[837] The name was not always indicative of age, but of office, like the Jewish זְקֻנִים or elders, the Latin senatores, and the Saxon aldermen.
Rheinwal, Geisler, Neander, and other eminent German scholars, agree that the term bishop originally was merely the official title of the presbyter who was chosen to rule or oversee the church; and that the latter sat in consistory with the bishop, forming the ecclesiastical senate, in which the bishop was simply the presiding officer—primus inter pares.
It is worthy of note that the word ἱερεύς, “priest,” that is, one who offers sacrifice, is nowhere applied to any ecclesiastical rank in the Catacombs, or in the writings of the primitive Fathers. It has been left for Romanism, and a Romanizing sacerdotalism, to apply to the Christian minister this phrase, so opposed to the genius of the New Testament.
[838] The letters Pbb., according to De Rossi, stand for Presbyter benedictus.
[839] Felix was probably presbyter of the basilica of St. Paul, founded by Constantine A. D. 324, rebuilt by Theodosius and Honorius, A. D. 388-395, restored by Leo I., A. D. 440, and again by the present Pope, in its ancient dimensions, (four hundred and eleven feet by two hundred and seventy-nine.) It is one of the noblest basilicas of Rome.
[840] According to Bingham, Pontifex maximus was a title common to all bishops in primitive times.—Orig. Eccl., ii, § 6.
There is here possibly a paronomasia on the word “Leo,” lion of the pontiffs. There were sometimes several presbyters attached to one church. See De Rossi, Inscr. Christ., No. 975.
[841] Adleguntur in ordinem ecclesiasticum artifices idolorum.—De Idol., vii.
[842] Hist. Eccles., c. vii, 29.
[843] Sozomen, i, 27, and vii, 28.