The Priesthood of All Believers

The doctrine of the Priesthood of all Believers underlies all the great and far-reaching religious movements of the last five hundred years. Apart from that doctrine it is impossible either to understand or appreciate the cause of the Reformation, the impetus of the Puritan Movement, or the widespread influence of the Evangelical Revival. Yet nowhere can the student find a thorough examination of its meaning, for no such systematic statement exists. Here is an attempt to fill this gap. An examination of Reformation Theology shows that this doctrine is the basis of three dominant concepts which Luther stressed–Faith, Word, and Congregation–and that Luther’s seven
marks
of the true Church arise from it. A study of Calvin leads to the conclusion that the doctrine of vocation is the necessary counterpart of the Priesthood of all Believers, that election is always related to consecration, service, and mission; it is an election to priesthood. An investigation of Wesley shows that he took this doctrine seriously and provided opportunities for the People of God to exercise their priestly privileges in the service of the Word, of the Church, and of the World. From all this comes the inescapable conclusion that in Reformation Theology the spiritual priesthood of justified believers consists in their proclamation of God’s justifying love to the world. This book is an attempt to present a clear and constructive statement of a doctrine which lies at the very heart of Protestantism and is closely connected with three important issues in current theological discussion–the union of the Churches, the doctrine of vocation, and the liturgical revival.