Ordination
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Ordination in the Bible?
Ordination is the ritual act of setting apart or consecrating an individual to a specific religious office or ministry, encompassing both Jewish priestly appointments and early Christian leadership selection.
SIGNIFICANCE
Recognizing the distinct nature of ordination clarifies the structural development of religious authority in the Bible, distinguishing between hereditary priestly lines in the Old Testament and the appointed leadership structures established in the New Testament church.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
Ancient Cultural Lens: Avoid applying 21st-century Western assumptions to Ordination. Examine how first-century or Near Eastern listeners understood this practice within their daily social dynamics.
Bible Study Reflection Prompts:
- Why did the biblical author mention Ordination in this passage?
- What cultural or historical assumption does Ordination clarify?
Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.
How to Cite This Entry
"Ordination." Ancient Context Dictionary. Accessed 2026. https://ancientcontext.com/context/ordination/