Presbyter
Presbyterus (from the Greek πρεσβύτερος, via Latin, presbyteros meaning "oldest", "dean") He is a religious leader.
Holy Scripture
In the Old Testament
The “elders” were a group of leaders in the people of Israel, Moses is the one who prefigures this character giving it form in the book of the Pentateuch. In the Old Testament we find the elders making political decisions, the book of Samuel, later in history advising the king and representing the people in spiritual matters.
In the New Testament
We find that he was a local leader in Christian congregations who, with others, formed a council or collegial government of elders, following the Jewish patriarchal tradition. The association was in turn chaired by another old man.
The following references can be found:
They appointed priests in each Church and after praying with fasts, they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they believed.Acts 14:23.
As they went through the cities, they were given to them, to observe them, the decisions made by the apostles and priests in Jerusalem.Acts 16:4.
Do not neglect the charism that exists in you, which was communicated to you by prophetic intervention by imposing the hands of the school of priests.1 Timothy 4:14.
The reason for leaving you in Crete was for you to stop organizing what was missing and set up priests in every city, as I commanded you.Titus 1:5.
Christianity
Early Church
For most scholars, the earliest organization of the Christian Church in Jerusalem was similar to that of Jewish synagogues, but with a council or college of ordained presbyters (an elder who has experienced judgment in a Christian assembly). In Acts 11:30 and Acts 15:22, a collegiate system of government can be seen in Jerusalem although headed by James the Just, who according to tradition was the first bishop from the city. In Acts 14:23, the apostle Paul ordains elders in the churches he founds.
The term presbyter, at first, cannot be clearly distinguished from the term overseer (ἐπίσκοποι episkopoi, later used exclusively to designate a bishop), as in Acts 20:17, Titus 1:5-7 [10] and 1 Peter 5:1.
In the early writings of the Apostolic Fathers, the Didache and the First Epistle of Clement, the church used two terms for local church offices: presbyters (which most consider an interchangeable term with episcopos or supervisor) and deacon.
Although the early sources are not sufficiently clear, various groups of Christian communities would have had a group or college of presbyter-overseers at the head of the local churches. In time, the chief bishop or 'monarchist'; came to rule more clearly, and all local churches would eventually follow suit by being modeled after a bishop in charge of a community, although the role of the priestly body remained important. front of each community, it does not appear until 177 with the martyrs of Lyon.
A college of presbyters was at the head of the Christian community in Rome during the II century, according to Justin in the year 155 in his First Apology 65:3, celebrating the Eucharist and in the description of the Sunday liturgy (67:4-5).
Ignatius of Antioch, at the end of the I century and beginning of the II century, in his letter to the Magnesians recounts the embassy of the Magnesians was made up of Bishop Damas who presided over it, the priests Basso and Apolonio and the deacon Zósimo. In 6:1 the bishop is presented as the image of the Father, the presbytery, the elders, who represent the assembly of the apostles, and the deacons are said to be servants of the Church at the service of Jesus Christ and that they were established by the will of God..
The sources always refer to the presbyters in a collegiate body. For Hermas, in the mid-century II, in his work Pastor, the presbyters occupied the first hierarchical positions as heads of the Church, being one of them chosen to be in charge, the position being disputed by others.
Catholic Church
In the Catholic Church they are commonly known as priests or "cures." Strictly speaking, both terms are not synonymous with presbyter, since priests are both bishops and presbyters, and the term priest refers to the person who has the responsibility for the "care of souls" in a parish, that is, the parish priest. In the Spanish-speaking Catholic Church in common use they are often called 'fathers'.
In Catholic theology, the presbyterate is the second degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders (which consists, precisely, of the three degrees of the diaconate, presbyterate, and episcopate). Thus, priests are men who have received the second degree of the sacrament of orders, the best known. Their function is to celebrate the Eucharist and administer the other sacraments, except confirmation (except in danger of death) and priestly ordination, reserved for the bishop, that is, they can administer five sacraments. The presbyterate is the ministry carried out by the members of the hierarchy in the Pastoral: parish priests, vicars and chaplains.
"the ecclesiastical ministry, of divine institution, is exercised in various orders by those who have already called themselves bishops, priests and deacons since ancient times. The priests, although they do not have the summit of the pontificate and depend on the Bishops in the exercise of their power, are, however, united with them in the honor of the priesthood and, by virtue of the sacrament of order, they have been consecrated as true priests of the New Testament, in the image of Christ, the High and Eternal Priest, to preach the Gospel and to feed the faithful and to celebrate the divine worship. ""Dogmatic Constitution on the Church." Lumen Gentium. 21 November 1964. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Consultation on 4 June 2015.
In the absence of a priest, because in certain places there is no longer a priest, as may be the case in remote rural areas, the corresponding bishop may authorize, to maintain the religious service there, certain laymen, men and women, or religious, to be able to preside over the celebration ceremony, the reading of the gospel, impart the blessing, and even impart communion.
Orthodox Church and Coptic Church
In the case of the Orthodox Church and the Coptic Church, priests can administer six of the seven sacraments, the exception being the sacrament of Holy Orders, reserved for bishops.
Protestantism
Protestantism denies a priesthood other than that of the common faithful. This is called the "universal priesthood." Protestant priests are also called Pastors (except in Mormonism, and in other Christian denominations.)
For Mormons, elder is an office in the lesser priesthood or Aaronic priesthood, above the offices of deacon and teacher but below the office of bishop.