Etymologically the term priest derives from Greek πρεσβύτερος/presbýteros, “elder”; it denotes a religious functionary, especially an expert responsible for the cult. The Greek word did not originally have this meaning. A second semantic strand puts a priest (Gk ἱερεύς/hiereús, Lat. sacerdos) in charge of things that are sacred (Sacred and profane). The characteristics that comparative religion usually associates …
Cite this page
Friedli, Richard,
Otto, Eckart,
Dignas, Beate,
Elm, Dorothee,
Kraus, Georg,
Plank, Peter,
Brandt, Reinhard and
Oberlies, Thomas,
“Priesthood”, in:
Religion Past and Present.
Consulted online on 26 January 2021 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_COM_024468>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013