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"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." - 1 Peter 2:9 (NIV)
I've understood the phrase "royal priesthood" to mean something along the lines of "priesthood that serves royalty", but I've heard some people claim that it also could mean "priesthood made up of royalty."
Which is it?
Clearly, in the context of early Christianity, the meaning of a royal priesthood could neither have been a priesthood that serves royalty, nor a priesthood of kings. Any intended meaning for the phrase is likely to come from what is known as Source Criticism.
1 Peter 2:9 is an allusion to Exodus 19:6:
1 Peter 2:9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light
Exodus 19:6 (LXX): And ye shall be to me a royal priesthood and a holy nation: these words shalt thou speak to the children of Israel.
In such a close parallel, the meaning is often more in the source than in the copy, particularly as 1 Peter provides no context from which to derive a meaning specific to Christianity. The literal meaning in Exodus 19:6 is clear. God told Moses to tell the Israelites that if they kept his covenant, they would be a chosen people, royal priesthood and a holy nation. Exodus 19:6 is attributed to the Priestly Source, who was deeply concerned with "holiness", meaning the ritual purity of the people and the land.
1 Peter 2:5,12 shows that this passage was addressed to Christian Jews, so 1 Peter is reminding them of God's covenant to Moses, as told by the Priestly Source.
The original Hebrew version of Exodus 19:6 may contain a further clue to the meaning:
Exodus 19:6 (MT): And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
For the Priestly Source, this reference to a "kingdom of priests" could have been an ambit claim for a greater say in the control of Judah.
[[Heb 7:1]] KJV For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Christ is King Priest after being ordained in the order of Melchisedec. He himself calls us brothers meaning we also are King Priests only that he Christ is High Priest
Royal priesthood
These are two words that describes one person, in other words God is saying we must excel in and out of the church, the problem with us we pray more, fast more but also we are poor more so we excel in priesthood however we fail in royalty, that is why everday we amazed by non Christians who are successful we end up working for them we end up serving them, where is royalty there? When you excel in God work it means you're royal so you cant be poor, in simple term as much as you pray hard you must also work hard then you will be a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD
The word used here for "royal" is βασίλειον typically means palace. Therefore, the most literal rendering of this term would be "you are ... a palace of priests..." Palace is not always the correct rendering of this word however, as βασίλειον can also be translated as kingdom. A similar word, which is loosely identical and and interchangeable with βασίλειον is βασίλειος which can mean a palace, court or body of kings. The latter meaning however seems to be very uncommon.
While one could argue that Genesis paints the picture that we are given kingship over the earth (Gen 1:28) and that perhaps if Jesus is the King of Kings, we might be the kings or "body of kings" that Strong is referring to, it is doubtful that this is the meaning.
In the context of being a holy nation, it would be odd to first say that these people were a body of kings and then refer to them as a nation or court. More likely what is being said here is that the subject of Peter's exposition are the priests of a royal and part of a royal court with Christ being the King. Because of the context and proximity to the reference of Peter's audience as a "nation" and the uncommonality of βασίλειον meaning "body of kings" it is doubtful, (though possible) that this is the meaning.
God’s Promise to Abraham
When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. 2 And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.” 3 Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: 4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. 5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. 8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” (Genesis 17:1-8 NKJV)
Jesus then came to teach but was rejected so he said this
Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”
41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:40-44 NKJV)
This is the hint given that the kingdom of God was to be taken away from the Jews and to be given to the Gentiles.
Jesus has been given "All Authority"
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (Matthew 28:18 NKJV)
Why?
Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24 NKJV)
How is this to be done?
But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11 NKJV)
The Warning to All
But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me. (Luke 19:27 NKJV)
The Gift to All
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:17-21 NKJV)
A Message to the Corinthians
You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! (1 Corinthians 4:8 NKJV)
And how does each person receive this authority?
And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:13-14 NKJV)
Because God is our servant. If we ask according to his will.
So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. (Matthew 17:20 NKJV)
Therefore since we reign with Jesus we are royalty
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Melchizedek was both a King and a Priest
Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. (Gen 14:18 NKJV)
Conclusion
Therefore if Jesus is "Royalty", and he is our servant. Then we ourselves become royalty. Since we also serve him, and keep his commandment, then we are his priests. It means a "priesthood made up of royalty."
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:18 NKJV)
