PRIESTHOOD IN ANCIENT ISRAEL AND THE NIGERIAN CHRISTIAN CONTEXT

Abstract

From time immemorial, Priesthood has been a well-recognized, requisite and an indispensable societal institution.  In Ancient Israel, priests served as intermediaries between God and man, or between God and the nation. They were very influential in all national religious matters—in mediating for the people and atoning for their sins. They also preserved, interpreted and taught the law of God in order to uphold godliness and bring about peace and tranquility in the society. As a consequence, they were regarded as noble dignitaries; even though they were not absolute perfect humans. Today, history is giving a paradigm shift as the influence priesthood wielded in the past is waning; and this invariably calls for critical examination of the status. As a result, adopting inter-textual hermeneutics, a branch of contextual method, this paper is out to examine priesthood in Ancient Israel, paying attention to their functions, characteristics and activities. It explores and compares the nexus between the Ancient Israelite priesthood and the same in the Nigerian churches. The purpose of the study is to understand and inform readers of the present status of the institution. It also aims at sifting out some notable dysfunctional activities in the institution both in public and ecclesiastical domains. It, therefore, concludes and recommends inter alia that since God is holy, and can never be swayed or subjected to corruption; His priests, if indeed called, should follow suite and uphold the standard of their calling without being desecrated by unconsecrated figures and ephemeral materialism.