Is there anything in the New Testament indicating the Church's need for priests? Many Protestants would claim that it is not. If you point out that there is a priesthood in the Old Testament, they are inclined to reply that was a characteristic of the Old Covenant that Christ undid. What should a Catholic say in this situation?
Biblical scholar John Bergsma argues in Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood that Jesus did, in fact, intend for a ministerial priesthood to be a crucial aspect of the New Covenant.
Bergsma demonstrates how the priesthood is a major thread that connects the biblical story line, beginning with Adam's loss of the gift of priesthood in the Fall and continuing through the generations to restore his descendants to priestly position, culminating with Christ.
Short code A0248
Jesus and the Old Testament Roots of the Priesthood, which includes chapter summaries and discussion questions, can easily be modified into a four-part study for personal or small group use.
