Bible Verses About Presbyters

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Peter identifies himself as an elder, making it a direct passage for the term.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Lists overseer qualifications alongside the topic of ordination and office.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

Bible passage about elders who rule well and labor in word and doctrine

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Bible passage on ordaining elders in every church

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Bible passage about shepherding as overseers

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Overseer qualifications support the broader ordered ministry context.

For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

Bible passage on appointing elders in every city

And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.

Calls the elders of the church, supporting their recognized role.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

Bible passage on laying on of hands by the presbytery

Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;

Treats an elder as someone who should be approached with respect.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

Bible passage about those who labour among you and are over you

Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses.

Shows elders are protected by church discipline standards.