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ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT, CONTENT & SCOPE OF THE OFFICE OF ELDERSHIP
There is no more important officer in the Christian Church — – than the Elder. Whatever else Preachers and even Patriarchs and Apostles may be, -they are basically “Elders”1 too. One of the very words for “Elder” — -Presbuteros in the Greek — has given the name ‘Presbyterian to our denomination. Indeed, especially Presbyterianism is unthinkable — without Elders. So too is the Biblical Church — from Genesis to Revelation.
The words for “Elder” — in the original Biblical languages — imply dignity and maturity. Significantly, in the Old Testament Hebrew, we find the Elder described by words such as: zaaqeen (or “bearded one”); Sjaab (or “Grey-headed One”); Choor (or “Noble”); Saagaan (or “Ruler” alias “Prefect”); and Sjar (alias “Controller” or “Prince”). Several Elders at a time sat together as a Gerousia (alias a “Session of older men”) — and also as a Sanhedrin (alias a “Council-in-session”). In the New Testament Greek, we are told that the Presbuteerion (or Presbytery) consists of Presbuteroi (alias “Elders”) -or “Episkopoi”1 (alias “Overseers”).2
