A DEFINITION

"Presbuteros" - Elder
A name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence Ge 50:7 It also denoted a political office Nu 22:7 The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them Ex 3:16 They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law Ex 24:1 Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people Nu 11:16,17 The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric wherever the patriarchal system exists.

At the present day this is the case among the Arabs, where the sheik (i.e., "the old man") is the highest authority in the tribe. The body of the "elders" of Israel were the representatives of the people from the very first, and were recognized as such by Moses. All down through the history of the Jews we find mention made of the elders as exercising authority among the people. They appear as governors De 31:28 as local magistrates De 16:18 administering justice De 19:12 They were men of extensive influence 1Sa 30:26-31

In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs Mt 16:21 21:23 26:59 The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the new. "The creation of the office of elder is nowhere recorded in the New Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former was transmitted from the earlies times. In other words, the office of elder was the only permanent essential office of the church under either dispensation." The "elders" of the New Testament church were the "pastors" Eph 4:11 "bishops or overseers" Ac 20:28 "leaders" and "rulers" Heb 13:7 1Th 5:12 of the flock.

Everywhere in the New Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same officer of the Christian church. He who is called presbyter or elder on account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with reference to the duty that lay upon him Ti 1:5-7 Ac 20:17-28 Php 1:1

<4245> presbuteros p(res-boo'-ter-os)
comparative of presbus (elderly);
AV-elder 64, old man 1, eldest 1, elder woman 1; 67

1) elder, of age,
1a) the elder of two people
1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior
1b1) forefathers
2) a term of rank or office
2a) among the Jews
2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)
2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice
2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably
2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

ELDER (singular)

• 1 Timothy 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
• 1 Timothy 5:2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
• 1 Timothy 5:19 Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.
• 1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
• 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
• 2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
• 3 John 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.