The word translated *elder* is *presbuterous*.
It is not the Greek word for *priest*.
That word is *hiereis* as in Acts 4:1.
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Hey metmom,
Geeee...does God mean elder or priest? The original Bible, from the original writings, the word is priest. Protestants, ie, in the KJV, King James’ 16th century translators changed “priest” to elder. Why would they do that?
Oh yes, Protestants have no ministerial priesthood.
Metmom, you are the best Catholic apologist.
“Original Bible, writings” would be what exactly?
The apostles knew that Peter was not the leader of the group.
"Now there arose a dispute among them, which of them was reputed to be the greatest. But he said to them, 'The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and they who exercise authority over them are called Benefactors. But not so with you. On the contrary, let him who is greatest among you become as the youngest, and him who is chief as the servant.'" (Luke 22:24-26).
The very fact that the apostles had an argument among themselves shows they did not understand that Peter was to be prince. Also, the occasion of the argument was the night of the betrayal--the last night of the Lord's earthly ministry--and yet the apostles still did not understand that Christ had given Peter a position of primacy. The Lord settled the argument, not by stating that He had already made Peter head, but by declaring that the Gentiles have their heads, "But not so with you." Thus, Jesus very plainly taught that no one would occupy any such place as a Benefactor (or Pope) to exercise authority over the others.
That's because we don't need priests any more because the system of sacrifices is over and done with.
Jesus is our great high priest, making intercession for us before God and His sacrifice did away with sins.
Hebrews 10:10-18 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.