Why a priest is called a man of the cloth?

Question

i would like people who actualy know the answer, and not just guessing please.

Answer 1

Because of the long outfits they wear: habit, cassock, talare, and the mass-vestments.

Answer 2

Those priests of that religion are what they claim to be, people know what they are, the question is, is a man of the cloth the same as a man of God, and why are so many too embarassed to claim man of God status, they only seem to use it for certain people like the pope. That is weird. How can you lead if you aint a man of God.

Answer 3

At one point, any man wearing the "uniform" of his profession (for example, a baker wearing an apron and chef's hat) was called a "man of the cloth." Eventually, this term only came to mean a member of the clergy.

Answer 4

They are called men of the cloth because of the way they (used to) dress, in habits or cassocks. These vestments were quite ample and made of heavy cloth, hence "men of the cloth".

Answer 5

I suppose because he should be cut from a different cloth than the rest of the people. He should be different than the common sinner, held to a higher standard.

Answer 6

Many years ago priests wore robs whilst moet of the populace wore regular clothes. Robs looked like cloth so those who wore them were "men of the cloth".

Answer 7

Because in 'olden days' religious figures were held in high esteem as much as royalty (well not quite as much) but as such they had robes of the finest material...hence the name...

Answer 8

Because he wears a special outfit as a symbol of his job.

Answer 9

Blaaaaaaah!!!!

Answer 10

that would be the cloth they wipe the stains up with.