Timothy was perhaps 35 years old, yet he was above and appointing elders. In the context of first century Israel, the term elder was not connected to age:
"During the mishnaic period the name zaken ('elder') was reserved for scholars, and particularly members of the Sanhedrin... The title was regarded as equivalent to a sage, and was unconnected with age…Kid. 32b." [source•: http:// www.jewishvirtual library. org]