Representing Christ: A Vision for the Priesthood of All Believers

by Uche Anizor, Hank Voss

The priesthood of all believers is a core Protestant belief. But what does it actually mean? Uche Anizor and Hank Voss set the record straight in this concise treatment of a doctrine that lies at the center of church life and Christian spirituality. The authors look at the priesthood of all believers in terms of the biblical witness, the contribution of Martin Luther and the doctrine of the Trinity. They place this concept in the context of the canonical description of Israel and the church as a royal priesthood that responds to God in witness and service to the world. Representing Christ is much more than a piece of Reformation history. It shows that the priesthood of all believers is interwoven with the practical, spiritual and missional life of the church.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Church

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2016

About the author

Uche Anizor (PhD Wheaton) is Associate Professor of Theology at Biola University. His current interests include theological method, the theological interpretation of Scripture and the theology of Colin Gunton.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Protestants champion the priesthood of all believers. But what does this mean? What are the implications and obligations of such a priesthood? How is that ordinary Christian re-present Christ to one another and the world? In Representing Christ: A Vision of the Priesthood of All Believers, Uche Anizor and Hank Voss explore the meaning of the priestthood of all believers through the Bible, by engaging Martin Luther (the historic Protestant who championed this doctrine), Trinitarian theology and discussing the practical role and function of the priesthood.

9780830851287Anizor is associate professor of biblical and theological studies at Talbot. Voss is the national church planting director for World Impact. Anizor writes the first three chapters. Chapter one forms an introduction, chapter two examines the biblical case for the priesthood of all believer, chapter three looks at historical theology, with an eye trained on Martin Luther. Voss writes the next three chapters. In chapter four he explores how Trinitarian theology gives shape to the way we live out the priesthood of all believers. Chapter five explores seven central practices of the Priesthood (drawn from Martin Luther). Chapter six forms a conclusion for this study.

Anichor and Voss bring their particular strengths to their sections. Anizor roots the concept of the 'Royal Priesthood' in more than just sparse references to the priesthood from 1 Peter and Revelation (1 Peter 2:4-9, Rev. 1:6;5:10). Instead he sketches a robust biblical case for the priesthood of all believers rooted in the priestly function of human image bearing (Genesis 1-2), the role of Israel's priesthood (cf. Exodus), Christ's priesthood foretold (i.e. Psalms, and prophetic literature) and enacted (the gospels) and the church's participation in the priesthood (1 Peter, Paul's epistles, Hebrews, Revelation). His chapter on Luther shows the centrality of the concept in Luther's works (especially in a piece called Concerning the Ministry) Anizor identifies seven priestly practices: (1) Preaching and teaching the Word, (2) Baptizing; (3) Administering the Lord's Supper; (4) Binding and Loosing Sin; (5) Prayer; (6) Sacrifice; (7) Judging Doctrine (76). Anizor is critical of scholars who would see the 'priesthood of all believers' as the invention as an 'imaginary' or 'mythical' doctrine invented by the likes of Jakob Spener, the founder of Pietism (58). So he focuses his historical exploration on explicating Martin Luther, though he does identify several antecedents to Luther.

Voss's chapters have a more practical focus. He aims to show what this priesthood looks like in how we live it out. His chapter on Trinitarian theology opens with this assertion, "The most important thing about us is the God we worship, and the God we worship will determine the kind of royal priesthood we become" (85). Voss distinguishes a Christocentric-Trinitarian priesthood of all believers from other approaches to the priesthood of all believers (i.e. Mormonism, Islam) which exhibit a different character. Our worship as priests is" directed to the Father", "performed as service in Christ," and "joins in the Spirit's witness in the world" (91). Voss also identifies ways the priesthood has gone awry because of an over emphasis on one member of the Trinity to the exclusion of other Trinitarian persons (103). Monopolizing ministry to the Father might result in clericalism(103-105). An exclusive emphasis on being 'in Christ' may cause believers to become atomistic individualists in living out the priesthood or collectivists that deny the unique contributions of each person in the body of Christ (105-107). An over emphasis on the blessings of the Spirit may give way to egotism (08-109). A mature priesthood will keep the persons of the Trinity in balance as they seek to worship God and mediate His presence to the world.

