I do! Both my Master's Degree (M. Div) and PhD of Theology involved using the original languages and working with the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.
Your background lets me get a bit more theological.
There is a distinction between the priesthood of all believers (referenced most obviously in 1 Peter 2:5 (ἱεράτευμα)) and the more specific office of public ministry which is spoken about using a variety of terms (overseers, ministers, pastors, teachers, deacons, elders).
You can see the distinction very apparently in Ephesians 4:11-12 as it describes those who are in the office of public ministry as an office instituted by God for the sake of equipping the saints (καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων).
Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ"
Other references to the functions and distinctions of the office may be found here:
John 20:21-23 "Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Acts 20:28 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."
1 Corinthians 4:1 "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."
1 Cor 12:29 "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?"
Edit: Also it is MOST certainly true that we are one in Christ. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:25-28).
But that's not saying that sex distinctions go away. That's talking about salvation. Note the context in verses 23-26. We are free in Christ from the Law, it does not condemn us as insiders or outsiders, or in any way. We are forgiven! This doesn't mean that we are less than we were before, but more!
I do! Both my Master's Degree (M. Div) and PhD of Theology involved using the original languages and working with the Greek and Hebrew manuscripts.
Your background lets me get a bit more theological.
There is a distinction between the priesthood of all believers (referenced most obviously in 1 Peter 2:5 (ἱεράτευμα)) and the more specific office of public ministry which is spoken about using a variety of terms (overseers, ministers, pastors, teachers, deacons, elders).
You can see the distinction very apparently in Ephesians 4:11-12 as it describes those who are in the office of public ministry as an office instituted by God for the sake of equipping the saints (καταρτισμὸν τῶν ἁγίων).
Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ"
Other references to the functions and distinctions of the office may be found here:
John 20:21-23 "Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Acts 20:28 "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."
1 Corinthians 4:1 "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God."
1 Cor 12:29 "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?"