1 Peter 5 KJV
Shepherding God's Flock
1 Peter Chapter 5: Shepherding God's Flock
This chapter explores themes of Humility, Leadership. Peter addresses the elders not as an apostle exercising superior rank but as a 'fellow elder' and witness of Christ's sufferings, modeling servant leadership that mirrors the humility he urges on others.
1he elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over Godโs heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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Did You Know?
Peter addresses the elders not as an apostle exercising superior rank but as a 'fellow elder' and witness of Christ's sufferings, modeling servant leadership that mirrors the humility he urges on others.
The charge to 'feed the flock of God' deliberately recalls Jesus' threefold restoration of Peter in John 21, transforming the disciple's personal failure into a pastoral mandate he now transmits to other leaders.
The cryptic closing reference to 'the church that is at Babylon' functions as coded language for Rome, allowing the letter to circulate under possible persecution while evoking Old Testament exile motifs of judgment and hope.
The four verbs in verse 10. 'make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle'. Form a deliberate rhetorical sequence in Greek that moves from completion through stability to empowerment, framing suffering as the arena of divine craftsmanship.
Describing Satan as a 'roaring lion' links the chapter's call to vigilance with ancient Jewish and Near Eastern traditions that portrayed lions as embodiments of chaos and predatory evil, now countered by steadfast resistance in faith.
Commentary & Study Notes Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871) ยท Public Domain elders โ alike in office and age (1Pe 5:5). I... also an elder โ To put one's self on a level with those whom we exhort, gives weight to one's exhortations (compare 2Jo 1, 2). Peteโฆ
Classic verse-by-verse commentary on 1 Peter 5 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Exhortations to elders, juniors, and all in general. Parting prayer. Conclusion.
- 1
- elders โ alike in office and age (1Pe 5:5). I... also an elder โ To put one's self on a level with those whom we exhort, gives weight to one's exhortations (compare 2Jo 1, 2). Peter, in true humility for the Gospel's sake, does not put forward his apostleship here, wherein he presided over the elders. In the apostleship the apostles have no successors, for "the signs of an apostle" have not been transmitted. The presidents over the presbyters and deacons, by whatever name designated, angel, bishop, or moderator, &c., though of the same ORDER as the presbyters, yet have virtually succeeded to a superintendency of the Church analogous to that exercised by the apostles (this superintendency and priority existed from the earliest times after the apostles [TERTULLIAN]); just as the Jewish synagogue (the model which the Church followed) was governed by a council of presbyters, presided over by one of themselves, "the chief ruler of the synagogue." (Compare VITRINGA [Synagogue and Temple, Part II, chs. 3 and 7]). witness โ an eye-witness of Christ's sufferings, and so qualified to exhort you to believing patience in suffering for well-doing after His example (1Pe 4:19; 2:20). This explains the "therefore" inserted in the oldest manuscripts, "I therefore exhort," resuming exhortation from 1Pe 4:19. His higher dignity as an apostle is herein delicately implied, as eye-witnessing was a necessary qualification for apostleship: compare Peter's own speeches, Ac 1:21, 22; 2:32; 10:39. also โ implying the righteous recompense corresponding to the sufferings. partaker of the glory โ according to Christ's promise; an earnest of which was given in the transfiguration.
- 2
- Feed โ Greek, "Tend as a shepherd," by discipline and doctrine. Lead, feed, heed: by prayer, exhortation, government, and example. The dignity is marked by the term "elder"; the duties of the office, to tend or oversee, by "bishop." Peter has in mind Christ's injunction to him, "Feed (tend) My sheep... Feed (pasture) My lambs" (Joh 21:16). He invites the elders to share with him the same duty (compare Ac 20:28). The flock is Christ's. which is among you โ While having a concern for all the Church, your special duty is to feed that portion of it "which is among you." oversight โ Greek, "bishopric," or duty of bishops, that is, overseer. not by constraint โ Necessity is laid upon them, but willingness prevents it being felt, both in undertaking and in fulfilling the duty [BENGEL]. "He is a true presbyter and minister of the counsel of God who doeth and teacheth the things of the Lord, being not accounted righteous merely because he is a presbyter, but because righteous, chosen into the presbytery" [CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA]. willingly โ One oldest manuscript, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic, add, "as God would have it to be done" (Ro 8:27). not for filthy lucre โ (Isa 56:11; Tit 1:7). of a ready mind โ promptly and heartily, without selfish motive of gain-seeking, as the Israelites gave their services willing-heartedly to the sanctuary.
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