What is a priest according to the Bible?
According to the Bible, a priest is a go-between. In the context of Israel, God declared them a kingdom of priests, meaning they were to serve as mediators between the Gentiles and God, not between themselves and God, since Israel already had its own priesthood. This national priesthood was to lead Gentiles to knowledge of God.
Les explains that when God told Israel, 'you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests,' He was defining a priest as a go-between. Because Israel already had its own priesthood, this calling was not to mediate between Israel and God, but between the Gentiles and God. All through the Old Testament, God was preparing the nation for this national priesthood, where every Jew would be in a position to lead Gentiles to a knowledge of their God. Peter continues this frame of reference at Pentecost, addressing Jews gathered from across the Roman Empire, showing that Christ came to fulfill these Old Testament promises and covenants.