David Hunter: From presbyter to sacerdos: A linguistic shift and its implications in ancient Christianity

One of the most significant developments in early western Christianity was the emergence of a sacralized understanding of Christian priesthood.  This development was reflected in the linguistic shift from terms such as "episcopus" and "presbyter" to describe Christian leaders to alternatives such as "sacerdos," a shift which first appears most prominently in the writings of Cyprian of Carthage.  The aim of this presentation is to explore the implications of this development from the mid-third to the late fourth century.  I will discuss the various reasons for this development and explore its impact on regulations for clerical life, most notably the requirements of single marriage and prohibition of sexual intercourse.