[vladimir998]

You wrote: "No it doesn't Vlad. The word priest comes from, or better yet corresponds to the Greek word iereus, a word that appears about 30 times in the NT (contrary to Protestant gibberish)." Kosta (sigh), please open a dictionary. Look up "priest". What Greek word does that word ("priest") ultimately come from? It comes from presbuteros. I already posted exactly that info from the Merriam-Webster dictionary. I don't know how people can deny what is undeniably true. It is just as I said it was: "we are writing in English and talking about an English word - priest - which is from the Greek presbutero." Here's the undeniable proof yet again: "Etymology: Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter — more at presbyter" And, of course, if you look up presbyter you discover: "Etymology: Late Latin, elder, priest, from Greek presbyteros, comparative of presbys old man, elder;..." I just do not understand how people can deny reality. The English word "priest" comes from "presbuteros" PERIOD.

[Mr Rogers]

“The English word “priest” comes from “presbuteros” PERIOD.”

True. And irrelevant for understanding scripture and “presbuteros”.

It’s current meaning is “1. a person whose office it is to perform religious rites, and esp. to make sacrificial offerings.” (Random House) or “In many Christian churches, a member of the second grade of clergy ranking below a bishop but above a deacon and having authority to administer the sacraments.” (Am Her)

That doesn’t describe what the word “presbuteros” meant in 30-100 AD. It meant:

1) elder, of age,

a) the elder of two people

b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior

1) forefathers

2) a term of rank or office

a) among the Jews

1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)

2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice

b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably

c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=G4245&t=NASB&page=2

” 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” - Titus 1

How many Catholic priests are the husband of one wife, with believing children? And where is Paul’s instruction for them to offer Mass or hear confession or assign penance?

[kosta50]

Vlad, the English derivation of the word priest is from prebyteros, which in no way corresponds to the priestly function or the biblical term used for a priest.

In other words, it is a Latin-English corruption of the original meaning of the word presbyteros with a new meaning it never had. Protestant Bibles simply went back to the original meaning of presbyteros calling them elders, as they should be. They also call priest a priest where the Greek word iereus appears (i.e. Heb 10:11).