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The Catholic Priesthood: Biblical Foundations is unavailable, but you can change that!

During the time of Jesus Christ, neither he nor his apostles would have had the term “priest” applied to their mission or identity. The priesthood was exclusive to the tribe of Levi and at that time was associated primarily with their sacrificial liturgies in the temple. But with Christ’s death on the cross, a new understanding of Christ as priest began to grow in light of his priestly...

be taken to imply that Jesus is a priest, though not of the tribe of Levi. When Christ preaches in the temple and suggests the temple liturgies—for example, Tabernacles and Dedication/Hanukah will be fulfilled, or better, transfigured in him—this has implications for the Levitical priesthood and suggests its days of service in the temple are numbered because God has something much better in store. When Jesus cleanses the temple, driving out the animal sellers and money-changers, he alludes to his
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