction to what the critics claim, for it clearly says the priesthood "changed." Let's continue to examine just what changed, and what the term means in | |||
context.) | |||
* ''there is made of necessity a change also of the law.'' | |||
(The Law of Moses changed, not the priesthood. In other words, when Christ came, he gave a higher law. For example, the law was no longer an "eye for an eye," it was "turn the other cheek." Along with this higher law, came a higher priesthood, which is what is meant by "changed.") | |||
* ''13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe | |||
Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. '' | |||
(Moses did not speak about the Melchizedek Priesthood and the higher law, which the Lord had, but he did speak of the Aaronic Priesthood, or the lower law.) | |||
* ''15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, '' | |||
(This priest is Jesus Christ) | |||
* ''16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, '' | |||
(The Law of Moses—An Eye for an Eye) | |||
* ''but after the power of an endless life. '' | |||
(The higher law, which Christ brought, which will lead us to eternal life.) | |||
* ''17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.'' | |||
(Christ, and the priesthood authority He holds -- the Melchizedek Priesthood -- is eternal -- without end.) | |||
* ''18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. '' | |||
(The Law of Moses was abolished with the institution of the higher Law brought by Christ.) | |||
* ''19 For the law [Mosaic Law] made nothing perfect '' | |||
(We could not become perfect as our Father in Heaven commanded us to be by obedience to the | |||
Mosaic Law, for it does not contain the authority for the saving ordinances of salvation—the "keys" to bind in heaven and on earth, or in today's terminology, temple ordinances) | |||
* ''but the bringing in of a better hope did;'' | |||
(A better hope, or a higher law, which brought the authority for the saving ordinances) | |||
* ''by the which we draw nigh unto God.'' | |||
(It is through this higher law, by partaking of the temple ordinances, that we can "draw nigh" unto God, or become like Him, which is to "be perfect" {as God is perfect} as He commanded us—Matthew 5:48.) | |||
* ''20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:'' | |||
(This is in reference to the oath and covenant of the priesthood.) | |||
* ''21 (For those priests'' | |||
(The priests of the Aaronic, or Levitical, priesthood) | |||
* ''were made without an oath;'' | |||
(The Aaronic, or lessor, priesthood, does not require an oath or covenant.) | |||
* ''but this [This = Higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood] with an oath'' | |||
:''"When a priesthood holder takes upon himself the Melchizedek Priesthood, he does so by oath | |||
and covenant. This is not so with the Aaronic Priesthood. The covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood is that a priesthood holder will magnify his calling in the priesthood, will give diligent heed to the commandments of God, and will live by every word which proceeds "from | |||
the mouth of God" (see D&C 84:33-44). The oath of the Melchizedek Priesthood is an irrevocable promise by God to faithful priesthood holders. "All that my Father hath shall be given unto them" (see{{s||DC|84|38}}). This oath by Deity, coupled with the covenant by faithful priesthood holders, is referred to as the oath and covenant of the priesthood."''{{ref|benson1}} | |||
* ''by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)'' | |||
(The Melchizedek Priesthood is eternal) | |||
* ''22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man (Jesus Christ), because he continueth ever, [Eternal] hath an unchangeable [Eternal] priesthood.'' | |||
(In context, this verse (24) that critics use to try to argue against the priesthood, is saying that since Jesus Christ is eternal, so is the authority He has. It is this same authority that Christ passed on to his Apostles, and they, passed on to others in the Church.) | |||
:''This explanation should make it plain that the law, or schoolmaster (see Galatians 3:24), to lead the people unto Christ was administered by the Aaronic, or Levitical, Priesthood. However, perfection cannot be obtained through this priesthood alone, as Paul explained. Therefore, it was necessary for the Lord to send another priest after the order of Melchizedek. The priesthood thus being changed, there was "of necessity a change also of the law."''{{ref|richards1}} | |||
The fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore, was introduced by him to take the place of the law of Moses. | |||
==Conclusion== | |||
The claim that priesthood is non-transferrable fails on linguistic, scriptural, scholarly, and logical grounds. | |||
==Endnotes== | ==Endnotes== |
Answers portal |
Early Christianity & Apostasy |
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Apostasy Authority: and Priesthood
Doctrinal shift:
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Critics claim that only Jesus held the priesthood, and that such priesthood was not 'transferable' to members of the Church.
Search for the Truth DVD (2007) Resources
One of the things that people who are opposed to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints criticize us for is our belief in the Priesthood. Latter-day Saints believe the Priesthood is the authority God has given man to perform the ordinances (e.g. baptism, sacrament, sealing, etc.) that Jesus has declared to be necessary, in order that the atonement may have full effect in our lives.
Our critics oppose the Priesthood, claiming it does not exist among mortals, as Jesus Christ is the only one with the Priesthood. Unfortunately for them, the Bible contradicts them.
Anti-Mormon critics tend to use older references, since these references agree with their idea that the Melchizedek priesthood is "untransferable."
However, this view is dated and incorrect. In Bauer's Greek-English lexicon, we read:
Thus, it is the priesthood which is unchangeable, rather than being untransferrable. The critics' stance is not supported by the Biblical text. Rather, the priesthood is a permanent and necessary part of the Church—any Church claiming it is unnecessary does not meet the Biblical model.
