• “Clerical” and “Lay” as Analogous Terms

    Author(s):
    Ryan Miller (see profile)
    Date:
    2022
    Subject(s):
    Bible, Theology, Doctrinal, Canon law, Laity, Clergy
    Item Type:
    Article
    Permanent URL:
    https://doi.org/10.17613/xnr5-2q22
    Abstract:
    The Code of Canon Law defines the laity simply as the non-ordained. While helpfully direct and often useful, this definition gives no hint as to why non-ordained religious may not always count among the laity, nor of how the function and mission of the laity could be defined in positive terms. I propose to resolve these difficulties by understanding the Biblical foundations of “clerical” and “lay” (κλῆρος and λαός) as essentially related by analogy of proper proportionality, with clerics as the allotted witnesses, and the laity as the assembly from whom the clerics are allotted and to whom the clerics witness. This treatment helps to resolve not only the above problems with the status of religious and the positive definition of the laity, but also some common ecumenical concerns and several points of New Testament exegesis.
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    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    12 months ago
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