PRIESTHOOD AND PROPHECY IN JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RELIGION
Keywords:
PRIESTH IN JUDEO-CHRISTIAN RELIGION, Priesthood in Ancient Mesopotamia, Priesthood in the Old Testament, Functions of Priesthood, :Criticism of the Priesthood, Priesthood in the New Testament, Priestcraft, Prophecy in Ancient Israel, Ancient Israelites and the Prophetic title: A Retrojection, Sons of the Prophet, Classical Prophecy, Prophetic Theology, Prophecy in the New TestamentAbstract
Priests and prophets are prominent religious functionaries in many religions of the world. Based on their functions, the religious functionaries can be classified into two broad categories, namely, mediators and mediums. Priests are mediators while prophets are me-diums. A mediator is a go-between, a person who mediates between the object of worship and the worshipper. Because of his personal qualities, office, skill and training, the mediator acts as a link in the relationship between man and the spiritual world" E.B. Idowu describes a priest as "a person 'in touch' both ways between the deity worshipped and man: He 'knows' both of them, 'hears' both of them and speaks on behalf of one to the other." A priest can therefore be described as an·intermediary, an intercessor, between man and the spiritual being or beings whom he worships.
References
E.M. Zuesses Ritual Cosmos. the Sanctification of Life in African Religions, (Ohio: Ohio State University Press, 1979).
Evans - Pritchard, Nuer Religion (Oxford University Press, 1956) p. 304.
John L. Mckenzie J.S. quoting W. Eichrodt in Dictionary of the Bible. Ibid, p.691.
Udobata Onunwa. "The Nature and Development of Early Israelite Prophecy: an Historical Prolegomenon" in Bible Bliashyam, An Indian Biblical Quarterly, June 1987, p. 80. See also J. Lindhlom, Prophecy in Ancient Israel (Philadelphia Fortress Press. 1963) p. 183ff.
P. Deletter, "Priest and Priesthood," Paul Kevin Meagher et al (eds.) Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religion (Washington D.C." Corpus publications, 1978) Vol. O-Z p. 2879. 19. Ibid. p. 2879. 20. Ibid. p. 2879.
T.J.Ryan,"Prophet and Prophecy," in Paul Kevin Meagher et al (ads) Encyclopedic Dictionary of Religion (Washington D.C.:Corpus Publications,1978)Vol.O-Z, p.2903.
