[Springfield Reformer]

Correction: the word for "old Covenant priest" (hiereus) is different from the word for "new Covenant priest" (presbyteros), and the word for "new Testament priest" is the same as the word for "elder/presider". This really has been true for quite a number of centuries.

Um, relegating ἱερεύς ("hiereus") to "Old Covenant Priest" is not accurate.  Counterexamples:

1)  Priest of Jupiter

Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
(Acts 14:13)

The priest of Jupiter no doubt had sacerdotal duties AND was contemporary with the New Covenant Ecclesia.  Neither the NT elder nor the overseer (bishop) had sacerdotal (official presentation of sacrifice) duties.  This is probably the best reason for them never being singled out as a priest per se ("hiereus").  But sacrificial duties did apply to pagan priests, and so they could carry the sacerdotal title "hiereus."

2)  Melchisedec

For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
(Hebrews 7:1)

Melchisedec predated the Mosaic covenant, which is the Old Covenant, and the Abrahamic Covenant continues to this day.  Therefore Melchisedec cannot properly be counted among the "Old Covenant" priesthood.

3)  Us.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(1 Peter 2:9)

As far as I can tell, ἱεράτευμα ("hierateuma"), which is derived from hiereus, is the only instance in which the sacerdotal style of priest is applied to believers, and in this passage it is applied to all believers.  There is no distinguishing between a priestly and a non-priestly class within the body of Christ. And we, the priesthood of all believers, are definitely not Old Covenant priests.

Peace,

SR

[RnMomof7]

This is all word games... Greek is Greek.. trying to redefine the words by modern standards or usage is doing great damage to the work of the Holy Spirit ...

[paladinan]

Ergh... need to run, but all right: one quick reply: 1) "hiereus" properly describes the non-Holy-Orders priesthood (I was trying to avoid Catholic terms, for the sake of clarity in discussion with Protestants); the same term which was applied to OT priests is now applied to the "Baptismal priesthood"... which is distinct from those who are ordained by the laying on of hands (e.g. 1 Timothy 5:22, etc.). I'll admit, Melchizedek is a quasi-exception to that rule, since his priesthood was utterly distinct both from the "family-linked priesthood" of the pre-Exodus times and from the Levite/etc. priesthood which came afterward (and the ordained priesthood links itself to the Order of Melchizedek, since they stand "in Persona Christi"--in the person of Christ, Who is a Priest of that Order, forever.

Sorry... can't comment on pagan priests; beyond my purview! :) If it makes you feel better, I certainly didn't mean to include them.

2) There were FIVE Old Covenants, actually (Adam/Eve, then Noah, then Abraham, then Moses, then David); so if one's tempted to get picky, Melchizedek (who's an outlier, anyway) did not predate the Old Covenant, in toto. He predated the Mosaic Covenant, to be sure... but not the first two. Gotta run; sorry!