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We can look at the topic of ordination from several perspectives. Today, I will be looking at the language itself. Does the New Testament use language that suggests that there is a category of individuals with special religious privileges unavailable to ordinary believers?
Following are a few definitions for ordain and ordination. Later, we will be looking to see whether the language of the Bible is consistent with these meanings.
ordain
- make (someone) a priest or minister; confer holy orders on (Oxford American Dictionary)
- to invest officially (as by the laying on of hands) with ministerial or priestly authority (Merriam-Webster)
- the action of ordaining or conferring holy orders on someone (Oxford American Dictionary)
- In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies (Wikipedia)
Mark 3:14
Mark 3:14 KJV – And he ordained (εποιησε / epoiese / G4160 / to do, make; to work) twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:...Without a doubt, Mark 3:14-15 describes a special moment—verse fifteen says that that the twelve were "to have power to heal sickness and to cast out devils." But we are probably mistaken if we associate this text with our contemporary understanding of the word ordination. The verb translated as ordained in the KJV is very common in the Greek NT— it occurs 576 times! In the KJV this word is most often translated as do or make. The Greek word itself does not imply anything special— Jesus simply made twelve to be with him. Most English translations use something other than ordained in this verse; the Bible in Basic English and the Douay-Rheims translation perhaps come closer than many to expressing the ordinary nature of the Greek word in this text.
- NKJV, NIV, ESV, NASB, RSV, NET and others – He appointed twelve
- CEV – he chose twelve of them
- NLT – he selected twelve
- Bible in Basic English – he took twelve to be with him
- Douay-Rheims – he made that twelve should be with him
- Young's Literal Translation – he appointed twelve
Matt 10:1 KJV – And when he had called (προσκαλεσαμενος / proskalesamenos / G4341 / to call, summon) unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Luke 6:13 KJV – And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose (εκλεξαμενος / eklexamenos / G1586 / to choose) twelve, whom also he named apostles;...
Luke 9:1 KJV – Then he called (συγκαλεσαμενος / sygkalesamenos / G4779 / to call together) his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
John 6:70 KJV – Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen (εξελεξαμην / exelexamen / G1586 / to choose) you twelve, and one of you is a devil?The account in Luke 10 about the seventy shows that the "power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils" was not limited to the twelve.
Luke 10:1 KJV – After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come...
Luke 10:9 KJV – And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 10:17 KJV – And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.The twelve had a unique relationship with Jesus, but Mark 16:15-18 makes it clear that the power given to them is available to "them that believe."
Mark 16:15-18 KJV – And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.Neither the original language of Mark 3:14 (and parallels) nor the powers given to the twelve suggest that Jesus conferred "holy orders" on the twelve or in any way elevated them above the other followers. The language of Matthew 23:8-13 teaches principles of equality— we are all "brethren" and "servants."
Matt 23:8-12 KJV – But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.John 15:16
John 15:16 KJV – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained (εθηκα / etheka / G5087 / to put, make, appoint) you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.In John 15:16, the verb translated as ordained in the KJV is very common in the Greek NT— it occurs 96 times! It is most frequently translated in the KJV as lay, put, lay down, make, and appoint. As with Mark 3:14, the original language of this text uses ordinary words. Nothing in the language suggests that the the chosen were ordained in any ecclesiastical or sacramental sense of the word. Most other versions translate this text with language that reflects the ordinariness of the original language.
- NKJV, NIV, ESV, RSV – I chose you and appointed you
- NASB, ASV – I chose you, and appointed you
- Douay-Rheims – I have chosen you; and have appointed you
- NLT, HCSB – I chose you. I appointed you
- CEV – I chose you and sent you out
- NCV – I chose you. And I gave you this work:
- Young's Literal Translation – chose out you, and did appoint you
Acts 1:22 KJV – Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained (γενεσθαι / genesthai / G1096 / to become, be, be born, be created) to be a witness with us of his resurrection.As with the previous texts, the ordained in the KJV translation of Acts 1:22 is translated from a very common Greek word — it occurs 676 times in the NT! Most versions translate it as become.
