[RnMomof7]

Read your own definition Judith:

"a member of the governing body of an early Christian church

It was Rome that changed the definition of Elder..the Greek is SPECIFIC. Think of the word Compute..it had another meaning than we use today..the definition was expanded in recent years..

Elder has a Greek meaning one that your definition notes.. It was Rome that changed the meaning to fit their definition and purposes.

Paul knew the word for priest and if there were to be priests..he would have said so

[Judith Anne]

Priest: Main Entry: priest Pronunciation: \ˈprēst\ Function: noun Etymology: Middle English preist, from Old English prēost, ultimately from Late Latin presbyter — more at presbyter Date: before 12th century : one authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion especially as a mediatory agent between humans and God; specifically : an Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, or Roman Catholic clergyman ranking below a bishop and above a deacon

[Judith Anne]

I wonder, sometimes, if there isn't an anti-Catholic bias somewhere around here...sort of a "never ever use the word 'priest' because it means the same as Catholic!" point of view....never admit that the word "priest" comes from "presbyter," never admit that "priests" and "elders" were sometimes the same in the early church.