In the New Testament, an elder may mean an older person, a Jewish synagogue leader, or an appointed Christian overseer. In the churches, elders exercised spiritual oversight and were closely associated with bishops.
Definition
In the New Testament, elder may describe an older person, a Jewish synagogue elder, or a person appointed to spiritual oversight in a Christian church. As a church office, an elder was responsible for the care and oversight of the congregation entrusted to him.
Biblical Usage
The word is used for seniority, for Jewish elders associated with scribes and Pharisees, and for appointed leaders of Christian churches. The churches generally had elders appointed over them. Their functions are presented as identical with those of bishops or overseers.
Historical Background
The distinction between elder and bishop is best understood as a difference of emphasis: “elder” emphasizes the person, while “bishop,” meaning overseer, emphasizes the work or office. The supplied account says the two titles referred to the same office in apostolic and sub-apostolic times.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(presbuteros):</p><p>(1) The word is used adjectivally to denote seniority (Lu 15:25; 1Ti 5:2).</p><p>(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.</p><p>(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 Ac 14:23; 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.</p><p>See BISHOP; CHURCH GOVERNMENT; MINISTRY.</p><p>A. C. Grant</p>