- NKJV, NASB – one of these must become a witness
- NLT – Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness
- NIV – one of these must become a witness
- ESV, RSV – one of these men must become with us a witness
- NCV – a man must become a witness with us
- HCSB – it is necessary that one become a witness with us
- Bible in Basic English – one will have to be a witness
- Douay-Rheims – one of these must be made a witness
- Young's Literal Translation – one of these to become with us a witness
Acts 14:23 KJV – And when they had ordained (χειροτονησαντες / cheirotonesantes / G5500 / to appoint, choose) them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.The Greek word translated as ordained in Acts 14:23 is not a common word. Thayer's Lexicon defines the word as follows:
- to vote by stretching out the hand
- to create or appoint by vote
- to elect, appoint, create
The word "ordain" we now use in an ecclesiastical sense, to denote "a setting apart to an office by the imposition of hands." But it is evident that the word here is not employed in that sense.
The verb properly denotes "to stretch out the hand"; and as it was customary to elect to office, or to vote, by stretching out or elevating the hand, so the word simply means "to elect, appoint, or designate to any office." The word here refers simply to an "election" or "appointment" of the elders. It is said, indeed, that Paul and Barnabas did this. But probably all that is meant by it is that they presided in the assembly when the choice was made. It does not mean that they appointed them without consulting the church; but it evidently means that they appointed them in the usual way of appointing officers, by the suffrages of the people.Other versions translate Acts 14:23 with language that suggests a church appointment or election rather than a conferring of a "holy order."
- NKJV – they had appointed elders in every church
- NIV – appointed elders for them in each church
- NIV margin – had elders elected
- ESV, NASB, RSV – had appointed elders for them in every church
- Bible in Basic English – had made selection of some to be rulers in every church
- CEV – chose some leaders for each of the churches
- NCV – They chose elders for each church
- GOD's WORD – They had the disciples in each church choose spiritual leaders
- Young's Literal Translation – having appointed to them by vote elders in every assembly
2 Cor 8:16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:The language used in most translations reflects the context which suggests that the individual was elected or chosen to travel with Paul.
- NKJV – was also chosen by the churches
- NIV – was chosen by the churches
- NLT – was appointed by the churches
- ESV, RSV – he has been appointed by the churches
- NASB – has also been appointed by the churches
- Bible in Basic English – was marked out by the churches
- CEV – The churches chose this follower to travel with us
- NCV – this brother was chosen by the churches
- GOD'S WORD – the churches elected him to travel with us
- Young's Literal Translation – was also appointed by vote by the assemblies
1 Tim 2:7 KJV – Whereunto I am ordained (ετεθην / etethen / G5087 / to put, make, appoint) a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.This text uses the same Greek word as John 15:16— it is an ordinary word used many times in the NT. It does not mean ordained in any sense of "make someone a priest or minister" or "confer holy orders on." As with earlier texts, most versions translate this text using commonplace words.
- NKJV, ESV, NASB, RSV, ASV – I was appointed a preacher
- NIV, HCSB – I was appointed a herald
- Bible in Basic English – I became a preacher
- Douay-Rheims – I am appointed a preacher
- CEV – God chose me to be a preacher
- NCB – I was chosen to tell the Good News
- GOD's WORD – I was appointed to spread this Good News
- NIRV – I was appointed to be a messenger
- Young's Literal Translation – I was set a preacher
Titus 1:5 KJV – For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain (καταστησης / katasteses / G2525 / to put down, bring to, put in charge, make) elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:The word the KJV translates as ordain in Titus 1:5, is a Greek word that means to set, place or put; it is most frequently translated in the KJV as make. Most other versions translate this text with commonplace words.
- NKJV, NASB, ASV – appoint elders in every city
- NLT – appoint elders in each town
- NIV, ESV, RSV, NCV, HCSB – appoint elders in every town
- Bible in Basic English – placing men in authority over the churches in every town
- CEV – to appoint leaders for the churches in each town
- GOD'S WORD – appointing spiritual leaders in every city
- Young's Literal Translation – mayest set down in every city elders
The language used in the New Testament suggests that the concept of ordination— a conferring of "holy orders" or an investing of "ministerial or priestly authority"— is not supported by the texts. (It must be emphasized that this is a New Testament perspective; the Levitical Priesthood obviously was a "holy order".) The language of the texts suggests that individuals are chosen, appointed or elected for certain responsibilities, but there is no suggestion that they become part of a separate "order". Within the context of New Testament teaching, there may be other reasons— practical and organizational— for setting aside certain individuals with church authority, but the Biblical support is weak for viewing those individuals as a "holy order" having a privileged relationship to God.
