[Nate] thanks, Clay but Can you give SHOW me in the New testament time where Jesus and the Apostles went to the priests for confessions? According to the Catholic Church record showed that Confessions to a priest doctrine started around 1215 A.D.
[Clay] Jesus didn't need to go to confession, so I don't understand your question. As I've pointed out, the authority to forgive sins was given to the apostles (Mt 9:8, Jn 20:21). Now, if you think the practice of confession began in 1215 A.D., you know even less about the Catholic Church than I thought. For example, confession was originally done in public, as seen in the books of Acts, and in extrabiblical sources as well (not to mention the Old Testament passages I listed already):
"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (Jn 20:21-33)
"Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord's Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure" (Didache 4:14, 14:1 [A.D. 70]).
[Nate] The Apostles were NEVER called Priests! But ALL of God's children are called priests: ...I Peter 2: 6-9 For in the Scripture it says.....
[Clay] Nate, the word "priest" is merely an English contraction of the word presbyteros, whose authority is seen in 1 Tim 5:17, James 5:14-15, Acts 15:2-6, 21:18; Hebrews 11:2, and 1 Peter 5:1
[Nate] Clay, we find nothing in the New Testament (first century!) the Apostles were called priests. Peter called All his People are a royal Priestshood. If Peter was the first Pope! could he be wrong in this? So, where does this term Priests for preachers began?
[Clay] By the way, Nate, how do you know what the New Testament is in the first place? I've demonstrated that the term "priest" is nothing more than the Greek presbyteros, who were given the power to forgive sins in God's name (Luke 24:47, John 20:21-23, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, James 5:15). Now, if you'll notice in Peter's letter, his language in the second chapter of his first Epistle was mirroring that of Exodus 19:6:"And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." (Ex 19:6)
The Catholic Church acknowledges that we are all called to be a holy priesthood; however, this in no way excludes another priesthood. It should be noted that while the Jews were described as a kingdom of priests in the Old Testament (Ex 19:6), they also had a separate Levitical priesthood! Peter, in writing his letter, reminds his readers that while they, too, are a priesthood of believers, they also have an additional priesthood in place (like in Ex 19:6). Furthermore, Peter was referring to priestly holiness in a universal sense, not priestly function, because if you look at the context, you see that Peter is exhorting holy actions, not functions:
"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" (1 Peter 2:1-2)
"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious," (1 Peter 2:4)
"Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner," (1 Peter 2:7)
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;" (1 Peter 2:9)
"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;" (1 Peter 2:11)
"Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation." (1 Peter 2:12)
"For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (1 Peter 2:15-17)
"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully." (1 Peter 2:19)
"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:20-21)
This theme of exhortation to holiness is seen in the preceeding chapter:"Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:" (1 Peter 1:21-22)
And seen in the following chapter as well:"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (1 Peter 3:8-12)
Basically, we are all priests in terms of offering the sacrifices of prayer (Heb13:15), almsgiving (Heb 13:16), and faith (Phil 2:17), but this different than the presbyteros' special authority to forgive sins power to forgive sins in Jesus' name (Luke 24:47, John 20:21-23, 2 Corinthians 2:5-11, James 5:15)
peace be with you,
Clay