πρεσβύτερος

πρέσβυς, -εως, ὁ poët. form of πρεσβύτης (which see),

[in LXX (= πρεσβευτής, an ambassador): 4 Mos 21,20 (21), al. (מֲלְאָךְ), Es 13,8; 57,9 (צִיר), 1Ma 9,70, al. ;]

an old man.

Compar.,

πρεσβύτερος, -α, -ον,

[in LXX chiefly for זָקֵן ;]

1. of age, elder: ὁ νἱὸς ὁ π., Luk 15,25 as subst., opposite to νεανίσκοι, ApG 2,17 to νεώτερος, 1 Tim 5,1-2; of the religious leaders of the past, Matt 15,2, Mark 7,3, 5, Hebr 11,2 (= οἱ πατέρες, Hebr 1,1).

2. Of dignity, rank or office (as found in π. and Inscr. of civil and religious offices, including priesthood, in Asia Minor and in Egypt; see Deiss., BS, 154 ff., 233 If.; LAE, 373);

(a) among Jews: Matt 16,21; 26,47, 57; 27,3, 12; 27,20, 41; 28,12, Mark 8,31; 11,27; 14,43, 53; 15,1, Luk 7,3; 9,22; 20,1; 22,52, Joh 8,9, ApG 4,5, 8; 4,23; 6,12; 23,14; 24,1; τ. Ἰουνδαίων, ApG 25,15 τ. λαοῦ, Matt 21,23; 26,3; 27,1;

(b) among Christians: ApG 11,30; 14,23; 15,2, 4; 15,6, 22-23; 16,4; 21,18, 1 Tim 5,17; 5,19, Tit 1,5, 2 Joh 1, 3 Joh 1, 1 Pet 5,1; 5,5; τ. ἐκκλησίας, ApG 20,17, Jak 5,14;

(with) in the visions of the Apocalypse: Åb 4,4, 10; 5,5-6, 8; 5,11, 14; 7,11, 13; 11,16; 14,3; 19,4.

(On the NT use of this word and its relation to ἐπίσκοπος (which see), cf. Lft., Phi., 93 ff., 189 ff.; CGT, Past. Epp., lvi ff.) †