Mosheim says: “The rulers of the churches were denominated sometimes presbyters, or elders, a designation borrowed from the Jews, and indicative rather of the wisdom than the age of the persons, and sometimes also bishops: for it is most manifest that both terms are promiscuously used in the New Testament of one and the same class of persons.” “In these primitive times, each Christian church was composed of the people, the presiding officers, and the assistants, or deacons. These must be the components of every society.” Eccl. Hist., Cent 1., p. 2; Ch. 2, Secs. 5, 8.
Gieseler asserts: “The new churches everywhere formed themselves on the model of the mother church at Jerusalem. At the head of each were the elders (presbyter, bishop), all officially of equal rank, though in several instances a peculiar authority seems to have been conceded to some one individual from personal considerations.” Ch. Hist., Part 1, Div. 1, Ch. 2, Sec. 29.
Waddington declares: “It is also true that in the earliest government of the first Christian society,—that of Jerusalem,—not the elders only, but the ‘whole church,’ were associated with the Apostles; and it is even certain that the terms bishop and elder, or presbyter, were in the first instance and for a short period, sometimes used synonymously, and indiscriminately applied to the same order in the ministry.” Hist. Christ. Church, Ch. 2, Sec. 2.
Archbishop Usher says that “bishop and presbyter differed only in degree, and not in order.” See Cole., Anc. Christ. Exemp., Ch. 8, Sec. 6.
Bishop Burnett says: “As for the notion of distinct offices of bishop and presbyter, I confess it is not so clear to me.” Vindic. Ch. of Sects, p. 366.
Doctor Coleman says: “It is generally admitted by Episcopal writers on this subject, that in the New Testament, and in the earliest ecclesiastical writings, the terms bishops and presbyters, or elders, are synonymous, and denote one and the same office.” “The office of presbyter was undeniably identical with that of bishop, as has been shown above.” “Only two orders of officers are known in the church until the close of the second century. Those of the first are styled either bishops or presbyters; of the second, deacons.” Anc. Christ. Exemp., Ch. 8, Sec. 6; Ch. 6, Sec. 5.
This author cites many of the early Christian Fathers who bore the same testimony, among whom are Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenæus, Jerome, Chrysostom, Theodoret, and others. Many prelatical writers, besides these above quoted, frankly admit the same facts.
The Apostle Paul, it is stated (Acts 20:17, 18), called together the elders (presbyters) of the Ephesian Church. But in verse 28 he calls these officers overseers (episcopos). Here the terms presbuteros and episcopos were certainly used interchangeably.
Paul and Timothy, in their address to the Philippian Christians, specify three classes as evidently constituting the entire body of disciples. They say, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus, which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.” Saints, bishops, and deacons embraced the whole church.
Timothy was instructed by Paul as to the qualifications of pastors to be placed over the churches. (1 Tim. 3:1.) Particular directions are given as to both bishops and deacons, but no mention is made of elders—clearly because they were the same as bishops.