Luther and priesthood of all believers

Luther and priesthood of all believers
Question from Jake on 5/7/2008:

Fr. Echert,

What exactly did Luther mean when he asserted the priesthood of all believers? Was he using the Latin word 'presbyter'? If so, was he meaning to claim that all Christians are equal to presbyters in authority? What role did Luther's work have in English Protestant Bibles using 'elders' rather than 'priests' in the New Testament whe translating 'presbyter'?
Answer by Fr. John Echert on 5/8/2008:

While I am familiar with some of the writings and teaching of Martin Luther I am not familiar with his views on this particular issue. My assumption is, in light of his rejection of the Catholic Mass and the priesthood of the ordained, that he gave much more attention to the more generic sense of the priesthood, at the expense of the ministerial priesthood of the ordained.

As to translations, I know that Luther had a German vernacular but not sure about his influence on the English versions of the time.

Thanks, Jake

Father Echert