Joshua 13:1

But since we have undertaken to refer also to our Lord and Savior the things that are said of Jesus, who is understood to be so much a presbyter and elder "advanced in days" as he himself, who is the "beginning," the "firstborn of all creation"? And therefore perhaps he alone is truly and completely called "presbyter," before whom no one is. Therefore, although there are those who are called in the Scriptures "presbyters" or "elders" or "high priests," nevertheless the Lord Jesus, just as among the high priests he is the "chief of the high priests" and among the shepherds he is the "chief shepherd," so also among the "presbyters" or "elders" he is to be considered the chief of the presbyters, and among the bishops the chief of the bishops; and whatever honorable name there is, the Savior is to be believed to be first and chief in it, because he himself is "the head of all things."

Even before us certain men, observing the Scriptures, noted that men are called "presbyters" or "elders" not because they have led a long life, but that they are honored with this venerable title on account of the maturity of their understanding and the gravity of their life — especially when there is added to "presbyter" that expression which follows: "full of days." For if a man were to be called presbyter or elder because of the length of his years, what other man ought rather to have been reckoned by this name than the first Adam, or surely Methuselah or Noah, who indeed are declared to have lived in this world for far more years than the rest? But now we see that of these none is reported by Scripture to have been called "presbyter" or "elder," but rather he who led a life of far briefer time, Abraham, is the first in the holy Scriptures to be called "presbyter" or "elder." It was said also to Moses by the Lord: "Choose for yourself out of all the people presbyters, whom you yourself know to be presbyters." But observe also, you O hearer, throughout all Scripture, whether you can anywhere find this title, "elder and full of days," set upon any sinner. Now therefore it is the voice of the Holy Spirit that pronounces Jesus a "presbyter" — or "elder" — "and advanced in days"; for so it said: "For Jesus," it says, "was a presbyter" — or "elder" — "advanced in days." Which certainly could not be said of a sinner, because a sinner is not "advanced in days"; for he does not "stretch himself toward the things that are ahead, forgetting the things that are behind," but is always "turned backward" and "returns to his own vomit," and therefore "is not fit for the kingdom of heaven." But he who is always "stretched out toward the things before" and is borne toward perfection, that man is "advanced in his days." And now therefore the Lord says to Jesus: "You are advanced in your days." I do not know whether, in this place, it can be thought that the Lord was saying this to Jesus because all saw and all knew this concerning his aged years. And what sort of great and divine responses are these, delivered to men, that they should say to an old man: you are old — which all saw and all knew? But it seems to me that some great testimony is given by the Lord through this to the son of Nave, when it is said to him: "you are advanced in days." And as far as it is permitted…