>> So far as i know, it was only ca. 200 that the term “priest” started to be applied to the bishop and only still later was it applied to the presbyter. <<
Ludicrous. The word, “priest” is simply the Anglicization of the word, “presbyter,” which, as you know, appears several times in the bible.
Note: the notion of a non-Christian priest became so abstract by renaissance England, that English translations of the bible used the word to also describe “hierus.” In Latin and Greek, “presbyter” and “hierus” are separate words.
<<<< Ludicrous. The word, “priest” is simply the Anglicization of the word, “presbyter,” which, as you know, appears several times in the bible.>>> Nope just another Roman invention
The scriptures are inspired by the Holy Spirit ...He knows Greek and He chose the inspired words carefully. if there was to be a NT priesthood..the Holy Spirit would have said so .
The greek word for elder is different than the greek words for priest.. archiereus which translates into “High Priest” and hiereus which translates one that OFFERS SACRIFICES.
The role of the priesthood in scripture was to offer sacrifices.. That is what a priest does in scripture.. God set aside one tribe to be priests, they were not granted any land as God was their inheritance .
The Greek have a two words for priest ...neither of which is used for the NT church
hiereus
1) a priest, one who offers sacrifices and in general in busied with sacred rites
a) referring to priests of Gentiles or the Jews,
2) metaph. of Christians, because, purified by the blood of Christ and brought into close intercourse with God, they devote their life to him alone and to Christ
and archiereus
1) chief priest, high priest
2) the high priests, these comprise in addition to one holding the high priestly office, both those who had previously discharged it and although disposed, continued to have great power in the State, as well as the members of the families from which high priest were created, provided that they had much influence in public affairs.
3) Used of Christ because by undergoing a bloody death he offered himself as an expiatory sacrifice to God, and has entered into the heavenly sanctuary where he continually intercedes on our behalf.
Neither role is given in scripture for the new church. The Jewish priesthood was a type of Christ
Christ fulfilled the role of Priest on the cross.. there is no more sacrifice for sin. The Role of priest is no longer needed
He is now our High Priest..
The scriptural roles given for the NT church of Jesus Christ are:
Elder
The word for elder is presbyteros in the greek...
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
Now the Holy Spirit knows the difference in the greek words.. there is no priesthood provided for in the NT church, it was about 300 AD before the first priesthood appeared..
Greg Dues has written Catholic Customs & Traditions, a popular guide (New London: Twenty Third Publications, 2007). On page 166 he states,
“Priesthood as we know it in the Catholic church was unheard of during the first generation of Christianity, because at that time priesthood was still associated with animal sacrifices in both the Jewish and pagan religions.”
“A clearly defined local leadership in the form of elders, or presbyteroi, became still more important when the original apostles and disciples of Jesus died. The chief elder in each community was often called the episkopos (Greek, ‘overseer’). In English this came to be translated as ‘bishop’ (Latin, episcopus). Ordinarily he presided over the community’s Eucharistic assembly.”
“When the Eucharist came to be regarded as a sacrifice, the role of the bishop took on a priestly dimension. By the third century bishops were considered priests. Presbyters or elders sometimes substituted for the bishop at the Eucharist. By the end of the third century people all over were using the title ‘priest’ (hierus in Greek and sacerdos in Latin) for whoever presided at the Eucharist.”
Rather, disrespecting the distinction the Holy Spirit manifesty made is what is ludicrous.
The word, “priest” is simply the Anglicization of the word, “presbyter,” which, as you know, appears several times in the bible.
Which as justifying for using the same title for NT presbuteros as hiereus is based upon an etymological fallacy, as if etymologies are definitions of what a word originally meant, but which they are not. "Gay" clothing in James 2:3 does not refer to homosexual dress, while distinctive titles are important.
And as said, what occurred is that "presbuteros" in Greek (presbyter in Latin) was translated into English as "preost," and then "priest," but which also became the word used for "hierus" ("sacerdos" in Latin), losing the distinction the Holy Spirit made by never distinctively giving NT presbuteros the distinctive title hiereus.
In Latin and Greek, “presbyter” and “hierus” are separate words.
That is what i expressed, and thus failing to respect the distinction that the Holy Spirit made by NEVER giving the title hierus - which together with archiereus occurs 152 times - to NT presbuteros shows contempt for Him, but which change was a later development, made due to imposed functional equivalence, supposing NT presbyteros engaged in a unique sacrificial ministry as their primary function.
All believers are called to sacrifice (Rm. 12:1; 15:16; Phil. 2:17; 4:18; Heb. 13:15,16; cf. 9:9) and all constitute the only priesthood (hieráteuma) in the NT church, that of all believers, (1Pt. 2:5,9; Re 1:6; 5:10; 20:6).