"elder" as defined in Η ΚΑΙΝΗ ΔΙΑΘΗΚΗ
πρεσβύτερος:
1) Ο μεγαλύτερος στην ηλικία μεταξύ δύο ή περισσοτέρων.
1) The larger in age between two or more.
- Λκ 15:25: ην δε ο υιος αυτου ο πρεσβυτερος εν αγρω και ως ερχομενος ηγγισεν τη οικια ηκουσεν συμφωνιας και χορων
- Luke 15:25: Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
2) Ο προχωρημένος στην ηλικία, ο γέρος, αυτός που δεν είναι πια νέος.
2) The advanced in age, the old man, the one who is no longer young.
- Πραξ 2:17: και εσται εν ταις εσχαταις ημεραις λεγει ο θεος εκχεω απο του πνευματος μου επι πασαν σαρκα και προφητευσουσιν οι υιοι υμων και αι θυγατερες υμων και οι νεανισκοι υμων ορασεις οψονται και οι πρεσβυτεροι υμων ενυπνιοις ενυπνιασθησονται
- Acts 2:17: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
- Α Τιμ 5:1-2: πρεσβυτερω μη επιπληξης αλλα παρακαλει ως πατερα νεωτερους ως αδελφους 2 πρεσβυτερας ως μητερας νεωτερας ως αδελφας εν παση αγνεια
- 1 Timothy 5:1-2: Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.
3) Πρεσβύτεροι = οι αρχαίοι, οι πρόγονοι, οι προπάτορες.
3) Elders = the ancients, the ancestors, the forefathers.
- Μτ 15:2: δια τι οι μαθηται σου παραβαινουσιν την παραδοσιν των πρεσβυτερων? ου γαρ νιπτονται τας χειρας οταν αρτον εσθιωσιν
- Matthew 15:2: Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
- Μκ 7:3-5: οι γαρ φαρισαιοι και παντες οι ιουδαιοι εαν μη πυγμη νιψωνται τας χειρας ουκ εσθιουσιν κρατουντες την παραδοσιν των πρεσβυτερων 4 και απ αγορας εαν μη ραντισωνται ουκ εσθιουσιν και αλλα πολλα εστιν α παρελαβον κρατειν βαπτισμους ποτηριων και ξεστων και χαλκιων 5 και επερωτωσιν αυτον οι φαρισαιοι και οι γραμματεις δια τι ου περιπατουσιν οι μαθηται σου κατα την παραδοσιν των πρεσβυτερων αλλα κοιναις χερσιν εσθιουσιν τον αρτον
- Mark 7:3-5: For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
- Εβρ 11:1-4α: εστιν δε πιστις ελπιζομενων υποστασις πραγματων ελεγχος ου βλεπομενων 2 εν ταυτη γαρ εμαρτυρηθησαν οι πρεσβυτεροι 3 πιστει νοουμεν κατηρτισθαι τους αιωνας ρηματι θεου εις το μη εκ φαινομενων το βλεπομενον γεγονεναι 4 πιστει...αβελ...
- Hebrews 11:1-4a: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel...
4) Η λέξη "πρεσβύτεροι", σαν τιμητική διάκριση ή τίτλος αξιώματος αναφέρεται:
4) The word "elders" as an honorary distinction or title of honor refers to:
α) στους προύχοντες των Ιουδαϊκών πόλεων, που είχαν και ιδιαίτερη εξοθσία πάνω στο λαό,
a) the leaders of the Jewish cities who exercised direct authority over the people,
- Εξ 4:29: ἐπορεύθη δὲ Μωυσῆς καὶ ᾿Ααρὼν καὶ συνήγαγον τὴν γερουσίαν τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ.
- Exodus 4:29: And Moses and Aaron went and gathered the elders of the children of Israel.
- Δευτ. 19:12: καὶ ἀποστελοῦσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως αὐτοῦ καὶ λήψονται αὐτὸν ἐκεῖθεν καὶ παραδώσουσιν αὐτὸν εἰς χεῖρας τῶν ἀγχιστευόντων τοῦ αἵματος, καὶ ἀποθανεῖται·
- Deuteronomy 19:12: then shall the elders of his city send, and take him thence, and they shall deliver him into the hands of the avengers of blood, and he shall die.
