AND the word the HOLY SPIRIT chose for the church
Lexicon :: Strong's G1984 - episkopē ἐπισκοπή Transliteration episkopē Pronunciation e-pē-sko-pā' (Key) Part of Speech feminine noun Root Word (Etymology) From ἐπισκέπτομαι (G1980) Dictionary Aids Vine's Expository Dictionary: View Entry TDNT Reference: 2:606,244 Outline of Biblical Usage investigation, inspection, visitation that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad oversight overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church KJV Translation Count — Total: 4x The KJV translates Strongs G1984 in the following manner: visitation (2x), bishoprick (1x), office of a bishop (1x). Thayer's Greek Lexicon G1984 G1984
Rome had everything to do with it..they REDEFINED the word..and general usage that became a SECOND MEANING IN ENGLISH ..it still means the exact same thing in greek ..If God had intended a priesthood in the NT church, it would have been CLEARLY defined..as it is in the OT.. but no where do we read of that role in the NT church.. there was no mass, no re-sacrificing of Christ until Rome decided that the "mass" was a sacrifice that required a OT type priest..(300 ad) Before that time Elders (Bishops) traveled between Dioceses to preform baptisms, or marriages.. there were no "priests"
No Greek lexicons or other scholarly sources suggest that "presbyteros" means "priest" instead of "elder". The Greek word is equivalent to the Hebrew zaqen, which means "elder", and not priest. You can see the zaqenim described in Exodus 18:21-22 using some of the same equivalent Hebrew terms as Paul uses in the GK of 1&2 Timothy and Titus. Note that the zaqenim are not priests (i.e., from the tribe of Levi) but are rather men of distinctive maturity that qualifies them for ministerial roles among the people. Therefore the NT equivalent of the zaqenim cannot be the Levitical priests. The Greek "presbyteros" (literally, the comparative of the Greek word for "old" and therefore translated as "one who is older") thus describes the character qualities of the "episkopos". The term "elder" would therefore appear to describe the character, while the term "overseer" (for that is the literal rendering of "episkopos") connotes the job description. (International Standard Version of the Bible)
(ii) Presbyters According to all texts previously quoted the presbyterate is the bishop's advisory council and his support, and constitutes with him a governing body which has a claim to due reverence and obedience while itself subordinate to him (Trallians 12.2; Ephesians 4.1; cf. Polyc., v, 2).(new Advent
The following certain conclusions can be derived from Hermas: (a) The superiors are called presbyters (Vis., ii, 4, 2; Vis., iii, 1, 7, 8; Vis., iii, 11, 3); bishops and deacons (Vis., iii, 5, 1; Sim., ix, 27, 2, bishops alone; Sim., 26, 2, deacons alone), proegoumenoi tes ekklesias Vis., ii, 2, 6); together with protokathedritai (Vis., iii, 9, 7); pastors (pastores; no Greek text; Sim., ix, 31, 5 and 6). (b) Since Hermas has no exact and fixed terminology, no clear distinction can be discovered in his writings between bishops and presbyters. (new Advent)
Mention of bishops by Polycrates In a synodal letter written by Polycrates of Ephesus about the year 190 this bishop, sixty-five years of age, speaks of seven of his relatives who had been bishops before him. Besides these he mentions Polycarp and Papirius of Smyrna, Thraseas of Eumenea, Sagaris of Laodicea and Melito of Sardes (Eusebius, "Hist. Eccles.", v, 24, 2 sq.).(New Advent)
All of this because IN THE GREEK Presbyters means, elder, overseerer or bishop.. not PRIEST.. the early church has no mention of a priesthood