An elder in the early Christian church. See 2d Citation under Bishop, n., 1.

One ordained to the second order in the ministry; -- called also priest.

See "Priest." The term "priest" is a contraction of the term "presbyter."

old man, elder.

an elder in the Presbyterian Church

a ordinary priest

another name for a priest

Literally, "elder"; now generally called "priest." Presbyter is one of the three orders of the ordained ministry of the Church: bishop, presbyter, and deacon (see article, "The Four 'Orders' in Church Government," at 1 Tim.; Acts 14:23; 15:4 23; 1 Tim. 5:17-19; Titus 1:5). See also BISHOP.

One of the three equal orders of the Church (with bishop and deacon), charged with oversight and leadership of a parish and empowered to preside at principal services, the presbyter (priest) is responsible for preaching, teaching, and the pastoral care of the faithful.

Presbyter in the New Testament refers to a leader in local Christian congregations, then a synonym of episkopos (which has now come to mean bishop). In modern usage, it is distinct from bishop and synonymous with priest, pastor, elder, or minister in various Christian denominations. Its literal meaning in Greek (presbyteros) is "elder."