Chapter five revisits Luther's seven ministry practices and shows how each is an important part of the priesthood of all believers ministry and witness (drawing on Dallas Willard's language of vision, intention and means). Luther's seven practices are described here as: (1) Baptism, (2) Prayer, (3) Lectio Divina, (4) Church Discipline, (5) Ministry, (6) Proclamation, and (7) the Lord's Supper (118). Voss demonstrates how these practices share in the Trinitarian life and explores their implication for the priesthood of all believers: baptism is our commissioning in the priesthood, prayer and lectio divina direct us towards the Father, church discipline and ministry show us how to be in Christ in community, proclamation is our participation in the Spirit's witness, the Eucharist is the culmination of our priestly practice, causing us to rember, forgive, give thanks, be in covenant, experience nourishment, and anticipate the fullness of the kingdom (122-44).

This is a short, meaty book on what the priesthood of believers is. My small critique is that I wish the look at the priesthood of believers did more than pay homage to Luther. Pietists, Baptists, Anabaptists, Methodists have each contributed to our contemporary understanding of the doctrine and I would like to see their contributions explored more. Of course a book cannot do everything and showing that Luther (the protyptical Protestant) held this priesthood of believers goes along way towards their aim of recovering a robust theology and practice for today's Protestant evangelical. I recommend this book for students, pastors and lay leaders who wish to recover a fulsome vision of what it means to be the priesthood of believers. I give this four stars.

Note: I received this book from IVP Academic in exchange for my honest review

[Thaddeus VanOverberghe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Uche Anizor & Hank Voss. Downers Grove, IL. InterVarsity Press. 2016. 205 pages

Through Representing Christ, Uche Anizor, PhD. a professor of systematic and historical theology at Biola University, and Hank Voss PhD., a professor of Christian ministries at Taylor University, leverage their academic background and passion for the local church to bring a message of clarity. In an attempt to revive an often misunderstood and misused buzzword, Anizor and Voss set out to restore “the priesthood of all believers” in the minds and hearts of readers.

From revelation regarding creation, Israel, Jesus, to the Church, & all that is to come, “the royal priesthood” is rooted throughout scripture. All followers of Jesus are adopted into Christ’s Royal Priesthood and are to partake in the ministry of Christ’s church interacting with all three members of the Trinity. Simply put, the doctrine of “the priesthood of all believers” claims that the term “ministry worker” applies to more than church staff, but actually encompasses all believers, regardless of their professional title. Representing Christ explains the rich theology behind doctrine and how each follower of Jesus interacts as a “priest” or “minister” with each member of the Holy Trinity—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

Anizor and Voss first make the claim that all believers are priests. Then in an easily grasped storyline, from creation to the times to come, they relay scripture’s story regarding the Royal Priesthood. Following this Anizor and Voss touch at Martin Luther’s unique contributions to the doctrine, within the context of the Reformation. Eventually the book begins to apply the doctrine and spends time helping readers understand how each believer lives in relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Sprit. This explanation eventually leads to a powerful application piece where 7 healthy practices can be used to identify a healthy Royal Priesthood (and furthermore a healthy local church).

The book’s strength is its content; the book’s weakness is its reading level. In the midst of the current growing pains, the message this book brings to readers is a message that would bring hope and rejuvenated purpose to local bodies of Christ that have lost touch with their universal calling as royal priests. While the book is not difficult to understand, it does read at the undergraduate university level, which may exclude some readers from grasping its rich content—namely new Christians who may lack an understanding of basic Christian terminology. This however should not prevent a new Christian from picking up Representing Christ, it just means it will take them slightly more work to grasp—but it will be worth the read, as it will introduce them to some of the richest terminology in the Christian faith.

Perhaps the strongest message in Representing Christ is not that every believer is a royal priest, but that every healthy grouping of the royal priesthood (local church) throughout history engages in the following seven practices: Baptism, prayer, Lectio divinia, Church discipline, Ministry, Proclamation, and the Lord’s Supper. Whether you are a doctor, teacher, businessperson, or even a pastor, this book will not only affirm your purpose as first-and-foremost a minister of Christ’s love grace, and truth to a world in need—it will also refresh and challenge the local community of believers’ to which you belong for the better.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short version of Dr. Voss' doctoral dissertation. I was hoping for an 'every person' connection. This is more like an abridgment. Still very good, but lacking the pastoral sensibility I was looking for.

