Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood

by John Bergsma

Is there anything in the New Testament about the need for priests in the Church? Many Protestants would argue no. And if you point out that there is a priesthood in the Old Testament, they are likely to say it was a feature of the Old Covenant that was undone by Christ. How should a Catholic respond? In Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood , biblical scholar John Bergsma convinces readers that Jesus did, in fact, intend for a ministerial priesthood to be a key feature of the New Covenant. Bergsma shows how the priesthood is a major thread holding together the biblical story line—beginning with Adam's loss of the gift of priesthood in the Fall and the long process of restoring his descendants to a priestly status over the centuries, culminating with Christ. With chapter summaries and discussion questions included, Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood can readily be adapted into a four-part study for personal or small group use.

Genres: Theology, Catholic, Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction

164 pages, Hardcover

First published January 20, 2021

About the author

Dr. John Bergsma is Associate Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steubenville, Ohio. He holds the M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He specialized in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls, graduating with high honors in 2004. His major study of the interpretation of the Year of Jubilee in ancient times is published as The Jubilee from Leviticus to Qumran (Brill Academic, 2007). Dr. Bergsma’s articles, some co-authored with Dr. Scott Hahn, have appeared in several academic journals as well as Lay Witness, the magazine of Catholics United for the Faith. He has appeared as a guest on EWTN’s The Journey Home, Franciscan University Presents, and Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariani Show. Twice voted Faculty of the Year by graduating classes of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. Bergsma is a popular teacher who inspires his students with a love of Scripture. He and his wife Dawn reside with their eight children in Steubenville, Ohio.


Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Theology - University of Notre Dame (Notre Dame, Indiana)
Master of Theology (Th.M.) - Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Master of Divinity (M.Div.) - Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Classical Languages - Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan)

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed John Bergsma's revelations and links of the ancient priesthood (beginning with Adam) to our current Catholic priesthood. I thought I knew a fair amount about the development of priesthood from ancient times to modern but reading this book I discovered, as is so often the case, that at best I knew about half the story. There were a lot of "aha" moments in the Old Testament part especially, although I really liked seeing how Jesus further developed what the priesthood is really meant to be. As always, context is everything and Bergsma is very good about digging deep but writing accessibly. Definitely recommended.

[Marie Emerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is rich in biblical details that I had never noticed before but which kissed me in the face once illumined.

Jesus so thoroughly and intricately ties Himself back to the Old Testament priesthood, and it’s beautiful to trace those threads.

[David Szatkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I think it is an excellent look at the Biblical understanding of priesthood, sanctification, and sacrifice. The author's clear intention is to show the Biblical grounding of the Catholic sacrament of Holy Orders. He shows this is in continuity with the Biblical tradition, not contrary to it. That said, I think this is as much a study guide as scholarship (reflection questions are offered). The book also does not engage other scholarship or points of view, so in that sense, if it more apologetics than scholarly debate/discourse. That said, if you have read Jeff Cavins or Scott Hahn and learned from them and enjoyed their work, I would recommend this book as well.

[Enrique Algarin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opened my eyes to the roles of the priesthood and the validity of it and also the importance my faith plays along the way right now as a normal lay person

Must read

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful :)

[Ruben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little book. Four main sections that connect really well. Dr. Bergsma has quite the gift for writing and teaching.

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book written by a convert to Roman Catholicism primarily for other Catholics, but can be profitably read by other Christians, especially Eastern Orthodox and Anglicans/Episcopalians who have similar understanding of the priesthood. Bergsma discusses priesthood as it appears in the Old Testament in its various forms. Adam is described as God's first priest and how he failed at it in the Garden of Eden. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and his 12 sons were also priests in some of their functions. In Exodus, the oldest sons of all the families of the tribes were priests but lost their priestliness when they sinned by worshipping the Golden Calf. Thereafter the priesthood was restricted to the tribe of Levi. But there was also a different line of priests which Kings David and Solomon had, as successors of Melchizedek, the King of Salem (i.e. Jerusalem) who blessed Abraham in Genesis. In the Letter of the Hebrews in the New Testament, Jesus is said to be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. In Chapter 3, Bergsma discusses the priestly functions of Jesus and his apostles, what their functions were and how it was passed on - the Church's "apostolic succession" of the episcopate. The last chapter discusses priestly celibacy, how it has Jesus and other New Testament warrant, and its Old Testament precedents. Also discussed is how the Essenes of the Qumran monastery who produced the Dead Sea Scrolls practiced celibacy. He notes that there are two types of priesthood in the church - what Protestants call the priesthood of all believers, and the ministerial priesthood of Bishops, Priests and Deacons who administer the sacraments. The calling of the former, the laity, is to live the Christian life in the secular world, at their jobs, etc. and share the gospel.

[Zak Buckles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some really helpful takeaways from this book. One of the main ones for me is seeing the connection between the Old Testament Levitical priesthood, and the responsibilities that Christ bestows upon the apostles in the gospels. All of this culminates in the washing of the feet of the apostles at the last supper, which is notable because a levitical priest would have washed himself before offering a sacrifice to God. In effect, Christ was preparing his apostles to be able to offer up sacrifice to God. And what was that sacrifice? It is Christ himself.
In the Old Testament there is a pattern of a (bloody) animal sacrifice, and then additional memorial (non bloody--often involving bread and wine) sacrifices which take part in that first bloody sacrifice. When Jesus says "do this in remembrance of me" he is charging the apostles to make continual memorial offerings (of bread and wine) which take part in the (bloody) sacrifice of Christ's death on the cross.

For much of my life I experienced a seeming disconnect between old and New Testament, particularly feeling like the Old Testament system of sacrifice made no sense or was completely lacking from my experiences of Protestant worship, which was centered around singing songs of praise and hearing good preaching.

This book has has helped me to realize that God did not suddenly do away with sacrifice in worship when Christ came. Instead, Christ is the perfect fulfillment of the sacrificial system, and we are invited to continue to participate in that sacrifice through the memorial offering of the Eucharist.
Hopefully I got all of that accurately portrayed (disclaimer that I'm not a theologian).

[Dcn. Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great overview of the roots of the priesthood in Scripture, not just the Old Testament and not just Scripture, but also some Church Fathers.

Very easy to read and had many profound insights about priesthood, such as how Adam was a priest and supposed to guard and keep the garden. Many insights from the Hebrew language and Jewish culture. Well worth the read.

[Luke Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but in its attempt to be conversational and approachable I think it left rather a lot unsaid. The material on Adam was exceptional but after that I found myself underlining less and less. It’s good to have books like this but I rather wish it had been deeper or more wide ranging in its exploration of its central topic.

[Zachary McGuinness · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a helpful historical analysis beyond what written history has to offer. Dr. Bergsma has a gift for surveying and simplifying. Even a brief history provides evidence of God's plan for the priesthood.

[Alex McDougall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good use of Biblical and Jewish sources, but he could have done so much more