In the centuries since the Reformation, the phrase “priesthood of all believers” has become a Protestant slogan. For the Reformers, the idea was that every Christian, by virtue of baptism and faith, has the same status before God. Every member of the body of Christ serves the body with his gifts and graces.
Focusing on the priesthood of all believers, however, might obscure another New Testament theme, namely, the prophethood of all believers. This was the good news of Pentecost: Because the Spirit has come, the prophecy of Joel has been fulfilled, and young men dream dreams, old men see visions, sons and daughter prophesy. In the church, Moses’ hope is fulfilled: “Would that all Yahweh’s people were prophets, that Yahweh would put His Spirit upon them” (Numbers 11:29).
Prophets did many things in the Old Testament, but one of the ministries of prophets was to communicate the Spirit to others. Joshua was filled with the spirit of wisdom because the great prophet Moses laid hands on him. When Saul joined a company of prophets, he was filled with the Spirit and began prophesying too; later, the same thing happened to his messengers. Elisha received the Spirit from Elijah.
Now we are all prophets, we all have received the Spirit, and we all pass on the Spirit to one another. In Jesus Christ, the great prophet, we all have become springs flowing with the living water of the Spirit.
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