Schaff's Bible Dictionary
ELD'ERS, a comprehensive title, the peculiar force of which must be determined by the connection. Ex 3:16. There was a body of elders, however, selected and appointed for special duties. Num 11:16-17, John 6:24-25, and they seem to have been taken from the general class of elders. " The 70 men who were with Moses at Mount Sinai were also 70 of the elders of Israel. Ex 24:1, Gal 1:9. At a subsequent period of Jewish history we find a tribunal of 70 elders, known as the Sanhedrin, which the Rabbins maintain was a continuance of the original appointment of elders by Moses. c. 175, 1 Mace. T.
are associated, but not to be confounded, with the chief priests and scribes. Matt 16:21, etc. See Sanhedrin. As to the time and manner of the introduction of eldership we have no such information as is given respecting the disconate. Acts 6. But we conjecture that it came early in the Church — perhaps was even co-eval with it; in which case it is no wonder that its introduction is not mentioned.
As the office was a Christian imitation of the Jewish "rulers of the synagogues," who conducted the prayer, reading, and exposition which constituted the service, every church had a number of elders. T. no set distinction made between the teaching and the ruling elder; both offices were united in the same person. See Bishop. Elders, Estate of the. Acts 22:5. See Estate of the Elders.