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts out strong but doesn’t seem to go anywhere. It felt redundant at times, and I felt like it didn’t have a clear point. But not all bad; had some good thoughts that I’d like to explore at a later time.

[Spencer R · Rating 4 out of 5]

To read the full review, you can go to my Wordpress blog, "SpoiledMilks."

Thank goodness that Luther guy came along and re-gave us the priesthood of believers (maybe not in those exact words). In his writings, Luther referred to believers as priests hundreds of times (p18). “The doctrine, according to Luther, denotes the believer’s sharing in Christ’s royal priesthood through faith and baptism. It’s primary implications are every believer’s access to the Father through Christ and responsibility to minister to other believers, especially through the proclamation of the Word” (18).

Uche Anizor and Hank Voss locate God’s calling of his people as a kingdom of priests (Exod 19.6; 1 Pet 2.5, 9) within the context of Scripture and show how those who are part of God’s royal priesthood are to respond to God as his witnesses in the world.

In Chapter 1 Anizor look at how the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Protestants define the idea of the priesthood of believers. In this book they’ll seek to define what a priest is, and show that it is all who are in Christ. Speaking in terms of the Trinity, in Christ the baptized believer has access to the Father, we have the privilege of serving one another in Christ, and we have all received the Holy Spirit’s anointing for this service to one another and to the world (19).

The argument is developed in four stages:
Biblical, Historical, Theological, and Practical

In Chapter 2, the biblical argument, Anizor outlines the story of the priesthood of believers as seen in the Scriptures.

In Chapter 3, the historical argument, Anizor “details Martin Luther’s theology … and presents it as a fruitful and concrete attempt to integrate and develop Scripture’s teaching on priesthood—both ordained and universal” (22). We become like what we worship, and Christians worship the triune God.

In Chapter 4, the theological argument, Voss shows “what it means for the royal priesthood to worship, work and witness with a Christocentric-Trinitarian vision” (86). This is important, for, as Fred Sanders’s Trinitarian axiom goes, “The more Trinity-centered we become, the more Christ-centered we become, and vice versa” (88).

In Chapter 5, the theological argument, Voss asks, “How do we as members of the royal priesthood faithfully and fruitfully respond to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?” Voss lays out seven central practices.

In Chapter 6, Voss wraps up, summarizes the book, and asks, “So what?” If believers (myself included) took our ministries before God seriously, what difference would this doctrine make? How could Christians transform society?

Recommended?
Anizor and Voss have done excellent work in writing Representing Christ. It’s clear and easy to read. I hope to see more books out on this particular topic, along with more by these two authors. Some parts will be more difficult to read, not because of the style of language used, but because of subject matter. Generally, the authors write in such a way that they don’t load you down with details, but they only give you what you need to know. It’s easier to read through some parts because you know it’s going to be important to the argument. This is a book that all believers should read, with the hopes that we will be humbled and will see our responsibility before the triune God who rules from heaven and has bestowed his people with great honor.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anizor and Voss write here on a doctrine, the priesthood of the believer, that is precious to some of us, yet under duress in many places. Whole segments of Christendom deny its existence. This book shows that is both a biblical idea and an idea believed by several across the centuries.

This book is at its best discussing what the Scriptural basis of the doctrine of the priesthood of the believer is. Chapter 2 entitled “A Royal Priesthood” lays out well the case for clear teaching on this doctrine. I had never considered Adam as a priest, but Israel was clearly “a kingdom of priests.” Even more important is when the authors draw out the New Testament teaching on the subject. To me, it is undeniable as they well show.

The balance of the book looks at the subject in more of a church history vein. Luther might not deserve quite as much credit as they give him, but he does play into the history. They also explain what all priesthood really means in our lives, which is the reason for the subtitle “a vision for the priesthood of the believer.”

They take care to write to those who might be in a group that has priests today and deny that all Christians are priests. Some of that explanation might not be necessary to one not in one of those groups.

They write well and make a good contribution to this important dialog. This is a fine theological volume to have.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.