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Kings and Priests

This study offers a theological and ethical account of Christian readers of Scripture-one that brings together these two apparently divergent poles-through the deployment of a biblical theological motif: royal priesthood. The designation of the people of God as a royal priesthood, conditioned and informed by the offices of king and priest, carries with it themes that frame the hermeneutical situation in such a way that accounts well for the integral relation of divine agency and ecclesial response, theology and ethics.

Paperback, Hardcover 274 Pickwick Publications 2014
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Uche Anizor

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This handy, accessible introduction to reading theology helps readers engage doctrine critically and charitably. It serves as a primer to theological texts, offering practical guidelines for assessing theology and equipping the next generation of pastors and theologians to read theological literature wisely—even when they might disagree with it. An ideal theology textbook, it is especially well suited for students reading theological literature and discussing doctrine for the first time.

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Representing Christ: A Vision for the Priesthood of All Believers

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The priesthood of all believers is a core Protestant belief. But what does it actually mean? Uche Anizor and Hank Voss set the record straight in this concise treatment of a doctrine that lies at the center of church life and Christian spirituality. The authors look at the priesthood of all believers in terms of the biblical witness, the contribution of Martin Luther and the doctrine of the Trinity. They place this concept in the context of the canonical description of Israel and the church as a royal priesthood that responds to God in witness and service to the world. Representing Christ is much more than a piece of Reformation history. It shows that the priesthood of all believers is interwoven with the practical, spiritual and missional life of the church.

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The history of modern biblical interpretation is checkered with attempts to rethink and resituate readers theologically and ethically. At least two tendencies emerge in these remedial proposals, both of which animate this project: (1) many accounts privilege either divine action (theology) or human, ecclesial response (ethics); (2) few proposals have availed themselves of the potential hermeneutical resources of a more extensive biblical theology. This study offers a theological and ethical account of Christian readers of Scripture-one that brings together these two apparently divergent poles-through the deployment of a biblical theological motif: royal priesthood. The designation of the people of God as a royal priesthood, conditioned and informed by the offices of king and priest, carries with it themes that frame the hermeneutical situation in such a way that accounts well for the integral relation of divine agency and ecclesial response, theology and ethics.

Editorial Reviews

“Uche Anizor gleans much from biblical theology and the history of doctrine that can inform our thinking about how to engage with God’s scriptural communication faithfully in covenant life with God.”
–Michael Allen, Kennedy Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Knox Theological Seminary, Florida

“In this deeply stimulating and fascinating book, Anizor points us to the significance of believers’ participation in the royal priesthood of Jesus Christ. Examining Scripture’s own testimony to priestly and royal reading of Scripture–culminating in Jesus’s own scriptural reading–Anizor invites us to live out our royal priesthood, not least in scriptural reading. This insight profoundly illumines the church’s handing on and interpretation of Scripture.”
–Matthew Levering, Perry Family Foundation Professor of Theology, Mundelein Seminary, Illinois

“Hermeneutical partisans commonly suggest we must choose between ‘biblical theology’ and ‘theological interpretation of Scripture.’ Uche Anizor’s Kings and Priests exhibits an integrative approach, calmly demonstrating how a biblical theology of ‘royal priesthood’ can enrich our theological understanding of the relationship between Holy Scripture’s divine author and human readers. I am happy to commend this book.”
–Scott R. Swain, Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Florida

“The great merit of Anizor’s book is that it lets Scripture say who its readers are, how they should be reading God’s word, and for what purpose. Anizor gives pride of place to biblical categories, opening up a helpful dialogue between biblical theology and the theological interpretation of Scripture. The church is not a generic interpretive community but a royal priesthood, elect and sanctified by God for the purpose of good works–and holy reading.”
–Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Research Professor of Systematic Theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois

“In Kings and Priests, Uche Anizor presents a compelling biblical and theological account of the readers of Scripture as belonging to a royal priesthood. Anizor describes how Old Testament kings and priests exemplify interpretive virtues, and how the church is called as a royal priesthood to read Scripture in union with Jesus Christ, the king and high priest. This is a rich and important work!”
–J. Todd Billings, Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology, Western Theological Seminary, Michigan

“As the past several generations of scholarly discussion have made abundantly clear, who we are as biblical readers matters no less than the what of the Bible itself. . . . Now Uche Anizor’s Kings and Priests enters the gap, offering a bold and innovative proposal, persuasively arguing that Christ is not only the true king and true priest, but also the true reader.”
–Nicholas Perrin, Dean, Wheaton College Graduate School, Illinois

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