"Priest" in Other Languages

[Wigglesworth]

First, I understand that the English word "priest" is derived from the Greek word "presbuteros" which is translated in the King James Version into "elder."

Now, I have been contemplating the anti-catholic arguments about the passing away of the Old Testament priesthood.

A light came on when I realized that the Old Testament priest was not speaking English, and the New Testament elder was not speaking English, but both of them are now called "priest" in our English Bibles. They were referred to by two different names in Hebrew (kohen) and Greek (presbuteros). I'm no linguist, but those words don't sound the same to me when I try to pronounce them.

It seems like anti-catholic argument that today's priests attempt to extend the Levitical priesthood is based on a false belief that the Old Testament and New Testament were originally written in English, making today's "priest" equivalent to a "priest" in Leviticus.

My question: What fool decided to use the same English word for (1) today's catholic priest and (2) the priests of Leviticus?

Are the same words used for these two offices in Spanish, Greek, Latin, or French?

 

[JasonV]

They are in Spanish:

Priest = Sacerdote

Priesthood = Sacerdocio

I imagine that the Latin and other romance languages are similar.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Japanese - Shinpu

Not that that's relevant....other than to say it's the same word used for Shinto priests


I believe that the difference is that presbyters did not fulfill the same duties as modern priests. The Bishop would be the one to consecrate the sacraments and such but when the church started to grow, the bishops would ordain men to perform these duties in their stead and that's where our current priests come from. This is why when an Orthodox bishop is present, the priests who are present may not offer blessings to the congregation since they are blessing people by the bishop's authority in his stead.


This may be scandalous to some, but I don't see why, since Acts says that deacons weren't there from the start either until there was a need that arose and the apostles started the deaconate.

 

[JasonV]

Great info to add InnerPhyre.

 

[Wigglesworth]

Thanks for the repsonses.

Here is another way I should have asked the question:

Do Bibles written in Latin, Greek, Spanish, or Japanese use the same word for the Hebrew kohen as those languages use for the modern catholic priest?

Or, is English unique in calling an Anglican "priest" and a Levitical "kohen" both "priest"?

 

[JasonV]

To my knowledge bro, I think it's common among linguists to translate a word to it's nearest equivalent. So no, English is not unique.

Now, why that is I don't know, especially when you consider that nobody would call a Shaman a Priest, nor vice-versa. I suppose it has more to do with functions generally speaking than identical work?

 

[Wigglesworth]

Here's another question that may clinch it. What is the contemporary word for a Catholic priest in Greece?

Is it presbuteros (the New Testament elder) or hiereus (the Old Testament priest)?

 

[gtsecc]

I am not sure we see the three fold ministry in the New Testament. I thought it was two fold - Deacons and Bishops, and then Priests came as assistants to the Bishops.