A name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Genesis 50:7). It also denoted a political office (Numbers 22:7). The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them (Exodus 3:16). They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law (Exodus 24:1). Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people (Numbers 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 (Deuteronomy 31:28), as local magistrates (16:18), administering justice (19:12). They were men of extensive influence (1 Samuel 30:26-31). In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs (Matthew 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" (Ephesians 4:11), "bishops or overseers" (Acts 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers" (Hebrews 13:7; 1 Thessalonians 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 (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17-28; Philippians 1:1).

1. (a.) Older; more aged, or existing longer.

2. (a.) Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc.

3. (a.) One who is older; a superior in age; a senior.

4. (n.) An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.

5. (n.) A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church.

6. (n.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder.

7. (n.) A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

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

ELDER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

el'-der, (zaqen):

Among primitive peoples authority seems naturally to be invested in those who by virtue of greater age and, consequently, experience are best fitted to govern thus Iliad iii0.149. Later the idea of age became merged in that of dignity (Il. ii.404, ii0.57; Odyssey ii.14). In like manner the word patres came to be used among the Romans (Cic. Rep. 2, 8, 14). So also among the Germans authority was entrusted to those who were older; compare Tacitus Agricola. The same is true among the Arabians to the present day, the sheik being always a man of age as well as of authority.

From the first the Hebrews held this view of government, although the term "elder" came later to be used of the idea of the authority for which, at first, age was regarded necessary. Thus the office appears in both the Jahwist, J (9th century B.C.) (Exodus 3:16; Exodus 12:21; Exodus 24:1, of the elders of the Hebrews; and of the Egyptians, Genesis 50:7); and Elohist (E) (8th century B.C.) (Exodus 17:5; Exodus 18:12; Exodus 19:7 (the second Deuteronomist (D2)); Joshua 24:31, elders of Israel, or of the people. Compare the principle of selection of heads of tens, fifties, etc., Exodus 18:13, seventy being selected from a previous body of elders); compare Jahwist(J)-Elohist(E) (Numbers 11:16, 24). Seventy are also mentioned in Exodus 24:1, while in Judges 8:14 seventy-seven are mentioned, although this might be taken to include seven princes. Probably the number was not uniform.

Elder as a title continues to have place down through the times of the Judges (Judges 8:16; Judges 2:7); compare Ruth 4:2 into the kingdom. Saul asked to be honored before the elders (1 Samuel 15:30); the elders of Bethlehem appeared before Samuel (1 Samuel 16:4); the elders appeared before David in Hebron (2 Samuel 17:15 1 Chronicles 11:3); elders took part in the temple procession of Solomon (1 Kings 8:3 2 Chronicles 5:4). They continued through the Persian period Ezra 5:5, 9; Ezra 6:7, 14; 10:8, 14 Joel 1:14 margin and the Maccabean period APC Judith 6:16; 7:23; 8:10; 10:06; 13:12; 1Maccabees 12:35, while the New Testament presbuteros, Matthew 16:21; Matthew 26:47, 57 Mark 8:31 Luke 9:22 Acts 4:5, 23 makes frequent mention of the office.

The elders served as local magistrates, in bringing murderers to trial (Deuteronomy 19:12; Deuteronomy 21:1 Joshua 20:4), punishing a disobedient son (Deuteronomy 21:19), inflicting penalty for slander (Deuteronomy 22:15), for noncompliance with the Levirate marriage law (Deuteronomy 25:7), enforcing the Law (Deuteronomy 27:1), conducting the service in expiation of unwitting violation of the Law (Leviticus 4:13).

In certain passages different classes of officers are mentioned as "judges and officers" (Deuteronomy 16:18), "elders" and "officers" (Deuteronomy 31:28), "heads, tribes, elders officers" (Deuteronomy 29:10 Hebrew 9). It is probable that both classes were selected from among the elders, and that to one class was assigned the work of judging, and that the "officers" exercised executive functions (Schurer). In entirely Jewish communities the same men would be both officers of the community and elders of the synagogue. In this case the same men would have jurisdiction over civil and religious matters.

LITERATURE.

