Editing Presbyter (section)

{{short description|Christian cleric}}
{{about|the title|the role and office of elder in Christianity|Elder (Christianity)}}
'''Presbyter''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|r|ɛ|z|b|ɪ|t|ə|r}}) is an honorific title for [[Christian clergy]]. The word derives from the Greek ''presbyteros'', which means elder or senior, although many in [[ancient Christian|Christian antiquity]] understood ''presbyteros'' to refer to the bishop functioning as overseer.<ref>{{cite book |last=Cottrell |first=Jack |title=The Faith Once for All: Bible Doctrine for Today |date=2002 |publisher=College Press Pub. |isbn=0899009050 |location=Joplin, Missouri |page=419 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia |publisher=W. B. Eerdmans |location=Grand Rapids, Michigan |date=1979 |edition=Fully revised |volume=1 |page=516 |isbn=978-0802837813 |last1=Bromiley |first1=Geoffrey W.}}</ref> The word ''presbyter'' is used many times in the [[New Testament]], referring both to the Jewish leadership and the "tradition of the elders",<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|15:2|NKJV}}: [[New King James Version]]</ref> and to the leaders of the early Christian community.<ref>{{bibleverse|Acts|15:6|NKJV}}: NKJV – ''Now the [[Apostles in the New Testament|apostles]] and elders came together ...''</ref>

In modern Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican usage, ''presbyter'' is distinct from ''[[bishop]]'', and in English it is synonymous with ''[[priest]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where in the New Testament are "Priests" Mentioned?|url=https://www.catholic.com/qa/where-in-the-new-testament-are-priests-mentioned|website=Catholic Answers|access-date=2018-09-01|archive-date=2018-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902011820/https://www.catholic.com/qa/where-in-the-new-testament-are-priests-mentioned|url-status=live}}</ref> In other [[Protestant]] usage, for example, Methodism, ''presbyter'' does not refer to a member of a distinctive priesthood called ''priests'' but rather to a [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]], [[pastor]], or [[Elder (Christianity)|elder]].