ELDER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

(presbuteros):

(1) The word is used adjectivally to denote seniority (Luke 15:25 1 Timothy 5:2).

(2) Referring to the Jewish elders of the synagogue, usually associated with the scribes and Pharisees, and New Testament passages cited in the previous article.

(3) It denotes certain persons appointed to hold office in the Christian church, and to exercise spiritual oversight over the flock entrusted to them. From the references in Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17 it may be inferred that the churches generally had elders appointed over them. That "elders" and "bishops" were in apostolic and sub-apostolic times the same, is now almost universally admitted; in all New Testament references their functions are identical. The most probable explanation of the difference of names is that "elder" refers mainly to the person, and "bishop" to the office; the name "elder" emphasizes what he is, while "bishop," that is "overseer," emphasizes what the elder or presbyter does.

See BISHOP; CHURCH GOVERNMENT; MINISTRY.

A. C. Grant

Faustus Denies that the Prophets Predicted Christ. Augustin Proves ...
... in not distinguishing the time of the New Testament when Christ came, from the time
of the Old Testament. ... brother, is killed by the elder brother; Christ ...
/.../faustus denies that the prophets.htm

On the Same Words of the Gospel, John I. , "In the Beginning was ...
... sermons on selected lessons of the new testament. ... But you will say, "When a man begets
a Son, he that begets is the elder, and he that is begotten the younger ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxviii on the same.htm

The New Name.
... of any of the writers of the New Testament"chiefly, perhaps ... him through the Father's
love in the Elder Brother's devotion ... to him God gives the new name written ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the new name.htm

Footnotes
... In October 1796 Mr. A. Johnstone, thirty years elder in Lady Yester's congregation,
beside the University ... BENGALI"New Testament; Old Testament in 1802-9.1811 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/the life of william carey/footnotes.htm

How that is to be the Reward of All; the Apostle Earnestly Defends ...
... but of Him that calleth,) it was said unto her, "The elder shall serve the ... is,
concerning the new refreshing light, meaning that of the new testament), "All ye ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 40 how that is to.htm

Ill-Temper
... sins of the temper. The prodigal is the instance in the New Testament
of sins of passion; the elder brother, of sins of temper. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/the ideal life/ill-temper.htm

Autobiography of Frank G. Allen, Minister of the Gospel
... Debates with Elder Frogge. Debates again with Elder Hiner. Repudiates Miller's Book. ...
NE PLUS ULTRA. PART III.--SELECTIONS. NEW TESTAMENT VIEWS OF CHRIST. ...
/.../allen/autobiography of frank g allen minister of the gospel/

The Prodigal Son.
Mother Stories from the New Testament. ... But the elder son was very angry, and would
not go in to the feast, but said to his father, "Lo, these many years have I ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/the prodigal son.htm

The Resemblance Between the Old Testament and the New.
... same way we infer that the Old Testament was both ... amidst the threats and alarms of
his elder brother, and ... another wife, he must undergo a new servitude, during ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 10 the resemblance between.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Luke xviii. 1,"They Ought Always to ...
... sermons on selected lessons of the new testament. Sermon LXV. On the words of the
Gospel, Luke xviii. ... The elder in age is the elder in iniquity too. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxv on the words.htm