Reference: Ordain
Morish
In the O.T. there are eleven words so translated, with a variety of meanings and applications. God ordained the moon and the stars. Ps 8:3. Jeroboam ordained priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made. 2Ch 11:15. None of God's priests or prophets were ordained, in the sense now understood by that word, as inducting into some spiritual place, with power and authority imparted by man. In Jer 1:5, where God said to the prophet, "I sanctified thee, and ordained thee a prophet unto the nations," the word translated 'ordained' is nathan, which means simply 'to give,' as in the margin. See also 2Ki 23:5.
In the N.T. there are ten words translated 'ordain.' The passages that might seem to have some reference to the impartation of a sacerdotal supremacy are:
1. Christ ordained his twelve apostles. Mr 3:14. Here the word is ?????, 'to do, make.'
2. Matthias was ordained to take the place of Judas, Ac 1:22: ????????, 'to become.'
3. Paul ordained elders in every city, Ac 14:23: ??????????, 'to appoint by stretching out the hand:' this is translated 'chosen' in 2Co 8:19.
4. Paul said, "I am ordained a preacher and an apostle," 1Ti 2:7: ??????, 'to put, place:' cf. Joh 15:16.
5. Elders ordained, and high priests ordained, Tit 1:5; Heb 5:1; 8:3: ?????????, 'to place, appoint.' The meanings of the Greek words show that, though elders were appointed by the apostles and were called 'bishops,' there was no sacerdotal power conveyed thereby, nor was any authority to continue such appointments handed down.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and he put down the idol-priests, whom the kings of Judah had appointed, so that incense might be burned in the high places, in the cities of Judah, and round about Jerusalem, - them also that burned incense to Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the constellations, and to all the army of the heavens;
and appointed for himself priests for the high places, and for the demons - and for the calves which he had made.
When I view thy heavens, the work, of thy fingers, moon and stars, which thou hast established,
Before I formed thee at thy birth, I took knowledge of thee, And before thy nativity, I hallowed thee, - A prophet to the nations, I appointed thee.
and he appointed a twelve, whom also he named, Apostles, - that they might be with him, and that he might be sending them forth to make proclamation,
Not, ye, chose, me, but, I, chose you, and placed you, that ye should go your way and bear, fruit, - and, your fruit, should abide: that, whatsoever ye should ask the Father in my name, he might give unto you.
Beginning from the immersion by John until the day when he was taken up from us, that, a witness of his resurrection along with us, should one of these become.
Moreover, appointing unto them by vote, in each assembly, elders, praying with fastings, they commended them unto the Lord on whom they had believed.
Not only so, however, but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies, as a fellow-traveler with us in this favour, which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord's glory and our earnest desire: -
Unto which, I, have been appointed proclaimer and apostle - Truth I speak, I utter no falsehood - a teacher of nations, in faith and truth.
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that, the things remaining undone, thou mightest completely set in order, and mightest establish, in every city, elders, as, I, with thee arranged: -
For, every high-priest who from among men is taken, on behalf of men, is appointed, as to the things pertaining unto God, that he may be offering bothgifts and sacrifices for sins, -
For, every high-priest, for the offering of both gifts and sacrifices, is constituted; whence it was necessary for, this one also, to have something which he might offer.