Tag Archives: priesthood of all believers

Martin Luther on Prayer

In reading about Martin Luther, I was impressed with his perception of the Bible and his appreciation of prayer. He loved the Bible and loved prayer.

Martin Luther declares that all Christians can appear before God and pray just as the Bible says. He is echoing Peter in the Bible, so prayer is not reserved to a certain class of people.

Here is a quote from Martin Luther where he is talking about every believer being a king and priest to God. Think about the two place in 1Peter in the Bible where Peter talks about every believer being a priest before God. 1 Peter 2:5, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Nor are we only kings and the freest of all men, but also priests for ever, a dignity far higher than kingship, because by that priesthood we are worthy to appear before God, to pray for others, and to teach one another mutually the things which are of God. For these are the duties of priests, and they cannot possibly be permitted to any unbeliever. Christ has obtained for us this favour, if we believe in Him, that, just as we are His brethren, and co- heirs and fellow kings with Him, so we should be also fellow priests with Him, and venture with confidence, through the spirit of faith, to come into the presence of God, and cry “Abba, Father!” and to pray for one another, and to do all things which we see done and figured in the visible and corporeal office of priesthood.

But the principle went still further; for it vindicated for the laity the possession of spiritual faculties and powers the same in kind as those of the clergy. All Christian men are admitted to the privilege of priesthood, and are “worthy to appear before God to pray for others, and to teach one another mutually the things which are of God.”

— from First Principles of the Reformation (95 Theses) by Martin Luther a resource from Olive Tree.