- Δευτ. 21:2-9: ἐξελεύσεται ἡ γερουσία σου καὶ οἱ κριταί σου καὶ ἐκμετρήσουσιν ἐπὶ τὰς πόλεις τὰς κύκλῳ τοῦ τραυματίου, 3 καὶ ἔσται ἡ πόλις ἡ ἐγγίζουσα τῷ τραυματίᾳ καὶ λήψεται ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης δάμαλιν ἐκ βοῶν, ἥτις οὐκ εἴργασται, καὶ ἥτις οὐχ εἵλκυσε ζυγόν, 4 καὶ καταβιβάσουσιν ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης δάμαλιν εἰς φάραγγα τραχεῖαν, ἥτις οὐκ εἴργασται οὐδὲ σπείρεται, καὶ νευροκοπήσουσι τὴν δάμαλιν ἐν τῇ φάραγγι. 5 καὶ προσελεύσονται οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ Λευῖται, ὅτι αὐτοὺς ἐπέλεξε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς παρεστηκέναι αὐτῷ καὶ εὐλογεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν ἔσται πᾶσα ἀντιλογία καὶ πᾶσα ἁφή. 6 καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γερουσία τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης οἱ ἐγγίζοντες τῷ τραυματίᾳ νίψονται τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν τῆς δαμάλεως τῆς νενευροκοπημένης ἐν τῇ φάραγγι 7 καὶ ἀποκριθέντες ἐροῦσιν· αἱ χεῖρες ἡμῶν οὐκ ἐξέχεαν τὸ αἷμα τοῦτο, καὶ οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἡμῶν οὐχ ἑωράκασιν· 8 ἵλεως γενοῦ τῷ λαῷ σου ᾿Ισραήλ, οὓς ἐλυτρώσω, Κύριε, ἵνα μὴ γένηται αἷμα ἀναίτιον ἐν τῷ λαῷ σου ᾿Ισραήλ. καὶ ἐξιλασθήσεται αὐτοῖς τὸ αἷμα. 9 σὺ δὲ ἐξαρεῖς τὸ αἷμα· τὸ ἀναίτιον ἐξ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν, ἐὰν ποιήσῃς τὸ καλὸν καὶ τὸ ἀρεστὸν ἔναντι Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ σου.
- Deuteronomy 21:2-9: thine elders and thy judges shall come forth, and shall measure the distances of the cities round about the slain man: 3 and it shall be that the city which is nearest to the slain man the elders of that city shall take a heifer of the herd, which has not laboured, and which has not borne a yoke. 4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer into a rough valley, which has not been tilled and is not sown, and they shall slay the heifer in the valley. 5 And the priests the Levites shall come, because the Lord God has chosen them to stand by him, and to bless in his name, and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be [decided]. 6 And all the elders of that city who draw nigh to the slain man shall wash their hands over the head of the heifer which was slain in the valley; 7 and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, and our eyes have not seen [it]. 8 Be merciful to thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, O Lord, that innocent blood may not be charged on thy people Israel: and the blood shall be atoned for to them. 9 And thou shalt take away innocent blood from among you, if thou shouldest do that which is good and pleasing before the Lord thy God.
- Λκ 7:3: ακουσας δε περι του ιησου απεστειλεν προς αυτον πρεσβυτερους των ιουδαιων ερωτων αυτον οπως ελθων διασωση τον δουλον αυτου
- Luke 7:3: And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
β) στους αρχηγούς των φυλών, που ήταν μέλη του μεγάλου συνεδρίου,
b) the chiefs of the tribes who were members of the great congress,
- Μτ 16:21: απο τοτε ηρξατο ιησους χριστος δεικνυειν τοις μαθηταις αυτου οτι δει αυτον εις ιεροσολυμα απελθειν και πολλα παθειν απο των πρεσβυτερων και αρχιερεων και γραμματεων και αποκτανθηναι και τη τριτη ημερα εγερθηναι
- Matthew 16:21: From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
- Μτ 21:23: και ελθοντος αυτου εις το ιερον προσηλθον αυτω διδασκοντι οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι του λαου λεγοντες εν ποια εξουσια ταυτα ποιεις και τις σοι εδωκεν την εξουσιαν ταυτην
- Matthew 21:23: And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
- Μτ 26:3-4: τοτε συνηχθησαν οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι του λαου εις την αυλην του αρχιερεως του λεγομενου καιαφα 4 και συνεβουλευσαντο ινα τον ιησουν δολω κρατησωσιν και αποκτεινωσιν
- Matthew 26:3-4: Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.
- Πραξ 4:8: τοτε πετρος πλησθεις πνευματος αγιου ειπεν προς αυτους αρχοντες του λαου και πρεσβυτεροι
- Acts 4:8: Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
- Πραξ 25:15: περι ου γενομενου μου εις ιεροσολυμα ενεφανισαν οι αρχιερεις και οι πρεσβυτεροι των ιουδαιων αιτουμενοι κατ αυτου καταδικην
- Acts 25:15: about whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him.
γ) στους προϊσταμένους, στους ηγέτες των χριστιανικών κοινοτήτων, που έχουν την ευθύνη να διοικούν την εκκλησία και να διδάσκουν τους πιστούς.
c) the supervisors of the Christian communities, who have the responsibility to run the church and teach the faithful.
