Yeah, what would I know about Greek? Probably I should listen to WASPs about what the Mother Tongue means in a given context, right?
As quoted by you, the term in the story of the Prodigal Son does indeed mean "older". In the two passages from John's Epistles, the could mean elder, in the sense of an elder priest, or it could simply mean priest.
There are all sorts of Greek words which have multiple meanings, the correct one depending on context, usually a cultural context. Many times here on FR we have discussed the various passages in the NT referring to Jesus' "brothers". The relevant word does mean brothers. It also means male blood relatives, usually cousins. In Greek there are times when the word for "uncle" is applied to a cousin. The list goes on.
One of the reasons Holy Tradition is so important is because it gives us both context and guidance for what we read in the NT. This is especially true when people are trying to gain spiritual insight by reading the Scriptures in a language other than Greek.
BTW, ἱερεύς does indeed mean priest. We still use it. There are other words for priest too, "προιστάμενος" and "παπάς", for example, which we also still use.
Well; it appears that they have a LOT of debt!
Not as much per citizen as Americans; but a lot, anyway.
πολυ ωραια, (nicely done)
There is a specific word for priest in the Greek. The Holy Spirit did NOT inspire the use of that word for New Testament church leadership. Take a hint.
>>It also means male blood relatives, usually cousins.<<
There is a specific word in the Greek for cousin. The Holy Spirit did NOT inspire the use of that word when speaking of Jesus brothers. Take a hint.
“One of the reasons Holy Tradition is so important is because it gives us both context and guidance for what we read in the NT.”
No, but it conveniently allows one to invent many schemes and claim they came from God.
Never ceases to amaze me the utter provincialism of some pockets of American Christianity. It occurs to almost no one to think "well if the Greek really said X...that must have occurred to the Greeks!"
Hey, I love articles like this. Maybe some will be tempted to read the didache, clement of Rome, the Shepard and Jerome.
They actually may discover the Holy Spirit was leading men to faith in Christ for 1,500 years before the tradition of men that they follow first appeared on the earth.
Bravo, more Church Fathers please.