Just to comment on this, the whole NT was written in Greek (at least, the earliest manuscripts we have are in Greek). I’m not sure where one would get the argument that “elder” is a Jewish term and “bishop” is a Greek term. They are both Greek terms. Presbyter is Greek for “elder” or “priest” while episcopas is Greek for “bishop”.
Greek “episcopos” is “overseer” which we derive our term “bishop” from.
Really? I have always heard that the term did also mean priest. Hence why a “presbyteral council” is a meeting of priests. The Church often uses language such as “presbyterate” or “presbyteral” in reference to priests.
No, diggerdomer is correct. Although the elder’s had priestly functions, as is evidenced by New Testament Scriptures, the word for “priest” was not used.
Okay. So, when the term “presbyter” is used in the NT, does it or does it not refer to those who we would today recognize as priests? In other words, is it ever used to describe someone who we would not consider to possess valid sacramental orders?
I’m not entirely sure. If I remember correctly, the bishop held the roles of what we call priests and bishops today. The Mass was held in one place and the presbyters would take the hosts that the Bishop consecrated and bring them out to the other Eucharistic feasts in a city. As time went by and the Church grew, this became unfeasible. It was at this time that the roles of Bishops and Priests were separated.
Today, in the Catholic Church, “presbyter” does refer to ordained priests. This is why Bishops and Priests are ordained to the “presbyterate” while deacons are not. So, the way we use and understand the term today is different than would have been used and understood by the New Testament authors and audience.
I recall Paul refers to his priestly service
I don’t think Paul ever uses “sacerdos” nor refers to himself as a “priest” but if you can find otherwise please share. Thanks.
Bingo!
The word priestly is used in rom15:16 see Niv,isv& nasb
The English word ‘priest’ is a transliteration of the Greek word presbuteros. It is not a translation. A transliterated word is a word from one language that is carried over to another with no change in meaning. A good example is the word ‘rondezvous’ meaning to meet at an appointed place and time. It is really a French word carried over to the English language. So presbuteros is translated as ‘elder’ but is transliterated as ‘priest’.
I thought the transliteration would be “presbyter”
It is in the Latin language. Most European languages have Latin as their root. For instance the Latin word Caesar becomes Kaiser in German, Tsar in Russian and Chester in English. Presbuteros in Greek is transliterated as presbyter in Latin from which the Old English word ‘proest’ is derived and from which we receive the word ‘priest’. Look up the words ‘priest’ and ‘presbyter’ in a good dictionary that gives the etymology of words like the Merriam and Websters online dictionary
Hi diggerdomer,
So both “priest” and “presbyter” are transliterations in English of the same Greek word?