- Πραξ 11:29-30: των δε μαθητων καθως ευπορειτο τις ωρισαν εκαστος αυτων εις διακονιαν πεμψαι τοις κατοικουσιν εν τη ιουδαια αδελφοις 30 ο και εποιησαν αποστειλαντες προς τους πρεσβυτερους δια χειρος βαρναβα και σαυλου
- Acts 11:29-30: Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judæa: 30 which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
- Πραξ 14:23: χειροτονησαντες δε αυτοις κατ εκκλησιαν πρεσβυτερους προσευξαμενοι μετα νηστειων παρεθεντο αυτους τω κυριω εις ον πεπιστευκεισαν
- Acts 14:23: And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
- Πραξ 15:2: γενομενης δε στασεως και ζητησεως ουκ ολιγης τω παυλω και τω βαρναβα προς αυτους εταξαν αναβαινειν παυλον και βαρναβαν και τινας αλλους εξ αυτων προς τους αποστολους και πρεσβυτερους εις ιερουσαλημ περι του ζητηματος τουτου
- Acts 15:2: When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
- Πραξ 20:17: απο δε της μιλητου πεμψας εις εφεσον μετεκαλεσατο τους πρεσβυτερους της εκκλησιας
- Acts 20:17: And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
- Πραξ 20:28: προσεχετε εαυτοις και παντι τω ποιμνιω εν ω υμας το πνευμα το αγιον εθετο επισκοπους, ποιμαινειν την εκκλησιαν του θεου ην περιεποιησατο δια του αιματος του ιδιου
- Acts 20:28: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
- Α Τιμ 5:17: οι καλως προεστωτες πρεσβυτεροι διπλης τιμης αξιουσθωσαν μαλιστα οι κοπιωντες εν λογω και διδασκαλια
- 1 Timothy 5:17: Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.
Οι πρεσβύτεροι αυτοί ονομάζονται επίσης και επίσκοποι.
These elders are also called bishops.
- Πραξ 20:28: προσεχετε εαυτοις και παντι τω ποιμνιω εν ω υμας το πνευμα το αγιον εθετο επισκοπους, ποιμαινειν την εκκλησιαν του θεου ην περιεποιησατο δια του αιματος του ιδιου
- Acts 20:28: Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
- Τιτ 1:5-7: τουτου χαριν απελειπον σε εν κρητη ινα τα λειποντα επιδιορθωση και καταστησης κατα πολιν πρεσβυτερους ως εγω σοι διεταξαμην 6 ει τις εστιν ανεγκλητος μιας γυναικος ανηρ τεκνα εχων πιστα μη εν κατηγορια ασωτιας η ανυποτακτα 7 δει γαρ τον επισκοπον ανεγκλητον ειναι ως θεου οικονομον μη αυθαδη μη οργιλον μη παροινον μη πληκτην μη αισχροκερδη
- Titus 1:5-7: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: 6 if any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
δ) οι εικοσιτέσσερις πρεσβύτεροι, που σαν αρχηγοί της συναγμένης πια οτον ουρανό νέας εκκλησίας, κάθονται ολόγυρα στο θρόνο του Θεού, περιωλημένοι με λευκές στολές και διακονούν μαζί με τον Μεγάλο Αρχιερέα, που είναι ο Χριστός.
d) the twenty-four elders, who as leaders of the new heavenly church, sit all around the throne of God, clothed in white robes, and serve together with the Great High Priest, who is Christ.
- Απ 4:4: και κυκλοθεν του θρονου θρονοι εικοσι τεσσαρες και επι τους θρονους εικοσι τεσσαρας πρεσβυτερους καθημενους περιβεβλημενους ιματιοις λευκοις και επι τας κεφαλας αυτων στεφανους χρυσους
- Revelation 4:4: And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
- Απ 4:10: πεσουνται οι εικοσι τεσσαρες πρεσβυτεροι ενωπιον του καθημενου επι του θρονου και προσκυνησουσιν τω ζωντι εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων και βαλουσιν τους στεφανους αυτων ενωπιον του θρονου λεγοντες
- Revelation 4:10: the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
- Απ 5:5-6: και εις εκ των πρεσβυτερων λεγει μοι μη κλαιε ιδου ενικησεν ο λεων ο εκ της φυλης ιουδα η ριζα δαυιδ ανοιξαι το βιβλιον και τας επτα σφραγιδας αυτου 6 και ειδον εν μεσω του θρονου και των τεσσαρων ζωων και εν μεσω των πρεσβυτερων αρνιον εστηκος ως εσφαγμενον εχων κερατα επτα και οφθαλμους επτα οι εισιν τα [επτα] πνευματα του θεου απεσταλμενοι εις πασαν την γην
- Revelation 5:5-6: And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
- Απ 5:8: και οτε ελαβεν το βιβλιον τα τεσσαρα ζωα και οι εικοσι τεσσαρες πρεσβυτεροι επεσαν ενωπιον του αρνιου εχοντες εκαστος κιθαραν και φιαλας χρυσας γεμουσας θυμιαματων αι εισιν αι προσευχαι των αγιων
- Revelation 5:8: And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
- Απ 5:11: και ειδον και ηκουσα φωνην αγγελων πολλων κυκλω του θρονου και των ζωων και των πρεσβυτερων και ην ο αριθμος αυτων μυριαδες μυριαδων και χιλιαδες χιλιαδων
- Revelation 5:11: And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;