And once again we do not agree. We are not at odds over the etymology of the term priest and agree that it is derived from the Greek presbuteros, not hiereus . We doi have further reason to agree that 1 Peter 2 indicated that all Christians are priests—just not ministerial priests.
The ministerial priests of the New Covenant are called apostles (cf. Eph. 4:11), elders (Jas. 5:14), bishops (1 Tim. 3:1), and deacons (1 Tim. 3:8ff). The German word priester also has its origin from the Greek word for “elder.” So there is etymological reason to say that the elder in the Christian Church was considered to be a priest.
This is where we begin to differ. It is the function of the apostle, bishop, and elder, which is clearly revealed to be of a priestly nature. (A deacon is ordained, but he is not a ministerial priest.) Paul refers specifically to his ministry as an apostle. He refers to his ministry as a “priestly service”: “Because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service [Greek: hierourgounta] of the gospel of God” (Rom. 15:15–16). 1 Peter 2:5–9 is a reference to Exodus 19:6: “and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This text indicates a universal priesthood in the Old Covenant. Yet in that same chapter, verse 22, we read: “And also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves.” There was a universal priesthood in existence in the Old Covenant, but this did not exclude the possibility of a distinct ministerial priesthood as well. Catholics contend it is the same in the New Covenant..
And that makes it so simple because the scripture contends that it is NOT at all the same in the the New Covenant...By what authority do you oppose the scriptures???
The veil was ripped in two...Access to the Holy of Holies is not only available to all Christians but it is encouraged amongst Christians (by God) WITHOUT the benefit of a priest...
We are not at odds over the etymology of the term priest and agree that it is derived from the Greek presbuteros, not hiereus
Who agrees??? Presbuteros is Elder...Hiereus is Priest...
The German word priester also has its origin from the Greek word for “elder.”
That proves absolutely nothing, even if it is true...