Do You Read the Bible as Prophet, Priest, or King?

Jesus was the perfect prophet, priest, and king, but the rest of us, as his followers, tend to let one of these perspectives dominate–and we get out of balance.

David Fairchild has blogged recently about the strengths and weaknesses of the prophet, priest, and king perspectives. Here’s a summary

Prophet Perspective:

• Theologically inclined
• Sees the text as support for bigger theological topics in an apologetic way
• “May use words such as ‘I think x,’ or ‘I know x’”
• “More concerned with whether or not something is true rather than how it makes others feel or whether or if it is practical and applicable.”
• Besetting sin: “arrogance, intellectualism, poor listening skills, and an overbearing demeanor…what you said was right, it was biblical, but the way you said it was rude.”
• Must grow in kingly and priestly roles

Priest Perspective:

• Looks “at the text to ’sense’ what is happening within it.”
• Says “this is how it makes me feel,” or “I know it’s right intuitively, I just can’t explain it.”
• Can “empathize with others and feel the significance of some Scriptural truth.”
• “[O]ften more openly worshipful and desires to express… love for God passionately.”
• “[C]an minister the presence of Christ to others when they are broken and hurting.”
• Besetting sin: “cowardice, emotionalism, and an unhealthy concern with how others feel about them.”
• “May not want to preach the depth of the text because they assume someone may be hurt or bothered by it.”
• “[C]an … feel tossed about by their current feelings rather than what is true or applicable.”
• “Usually very compassionate but can’t plan their way out of a paper bag unless they develop their kingly skills. Priests also will allow poor doctrine to go unchecked unless they grow in their prophet perspective.”

King Perspective:

• Situationally oriented
• “May come to the text with a concern for how this text applies to real life. How it is worked out practically.”
• Is able “to apply a truth to real life situations.”
• “May prefer discussion oriented learning rather that book learning. A king needs to get his hands on the idea and grapple with it in conversation.”
• “Great at organizing structures and systems to work out the vision of the text.”
• “Creative when thinking through how to build bridges missionally.”
• Besetting sins: “pragmatism, manipulation, and control.”
• “May come to the text and quickly figure out a 3 step sermon on a ‘how to’ message before connecting the lines to the gospel.”
• “[M]ay also make priests feel like they are being overlooked and overwhelmed with great ideas and tips without their heart being changed first.”
• “[M]ay tend towards reading the latest fads … without first consulting scripture to see if it is in fact true.”
• “Instead of asking ‘is it true?’ or ‘how does this make me feel?’ a king will ask ‘does this work?’”
• “[M]ay frustrate prophets by not asking deeper theological questions.”
• “[M]ay frustrate priests because they may use people to work the system unless they grow in their other perspectives.”

Fairchild says that when we are approaching the text, we can back up and question the perspective that is biasing us at the moment.

And when we fail, we can take comfort in the perfection of Christ.