Schurer, GJV3, section 23, especially 175 Eng. edition, II, i, 149; Benzinger, H A2, 51; Deissmann, Bibelstudien, 153 (sv..); BDB, 278 (.); Preuschen, Griechisch-Deutsches Handworterbuch, under the word, 958.

W. N. Stearns

ELDER

see ELDER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; ELDER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

4245. presbuteros -- elder
... elder. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: presbuteros Phonetic Spelling:
(pres-boo'-ter-os) Short Definition: elder Definition: elder, usually used as ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4245.htm - 7k

4850. sumpresbuteros -- a fellow elder
... a fellow elder. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: sumpresbuteros
Phonetic Spelling: (soom-pres-boo'-ter-os) Short Definition: a fellow elder ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4850.htm - 6k

3187. meizon -- elder, greater, more.
... 3186, 3187. meizon. 3188 . elder, greater, more. Part of Speech ... etc. Word Origin
cptv. of megas, qv. elder, greater, more. Irregular comparative ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3187.htm - 6k

4243. presbeuo -- to be the elder, to take precedence
... to be the elder, to take precedence. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: presbeuo
Phonetic Spelling: (pres-byoo'-o) Short Definition: I am aged, act as an ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4243.htm - 7k

752. archisunagogos -- ruler of a synagogue
... 752 (from , "first" and 4684 , "synagogue") -- properly, the chief elder (overseer)
presiding over a local synagogue; a "an administrative officer, supervising ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/752.htm - 8k

3962. pater -- a father
... Transliteration: pater Phonetic Spelling: (pat-ayr') Short Definition: father, Father,
ancestor Definition: father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3962.htm - 8k

4165. poimaino -- to act as a shepherd
... guarding, guiding, and folding the flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus
Christ -- Shepherd, who calls under-shepherds (such as elder-overseers) to ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4165.htm - 8k

5358. philagathos -- loving that which is good
... loves.". 5358 ("a lover of God's good") only occurs in Tit 1:8 where it is
listed as an essential quality for the elder-overseer. Word ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5358.htm - 7k

1985. episkopos -- a superintendent, an overseer
... as an official title in civil life), overseer, supervisor, ruler, especially used
with reference to the supervising function exercised by an elder or presbyter ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1985.htm - 8k

4244. presbuterion -- a body of elders
... of a presumed derivative of presbuteros; the order of elders, ie (specially), Israelite
Sanhedrin or Christian "presbytery" -- (estate of) elder(-s), presbytery ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4244.htm - 7k

175. Aharon -- an elder brother of Moses
... 174, 175. Aharon. 176 . an elder brother of Moses. Transliteration: Aharon
Phonetic Spelling: (a-har-one') Short Definition: Aaron. ...
/hebrew/175.htm - 5k

1419. gadol -- great
... Word Origin from gadal Definition great NASB Word Usage all* (2), bigger (1), bitterly
(1), bitterly* (3), deep (1), elder (3), exceedingly (2), extremely* (2 ...
/hebrew/1419.htm - 6k

2205. zaqen -- old
... Word Origin from the same as zaqan Definition old NASB Word Usage aged (3), aged*
(1), elder (3), elders (132), old (21), old man (7), old men (7), old women (1 ...
/hebrew/2205.htm - 6k

7227. rab -- much, many, great
... much, many, great. Transliteration: rab Phonetic Spelling: (rab) Short Definition:
abundance. in abundance, elder, enough, exceedingly, full, greatly, man, one, ...
/hebrew/7227.htm - 6k

7868. sib -- to be hoary
... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding to sib Definition to be hoary NASB Word Usage
elders (5). elder. (Aramaic) corresponding to siyb -- elder. see HEBREW siyb. ...
/hebrew/7868.htm - 6k

3117. yom -- day
... term), (often used adverb) -- age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily,
((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end ...
/hebrew/3117.htm - 7k

123. edom -- the name of a condiment
... 25:25); Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied
by him -- Edom, Edomites, Idumea. see HEBREW 'adom. 122, 123. edom. 124 ...
/hebrew/123.htm - 6k

I Speak to the Elder-Born.
... LXX."I Speak to the Elder-Born. The time demands that I alone should speak to
you truth. He is often admonished by one word which many refuse. ...
/.../commodianus/the instructions of commodianus/lxx i speak to the elder-born.htm

