Rev. Fr.,

For a more nuanced presentation of the words hieros, sacerdos and presbyter,
see "Anglican Belief and Practice" at the APA's web site.

"Sacerdos" has a venerable Christian history, very often meaning little more
than "liturgical president," typically a bishop surrounded by a semi-circle
of priests.  But is nothing to be afraid of, as the author of your lengthy
snippet seems to be.

That is a case of talking quite past one's rhetorical opponent.  (In the
cases of Lightfoot and Hughes, probably some long-forgotten medieval
person.)

At all events, both Lightfoot and the Articles of Religion were concerned to
argue against the notion of offering anew what Christ offered once and for
all.  To be sure such thinking of the sacrifice of the Mass as meretricious
and additive is not sound thinking.

As to the priesthood of believers in Peter's epistle, nowhere does Scripture
tell us that the preisthood of believers (plural) is reducible to the the
priesthood of every believer parcelled out individually.  This notion, which
we might called "priesthood by division" is analogous to that of "priesthood
by addition," just mentioned.  The only credible Anglican mention of
individuals so acting is in the hymn "Light's abode, celestial Salem,"
wherein individual souls are called each a priest (and king, mind you!) and
each presents "thank-offerings."  But all this takes place in heaven rather
than on our pilgrimage here below.

I have found it more helpful to understand the distinction between the
ministerial priesthood and that of the people of God as one of function, not
degree.  William Temple used to say, "The Christian priest stands for the
things of God to the people of God; the people of God stands for the things
of God to the world."  That's a powerful notion of priesthood.

The battles of the nineteenth century should teach us that one can revere
the ordained minstry as much as one likes as long as one reveres the Church
more.

I suppose the same holds true between the Church militant and the Kingdom of
God, but I haven't thought that through yet.

Paul Blankinship+



----- Original Message -----
From: "Knox Duncan" <knoxduncan@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2003 10:07 PM
Subject: [FaithandLife] Presbyter vs. Sacerdos


The term "priest" is identical in origin with the word "presbyter," which
literally means "elder."