Editing Priesthood of all believers (section)

==Theology==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2010}}
The Bible passage considered to be the basis of this belief is {{bibleref2|1 Peter|2:9|NLT}}:

{{Quote|But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.}}

(This [[New Living Translation]] version reflects the Protestant view, as the universal "royal priesthood" from the Bible Luther cites above has been changed to individual "royal priests".) Other relevant Scripture passages include {{Bibleverse|Exodus|19:5–6|9}}, {{Bibleverse|1 Peter|2:4–9|9}}, [[Revelation 1:4]]–[[Revelation 1:6|6]], {{Bibleverse|Revelation|5:6–10|9}}, {{Bibleverse|Revelation|20:6|9}} and the [[Epistle to the Hebrews]].

Most Protestants today recognize only Christ as a mediator between themselves and God ({{Bibleverse|1 Timothy|2:5|9}}). The [[Epistle to the Hebrews]] calls Jesus the supreme "high priest," who offered himself as a perfect sacrifice ([[Hebrews 7]]:23–28). Protestants believe that through Christ they have been given direct access to God, just like a priest; thus the doctrine is called the '''priesthood of all believers'''. God is equally accessible to all the faithful, and every Christian has equal potential to minister for God. This doctrine stands in opposition to the concept of a [[Clericalism|spiritual aristocracy]] or hierarchy within Christianity.

Much{{dubious|date=April 2024}} of the doctrinal dispute on this matter is caused by the difference between the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] words {{lang|grc|ἱερεύς}} (''hiereus'' meaning "sacred one"; represented in [[Latin]] by the word [[Glossary of ancient Roman religion#sacerdos|sacerdos]]) and {{lang|grc|[[presbyter|πρεσβύτερος]]}} (''presbyteros'' meaning "one with elderhood"), which are usually both translated in English with the word "[[priest#In Christianity|priest]]". The former term refers to the sacrificial ritual leaders of Judaism, the [[kohen|kohanim]] ({{Script/Hebrew|כֹּהֲנִים}}), and to those holding the office of conducting sacrifices in ancient [[pagan]] temples, whereas the latter term refers to an acknowledged elder of a community.