Three Greek words are used in the New Testament to refer to the pastoral office: presbuteros, episkopos, and poimen. The first word, presbuteros, is translated into English as “elder,” and most likely had its background in Jewish Old Testament life. In its Koine Greek1 usage it had two meanings. The first meaning deals with age and usually indicates somebody being older or a person from a past generation.2 For example in Paul’s first letter to Timothy he instructs