Presbyter Not Priest

Catholics have long held that a Presbyter was a Priest. This is untrue, presbyter could be used of any council member or chief officer. Priests could sit on councils but not all councils were priests.

The Jewish Sanhedrin were known as Elders (presbyter), only a handful of the Sanhedrin were actually priests(ierus). There was a different word for Elder and priest.

High Priest officiated (later the High Priest was replaced by a sage)

Tribal heads 

Scribes (lawyers)

In New Testament times presbyter meant elder. A priest could be elder of his own tribe, thus could be a presbyter, but presbyter did not mean priest. Some were Elders of priests.

Isa 37:2  And he sentH7971 (H853) Eliakim,H471 whoH834 was overH5921 the household,H1004 and ShebnaH7644 the scribe,H5608 and the eldersH2205 of the priestsH3548 coveredH3680

Since a few Priests were elders Catholics have purposely misused the term to create the false impression presbyter meant priest. By this they replaced biblical presbyters/elders, with a priesthood that aren't elderly or parents. Satan caused it, not Jesus.

When Jesus was teaching in Jerusalem and later arrested the terms presbyter and priest were used separately.

Luk 20:1 AndG2532 it came to pass,G1096 that onG1722 oneG3391 of thoseG1565 days,G2250 as heG846 taughtG1321 theG3588 peopleG2992 inG1722 theG3588 temple,G2411 andG2532 preached the gospel,G2097 theG3588 chief priestsG749 andG2532 theG3588 scribesG1122 came uponG2186 him withG4862 theG3588 elders,G4245

Luk 22:52 ThenG1161 JesusG2424 saidG2036 untoG4314 the chief priests,G749 andG2532 captainsG4755 of theG3588 temple,G2411 andG2532 the elders,G4245 which were comeG3854 toG1909 him,G846 Be ye come out,G1831 asG5613 againstG1909 a thief,G3027 withG3326 swordsG3162 andG2532 staves?G3586

Those overseeing the temple were not referred to as elders.

Catholics made up the office of Priest by misapplying the word Elder (Presbyteros) It sounds a little like priest but is a different word. They lie.

G4245

πρεσβύτερος

presbuteros

Thayer Definition:

1) elder, of age

1a) the elder of two people

1b) advanced in life, an elder, a senior

1b1) forefathers

2) a term of rank or office

2a) among the Jews

2a1) members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men)

2a2) of those who in separate cities managed public affairs and administered justice

2b) among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies (or churches) The NT uses the term bishop, elders, and presbyters interchangeably

2c) the twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God

Part of Speech: adjective

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: comparative of presbus (elderly)

Citing in TDNT: 6:651, 931