The Greek form of the word "laity" is "laos", which Strong assigns number 2992 and defines simply as "people". It is used 143 times in the New Testament – in Matthew 2:6 for God's "people" Israel; in Luke 2:31 for all "peoples", before whose face God has prepared His salvation; in Romans 9:24-26 for Gentile "people" whom God has called; in 1 Peter 2:9-10 for a "people" for a possession, God's "people"; in Revelation 14:6 for every "people" to whom the everlasting gospel is preached; and in Revelation 21:3 for God's "people" with whom He will dwell eternally.
So kleros and laos are clearly Biblical concepts. But there is no suggestion in scripture that the kleros are a class or group of persons distinct from the laos.
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