45- Protestants between the words: Priest, Elder, Pontiff

In an attempt to discredit the priesthood, our Protestant brethren translate the word ‘bishop’ or ‘priest’ to ‘elder’ and a deliberately attempt to confuse the grade of bishop with the grade of priest.

Usually the word “Elder” is biblically reserved for the priesthood in general. So an Elder could be a priest or a bishop or a disciple.

(1 Pet 5:1-2) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: {2} Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

Here the command “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you”, definitely denotes that Saint Peter was addressing bishops with the responsibility of overseeing.

Also,

(2 John 1:1) THE ELDER, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,

(3 John 1:1) THE ELDER, To the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth:

The Roman Catholic translation uses the word “Pontiff “ and not “Elder”.