ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΈΡΟΥΣ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. The οὖν definitely connects the advice to Elders with the preceding section. In 1 Peter 4:17 St Peter probably referred to Ezekiel 9:6, where the judgment ordered to “begin at the sanctuary” was first executed upon τῶν�. The “refining” (cf. πύρωσις 1 Peter 4:12) of the Sons of Le... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:1 to 1 Peter 5:1 Let me then address a special word of exhortation to those of you who are “elders” in the Church. I do not wish to dictate to you as an Apostle, but to plead with you as one of yourselves, an “elder” both in office and in age. What I have said about suffering as leading t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΙΜΆΝΑΤΕ denotes the duty of feeding, protecting and ruling. St Peter is apparently handing on to the Elders the same charge which our Lord gave to him, John 21:16; cf. Acts 20:28. In Ephesians 4:11 ποιμένες καὶ διδάσκαλοι probably refer to the _local_ officers, _i.e._ presbyters. ΤῸ ἘΝ ὙΜΙ͂Ν must... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΑΚΥΡΙΕΎΟΝΤΕΣ. The word is used in the LXX. in Jeremiah 3:14 of God as being master or husband of His people, but elsewhere of subduing a city, taking possession of a country, or of sin getting the mastery over a person. In the N.T. it is used in Acts 19:16 of the demoniac at Ephesus “mastering” t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΑΝΕΡΩΘΈΝΤΟΣ. The Chief Shepherd is always present among His under-shepherds, and at last His presence will be manifested. The verb is used of the First Coming of Christ in 1 Peter 1:20 and 1 Timothy 3:16, but here it refers to the Second Advent as in Colossians 3:4; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:2. ἈΡΧΙΠΟΊ... [ Continue Reading ]
ὉΜΟΊΩΣ; cf. 1 Peter 3:1. Such unassuming conduct on the part of the presbyters demands a corresponding or reciprocal duty of submission on the part of those who are under their authority. ΝΕΏΤΕΡΟΙ. _Ye younger_ probably refers to age and not to office, as also in 1 Timothy 5:1; Titus 2:6, in which c... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΑΠΕΙΝΏΘΗΤΕ ΟΥ̓͂Ν. Such humility towards fellow-Christians is only the outward expression of humility towards God, just as obedience to rulers, masters or husbands was shewn to be based upon fear and subjection towards God. In their present circumstances of “trial by fire” such humility towards God... [ Continue Reading ]
6 The way therefore to attain true greatness, to be exalted in God’s good time, is to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, submitting patiently to whatever trials He sends you; 7 casting all the burden of your anxiety upon Him in full assurance of His loving care for you. 8 But this do... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΡΊΨΑΝΤΕΣ. The words are borrowed from Psalms 55:22 ἐπίριψον ἐπὶ Κύριον τὴν μέριμυάν σου καὶ αὐτός σε διαθρέψει. In times of danger the Christian is to cast all the burden of his anxiety or alarm (μέριμνα) upon God with confident trust in His loving care (μέλει). The A.V. _casting all your care up... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΉΨΑΤΕ, ΓΡΗΓΟΡΉΣΑΤΕ. Such absence of anxiety, such self-abandonment to God’s care does not warrant any slackness or want of watchfulness, cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:6. Here νήψατε is more metaphorical, cf. 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:7. For γρηγορεῖν as a precaution against temptation cf. Matthew 26:41. Ὁ�.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὯΙ�, _whom withstand_, cf. James 4:7 and Ephesians 4:11; Ephesians 4:13. ΣΤΕΡΕΟΊ. The adjective means _firm, solid, compact_, so in Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 5:14 it is used of “solid food” and in 2 Timothy 2:19 of a “firm foundation.” The verb is used in Acts 16:5 of the churches being “consolidated in... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΆΣΗΣ ΧΆΡΙΤΟΣ. _The God of all grace or of every grace_. St Peter’s readers might be tempted to doubt God’s favour towards them because of their sufferings. He therefore assures them that the same loving favour, which called the Gentiles (cf. 1 Peter 1:10 τῆς εἰς ὑμᾶς χάριτος), is being exercised ev... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι here refers to God whereas in 1 Peter 4:11 the doxology was probably addressed to Christ. Probably ἐστίν not ἔστω should be understood, as ἐστίν is found in 1 Peter 4:11 but no verb is expressed in any of the other doxologies in the N.T. and some of them are apparently precatory. So here th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙᾺ ΣΙΛΟΥΑΝΟΥ͂. διά may refer (_a_) to the scribe by whom the Epistle was written or (_b_) to the messenger by whom it was conveyed. In favour of (_a_) it may be urged that St Paul certainly employed amanuenses to write his Epistles and that there is strong probability that St Peter did the same. As... [ Continue Reading ]
Ἡ ἘΝ ΒΑΒΥΛΩ͂ΝΙ ΣΥΝΕΚΛΕΚΤΉ. _She that is elect together with you_. Some commentators explain this as referring to St Peter’s wife. The arguments in favour of this view are (_a_) that we know from 1 Corinthians 9:5 that she accompanied St Peter in his missionary work. (_b_) Clement of Alexandria ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΙΛΉΜΑΤΙ�. “A holy kiss” is ordered as a Christian greeting by St Paul in Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26. At first it was used as a personal greeting, but in the second century it became part of the Eucharistic service and is referred to by Justin Martyr... [ Continue Reading ]