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 with pr…
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 07 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_COM_024468>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013