The concept of ordination in the Bible is deeply tied to the covenantal framework that structures redemptive history. Biblical theology, which traces the unfolding of God's redemptive plan throughout the Scripture, presents ordination within both the Old and New Covenants as integral to God's relationship with His people.
Old Covenant: Ordination and the Typological Priesthood
In the Old Covenant, ordination was primarily associated with the Levitical priesthood. The Levitical priests were appointed to mediate between God and Israel. This system of ordination was rooted in the covenant God made with Israel through Moses (Exodus 19:5-6; Leviticus 8). The Levitical priests were ordained to offer sacrifices, intercede on behalf of the people, and maintain the holiness of the tabernacle and later the temple. Their role as mediators pointed forward to the ultimate High Priest—Jesus Christ.
The Levitical priesthood served as a type or shadow of the greater priestly work that Christ would fulfill (Hebrews 7-10). The sacrifices they offered repeatedly could never take away sins (Hebrews 10:4), but they pointed forward to Christ's once-for-all sacrifice that would fully atone for sin (Hebrews 9:26). Their role of entering the Holy of Holies on behalf of the people foreshadowed Christ’s entrance into the heavenly sanctuary to mediate a new and better covenant (Hebrews 9:11-12).
In this way, the Old Covenant priesthood functioned typologically, prefiguring the finished work of Christ as the ultimate mediator and High Priest, fulfilling the mediatorial role in a way that the Levitical system could never fully achieve.
New Covenant: Christ’s Fulfillment and Pastoral Ordination
With the coming of Christ and the inauguration of the New Covenant, the priestly work that was once typified in the Old Covenant is fulfilled and brought to completion. Jesus Christ’s role as High Priest is unique and final; He has offered the perfect sacrifice for sin and now sits at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12). This changes the nature of ordination under the New Covenant.
Under the New Covenant, those ordained—elders, pastors, and teachers—no longer serve as mediators between God and the people in the Old Covenant sense. Christ is the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5). Instead, ordained ministers serve as shepherds and teachers who guide the people of God into maturity in Christ. Their role is described in Ephesians 4:11-13, where Paul explains that Christ has given various ministers to the church for the purpose of building up the body of Christ "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood."
In this framework, ordination is pastoral and didactic. It is focused on nurturing the faith of the congregation, equipping the saints for ministry, and teaching them the Word of God. Ministers are tasked with pointing people to Christ through their preaching and pastoral care, helping the church to grow in grace and knowledge.
Continuity and Discontinuity
There is both continuity and discontinuity between Old and New Covenant ordination. The continuity lies in the fact that God still calls and ordains leaders to guide His people. However, the nature of their ministry has changed. While Old Covenant priests acted as mediators between God and the people, New Covenant ministers direct people to the finished work of Christ, emphasizing the application of His mediatorial work to the life of the church.
New Covenant ministers continue to fulfill a priestly function in a secondary sense, as all believers are described as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9), called to offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the excellencies of Christ. Ordained ministers lead in this function, not by offering sacrifices, but by teaching, guiding, and nurturing the spiritual life of the church.
Conclusion
Ordination in biblical theology is thus rooted in the covenantal structures of Scripture. In the Old Covenant, ordination was tied to a typological priesthood that pointed forward to Christ. In the New Covenant, ordination is more focused on shepherding and teaching, helping the church to live out the implications of Christ’s finished work. While the nature of ordination has shifted from mediation to pastoral guidance, it remains a vital aspect of how God governs and nurtures His people.
The shift from a mediatorial priesthood to a shepherding and teaching office reflects the fulfillment of the covenantal promises in Christ and the new responsibilities of the church as it grows into maturity under the New Covenant.