Ep. Lxiii. To Amphilochius the Elder.
... Division III. Miscellaneous Letters. Ep. LXIII. To Amphilochius the Elder.
(In ad374 Amphilochius was made Bishop of Iconium; and ...
/.../select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep lxiii to amphilochius the.htm

The Discourse of the Elder Showing How the Plan of Action May be ...
... The discourse of the Elder showing how the plan of action may be changed without
fault provided that one keeps to the carrying out of a good intention. ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xiv the discourse of.htm

Discourse of the Same Elder on the Untrustworthy Sort of ...
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter II. Discourse of the same elder
on the untrustworthy sort of friendship. There are many ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter ii discourse of the.htm

July the Third My Elder Brother
... JULY The Third MY ELDER BROTHER. HEBREWS ii.9-18. ... And my elder Brother came to "destroy
the works of the devil." That is the entire ministry of destruction. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/july the third my elder.htm

The Elder Felix of Migirpa Said: "I Think that Every one Coming ...
... Book VI. Chapter 9. " 13. The elder Felix of Migirpa said: "I think
that every one coming from? "13. The elder Felix [1606 ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 9 13 the.htm

CM Keble. The Elder Scripture.
... IX. MISCELLANEOUS. 476. CM Keble. The Elder Scripture. 1 There is a book,
who runs may read, Which heavenly truth imparts; And all ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/476 c m keble the.htm

That an Elder must not be Rashly Accused.
... Third Book. 76. That an elder must not be rashly accused. In the first to Timothy:
"Against an elder receive not an accusation." [4538]. Footnotes: ...
/.../cyprian/three books of testimonies against the jews/76 that an elder must.htm

That Two Peoples were Foretold, the Elder and the Younger; that Is ...
... First Book. 19. That two peoples were foretold, the elder and the younger; that
is, the old people of the Jews, and the new one which should consist of us. ...
/.../three books of testimonies against the jews/19 that two peoples were.htm

Begins Preaching at Beech Grove. Debates with Elder Hiner. Amusing ...
... Begins Preaching at Beech Grove. Debates with Elder Hiner. Amusing Incident. Holds
many Meetings. Debates with Elder Frogge. Debates again with Elder Hiner. ...
/.../chapter xv begins preaching at.htm

Elder (34 Occurrences)
... 11:16, 17). The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric
wherever the patriarchal system exists. At the present ...
/e/elder.htm - 27k

Fellow-elder (1 Occurrence)
Fellow-elder. Fellow-disciples, Fellow-elder. Fellow-feeling .
Multi-Version Concordance Fellow-elder (1 Occurrence). ...
/f/fellow-elder.htm - 6k

Younger (39 Occurrences)
... it. (WEY YLT). Romans 9:12 it was said to her, "The elder will serve the
younger." (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV). 1 Timothy ...
/y/younger.htm - 18k

Shem (17 Occurrences)
... The words "brother of Japheth the elder" in Genesis 10:21 are more correctly rendered
"the elder brother of Japheth," as in the Revised Version. ...
/s/shem.htm - 15k

Older (43 Occurrences)
... Genesis 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim,
so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him ...
/o/older.htm - 19k

Tabeel (2 Occurrences)
... rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. FC Eiselen. ELDER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
el'-der, (zaqen): Among primitive peoples authority ...
/t/tabeel.htm - 101k

Presbyter
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An elder in the early Christian church. See Bishop. ...
See further, BISHOP; CHURCH; ELDER; GOVERNMENT. Edward Mack. ...
/p/presbyter.htm - 14k

Presbytery (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) A judicatory consisting of all the ministers within a certain district,
and one layman, who is a ruling elder, from each parish or church, commissioned ...
/p/presbytery.htm - 14k

James (40 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary. (1.) The son of Zebedee and Salome; an elder
brother of John the apostle. He was one of the twelve. He ...
/j/james.htm - 78k

Leah (30 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. LEAH. le'-a (le'ah; Leia, "weary," "dull"(?),
wild cow"): Rachel's sister, and the elder daughter of Laban (Genesis 29:16). ...
/l/leah.htm - 19k

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