The ten-volume Theological Dictionary of the New Testament agrees, in which the word aparabatos is discussed:
The statement 'yields a good sense' suggests that those who choose that translation are probably doing so for theological reasons, not grammatical or linguistic reasons; and the TDNT author is voting against such a choice.
In a review of Walter Martin's book, The Maze of Mormonism, in which Martin bases his argument against the Melchizedek Priesthood on the interpretation of "unchangeable" being "non-transferable, Richard Lloyd Anderson informs us that:
So we see that it is incorrect to interpret "unchangeable" as "nontransferable."
And:
More modern versions of the Bible agree with this interpretation.
The critics' interpretation of "unchangeable" to mean "non-transferable" does not stand up to scripture, correct doctrine, Biblical scholarship, or Greek terminology.
For an examination of Bible teachings about priesthood authority, see: What does the Bible teach about priesthood?.
It is understandable that creedal Protestant Christians (who make up the vast majority of sectarian anti-Mormons) desperately need the priesthood, as understood by Latter-day Saints, to be non-existent today. The whole idea of authority, direct from God, being necessary for the saving ordinances of mankind, completely undermines and destroys the traditionally accepted doctrine that one is "saved by faith alone." It also completely destroys their own claims to authority, since they are the result of a break-off from the Roman Catholic faith.
If the Catholics did not have the priesthood authority, then the Protestants cannot have taken it with them. Hence, they are anxious to claim a "priesthood of all believers," or claim priesthood isn't needed at all.
If the Catholics did have the authority, then Protestants were wrong to leave in the first place. And, the Church rejected the view that the priesthood was "non-transferrable." Biblical scholarship has now "caught up" to this view, but Joseph Smith had it right in the first place.
As seen above, most critics of the LDS Church rest most of their argument against the LDS doctrine of priesthood on Hebrews 7꞉24:
The critics of the LDS Church interpret the word "unchangeable" as meaning non-transferable. Therefore, they say, the Priesthood that Christ held (the Melchizedek Priesthood) could not be transferred to anyone. But, as we have seen, this relies on an out-dated reading of the Greek. Such a view was defensible in the 19th century; it can no longer be sustained.
But, even if we grant the critics' obsolete reading, could this be the correct interpretation? If so, there is a glaring contradiction within this very chapter, for verse twelve says the priesthood has changed:
Either the priesthood is transferable (changeable), from Christ to others, or it is not. Which verse are we to believe? Let's take a closer look at this "unchangeable" priesthood in Hebrews 7꞉11-24:
(under the Aaronic priesthood, the people received the law of Moses -- an eye for an eye)
(Those that hold the authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, also hold the authority of the lessor, or the Aaronic Priesthood)
(Here is a glaring contradiction to what the critics claim, for it clearly says the priesthood "changed." Let's continue to examine just what changed, and what the term means in context.)
(The Law of Moses changed, not the priesthood. In other words, when Christ came, he gave a higher law. For example, the law was no longer an "eye for an eye," it was "turn the other cheek." Along with this higher law, came a higher priesthood, which is what is meant by "changed.")
Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
(Moses did not speak about the Melchizedek Priesthood and the higher law, which the Lord had, but he did speak of the Aaronic Priesthood, or the lower law.)
(This priest is Jesus Christ)
(The Law of Moses—An Eye for an Eye)
(The higher law, which Christ brought, which will lead us to eternal life.)
(Christ, and the priesthood authority He holds -- the Melchizedek Priesthood -- is eternal -- without end.)
(The Law of Moses was abolished with the institution of the higher Law brought by Christ.)
(We could not become perfect as our Father in Heaven commanded us to be by obedience to the Mosaic Law, for it does not contain the authority for the saving ordinances of salvation—the "keys" to bind in heaven and on earth, or in today's terminology, temple ordinances)
(A better hope, or a higher law, which brought the authority for the saving ordinances)
(It is through this higher law, by partaking of the temple ordinances, that we can "draw nigh" unto God, or become like Him, which is to "be perfect" {as God is perfect} as He commanded us—Matthew 5:48.)
(This is in reference to the oath and covenant of the priesthood.)
(The priests of the Aaronic, or Levitical, priesthood)
(The Aaronic, or lessor, priesthood, does not require an oath or covenant.)
and covenant. This is not so with the Aaronic Priesthood. The covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood is that a priesthood holder will magnify his calling in the priesthood, will give diligent heed to the commandments of God, and will live by every word which proceeds "from the mouth of God" (see D&C 84:33-44). The oath of the Melchizedek Priesthood is an irrevocable promise by God to faithful priesthood holders. "All that my Father hath shall be given unto them" (seeDC 84꞉38). This oath by Deity, coupled with the covenant by faithful priesthood holders, is referred to as the oath and covenant of the priesthood."[6]
(The Melchizedek Priesthood is eternal)
(In context, this verse (24) that critics use to try to argue against the priesthood, is saying that since Jesus Christ is eternal, so is the authority He has. It is this same authority that Christ passed on to his Apostles, and they, passed on to others in the Church.)
The fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore, was introduced by him to take the place of the law of Moses.
The claim that priesthood is non-transferrable fails on linguistic, scriptural, scholarly, and logical grounds.
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Summary: Do the Early Church Fathers and other post-Biblical documents shed any light on the apostasy?
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