Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5727 old age, attitudes to

5727 old age, attitudes to

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5650 Human relationships » 5725 old age » 5727 old age, attitudes to

Old age is generally held in honour and the aged in society are to be respected. Because of the wisdom associated with their advancing years elders had an important role of authority and guidance in Israelite society and the NT speaks of the leadership of elders within the church.

Old age is to be held in honour

Respect for the aged

Leviticus 19:32; 1 Peter 5:5 See also Job 29:8; Proverbs 16:31; Proverbs 20:29; 1 Timothy 5:1

Respect for parents

Leviticus 19:3; Proverbs 23:22 See also Exodus 20:12; Exodus 21:17; Leviticus 20:9; Deuteronomy 27:16; Proverbs 30:17; Matthew 15:4 pp Mark 7:10; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20

Old age is associated with wisdom

Deferring to the wisdom of the aged

Job 32:6-7 See also 1 Kings 12:6-8 pp 2 Chronicles 10:6-8 Rehoboam rejected the advice of elders and rebellion ensued; Job 12:12; Job 15:10; Phm 9 Paul refers to his age to add authority to his words.

Learning from the previous generation

Psalm 71:18 See also Job 8:8; Psalm 37:25-26

Old age does not necessarily bring superior wisdom

Ecclesiastes 4:13 See also Job 32:9; Psalm 105:22

Showing disrespect for the elderly is a sign of evil days

The role and status of elders

Elders of non-Israelite nations

Genesis 50:7; Numbers 22:7

Elders in Israel

Israel's elders were probably the heads of families, qualified to lead by virtue of age and experience:

Exodus 3:16-18; Exodus 4:29-31; Exodus 19:7 Numbers 11:25 The number of elders is reduced to 70 who are anointed by the Spirit for leadership alongside Moses.

Town elders were responsible for apprehending murderers and settling matrimonial disputes:

Deuteronomy 19:11-12; Deuteronomy 22:15-18; Deuteronomy 25:7 2 Samuel 5:3 Israel's elders accept David as king; Matthew 26:57 pp Mark 14:53 Jewish elders were among those who tried Jesus Christ. By NT times they had become involved with religious as well as civil affairs and their title related more to their role than to age.

Elders in the church

1 Timothy 5:17 See also 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; James 5:14; 1 Peter 5:1-2

God as the “Ancient of Days”

God as one “advanced in years”

Daniel 7:9 This description of God as the “Ancient of Days” implies that he possesses the respectability, authority and wisdom to judge that accompanies age. It also points to his eternity. See also Daniel 7:13,22; Revelation 1:14

The eternity of God