Priesthood of all believers
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE REGARDING THE IDEA OF A PRIESTLY MINISTRY ATTRIBUTED TO ALL (BAPTIZED) BELIEVERS, NOT ONLY CLERGY
Priesthood of the believer; Priesthood of believers; Spiritual house; Universal priesthood; Priesthood of all men; Universal priesthood (doctrine); Priesthood of All Believers
The priesthood of all believers or universal priesthood is a biblical principle in most branches of Christianity which is distinct from the institution of the ministerial priesthood (holy orders) found in some other branches, including the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. Derived from the Bible and elaborated in the theology of Martin Luther and John Calvin, the principle became prominent as a tenet of Protestant Christian doctrine, though the exact meaning of the belief and its implications vary widely among denominations; in general, Protestants reject the existence of a ministerial priesthood.