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Topic:
Elder
The word "elder" is a name frequently used in the Old
Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to
respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7). It also denoted a political office
(Num. 22:7). The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the
people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them (Ex.
3:16). They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them
attended on him at the giving of the law (Ex. 24:1). Seventy also were
selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the
people (Num. 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
(Deut. 31:28), as local magistrates (16:18), administering justice
(19:12). They were men of extensive influence (1 Sam. 30:26-31). In New
Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs
(Matt. 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" (Eph. 4:11), "bishops or
overseers" (Acts 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers"
(Heb. 13:7; 1 Thess. 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; Phil. 1:1).
Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries
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