Dictionary of Bible Themes Under the old covenant God called priests and prophets as spiritual leaders. Later the Pharisees gave spiritual leadership. After Jesus Christ had inaugurated the new covenant, authority was given to the apostles, who in turn appointed leaders in the churches they founded. Hebrews 5:4Priests as spiritual leaders See also They were called by God Exodus 28:1Deuteronomy 18:5 Hebrews 5:1 See also The high priest represented the people in the presence of God Exodus 28:29-30Numbers 27:21 Hebrews 8:3 Malachi 2:7 See also Priests taught and explained God's law Leviticus 10:11Haggai 2:11-13 1 Samuel 4:18 Examples of priests as spiritual leaders 1 Samuel 7:5-9The priest Eli was described as leading Israel 2 Chronicles 24:14Samuel acted as priest on behalf of the people Jehoiada the priest influenced Joash to serve God. 2 Peter 1:21Prophets as spiritual leaders See also They were called by God Isaiah 6:8-9Jeremiah 1:5 1 Samuel 7:3-4; 12:20-24 Examples of prophets as spiritual leaders 1 Kings 18:18-21Samuel led the people from idolatry back to the worship of God: Haggai 1:7-9Elijah Haggai Matthew 2:4Spiritual leaders in NT times Matthew 16:1; 21:23officially recognised teachers of the law Matthew 23:2; 26:59At a local level, elders had social and religious authority in local councils. Nationally, they were included in the Sanhedrin Isaiah 28:7The failure of spiritual leaders Jeremiah 23:11,13-17,25-32In the OT Malachi 2:1-2Matthew 23:4-15 Mark 10:42-45 In the NT Jesus Christ taught his disciples the qualities required for spiritual leadership. Acts 4:34-35; 6:2-3; 14:23Spiritual leadership in the church Titus 1:5The apostles delegated authority 1 Timothy 3:1-9Titus 1:6-9 The qualifications for church leadership Acts 20:28See also Advice to leaders Acts 20:31,351 Timothy 5:17-20 1 Peter 5:2-3 See also 5218 authority in home7026 church, leadership 7706 apostles 7720 elders in the church 7766 priests 7772 prophets 7789 shepherd, church leader 7939 ministry 8471 respect for human beings 8493 watchfulness, believers |
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