Presbyter
noun
1.
(in the early Christian church) an office bearer who exercised teaching, priestly, and administrative functions.
2.
(in hierarchical churches) a priest.
3.
an elder in a Presbyterian church.
noun
1.
an elder of a congregation in the early Christian Church
(in some Churches having episcopal politics) an official who is subordinate to a bishop and has administrative, teaching, and sacerdotal functions
2.
(in some hierarchical Churches) another name for priest
3.
(in the Presbyterian Church)
a teaching elder
a ruling elder
Read Also:
- Presbyterate
[prez-bit-er-it, -uh-reyt, pres-] /prɛzˈbɪt ər ɪt, -əˌreɪt, prɛs-/ noun 1. the office of a presbyter or elder. 2. a body of presbyters or elders. presbyterate /prɛzˈbɪtərɪt; -ˌreɪt/ noun 1. the status or office of a presbyter 2. a group of presbyters
- Presbyterial
[prez-bi-teer-ee-uh l, pres-] /ˌprɛz bɪˈtɪər i əl, ˌprɛs-/ adjective 1. of or relating to a presbytery. 2. presbyterian (def 1). presbyterial /ˌprɛzbɪˈtɪərɪəl/ adjective 1. of or relating to a presbyter or presbytery Also presbyteral (prɛzˈbɪtərəl)
- Presbyterian
[prez-bi-teer-ee-uh n, pres-] /ˌprɛz bɪˈtɪər i ən, ˌprɛs-/ adjective 1. pertaining to or based on the principle of ecclesiastical government by presbyters or presbyteries. 2. (initial capital letter) designating or pertaining to various churches having this form of government and professing more or less modified forms of Calvinism. noun 3. (initial capital letter) a member […]
- Presbyterian church
Presbyterian Church definition A Protestant denomination based on the doctrines of John Calvin and governed by elders (presbyteros is the Greek word for “elder”). The Presbyterian Church was founded in Scotland, where it is the established church, supported by the government. Note: The Presbyterian Church is strong in Northern Ireland, Canada, the United States, and […]
- Presbyterianism
[prez-bi-teer-ee-uh-niz-uh m, pres-] /ˌprɛz bɪˈtɪər i əˌnɪz əm, ˌprɛs-/ noun 1. church government by presbyters or elders, equal in rank and organized into graded administrative courts. 2. the doctrines of Presbyterian churches.