1 Peter 5:1-4

VI. EXHORTATIONS TO ELDERS 1 Peter 5:1-4

1 Peter 5:1 The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

Expanded Translation

Therefore (because the judgment of trial is engulfing the church), I exhort and appeal to the elders (presbyters) among you, being a fellow-elder and a witness or testifier of the sufferings of Christ, and being a sharer (partner, partaker) in the glory which shall be revealed (uncovered).

The elders therefore among you I exhort,

THE ELDERSpresbuteros, whence our words presbyter, presbyterian, etc. The word primarily means the older if two ages were being compared (Luke 15:25). More generally, it refers to an older person (see 1 Peter 5:5, 1 Timothy 5:1). Seventeen times in the New Testament this word is used, as here, of those who are shepherds, overseers and caretakers of the house of God. The term was evidently taken from the Jewish elders in the Sanhedrin, but their function is certainly different in many respects.

There are two other terms used in the New Testament for this office:
1: Bishop or overseer (episkopos). Compare Acts 20:17 with Acts 20:28, or Titus 1:5 with Titus 1:7.

2. Shepherd or Pastor (poimen). In sixteen occurrences of this Greek word in the New Testament, it is rendered shepherd. In one instance (Ephesians 4:11), it is translated pastor. And who is to be performing the duties of a spiritual shepherd over God's flock? In Acts 20:28 the Overseers (bishops) are so exhorted, and in the passage before us the elders are told to perform such duties.

Using Bible terminology, then, the names elder, bishop and pastor all refer to the same person.

therefore I exhort

In view of these matters of which I have just spoken. Note especially 1 Peter 4:17-19. When the church is under great stress, its spiritual overseers much attend to their responsibilities with diligence. Paul exhorted the Ephesian elders when the flock was in danger (Acts 20:28-35).

who am a fellow-elder

Peter was still an apostle (1 Peter 1:1), but he here mentions an area of commonness with these elders. It was more than a likeness in agehe actually held the same office, probably in the church at Babylon (1 Peter 5:13).

It is well to note that the apostle does not say he was the or even a head-bishop or chief-elder! Yet, if he was writing from and was soon to be elevated to the Pontificate (as the Romanists claim), one would think that a title of greater esteem would be more appropriate! We know that an elder must be an older man. And by the time II Peter is penned, Peter's sojourn on earth was soon to conclude (2 Peter 1:13-14). But strange indeed is the utter silence concerning the promotion of this man who our Roman Catholic acquaintances tell us was Lord God The Pope![19]

[19] Strange, too, that the future Pope is not so much as greeted by the Apostle Paul in his lengthy list of persons to salute in his epistle to the Romans, Chan. 16.

and a witness of the sufferings of Christ

A witness (martus) is one who testifies, or can testify, concerning what he himself has seen, heard, or knows by some means; but particularly one who can verify what he has seen.

To his apostles Jesus could say concerning the great events of his life. Ye are witnesses of these things (Luke 24:28).[20] Like John (1 John 1:1-2), Peter could speak or write of that which he had seen, heard, and handled, He had seen the Lord bound, mistreated, and delivered into the hands of wicked men. True, he was sometimes afar off from this suffering, but he could still speak from personal observation.[21]

[20] Especially could such be said of Peter, one of the inner circle apostles. See the Introduction.

[21]Matthew 26:58, Luke 22:54, Mark 14:54, and perhaps he is included among all His acquaintance, Luke 23:49.

who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed

This glory is evidently the same as the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5).

Peter, then, was a brother-elder and a sharer in the coming reward of eternal life. These things he had in common with those he exhorted. But he shows his preeminent qualification for exhorting them in a time of suffering, by reminding them that he was a personal witness of Christ's sufferings.[22]

[22] Comp. 2 Peter 1:16-18, where his personal witness of the transfiguration is mentioned.

1 Peter 5:2-3 Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; not yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.

Expanded Translation

Tend, feed, and shepherd the flock (church, Acts 20:28) of God which is among you, performing the duties of an overseer and superintendent, not because you are forced to do it, but voluntarily and willingly in accordance with the will and mind of God; nor yet in a spirit of eagerness for base gain, but with a cheerful readiness; neither as lording it over or being domineering over your portion (i.e., that part of God's universal church over which you rule), but making your lives exemplary patterns (examples suitable for imitation) to the flock.

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Tend the flock of God which is among you

The King James Version's feed in place of tend, expresses only part of the meaning of poimaino, which means to tend a flock, keep sheep. It is employed in Acts 20:28 thus: ... to feed the church of the Lord which He purchased with his own blood. A Scriptural elder is a shepherd (Ephesians 4:11) and here he is told to do the work of one.

What is the work of a shepherd? He is

a. To protect the flock from those who would destroy or scatter it. (John 10:12-13, 1 Samuel 17:34-36.) (For this reason the ancient shepherd carried a staff or rod, and sometimes a sling (Psalms 23:4, 1 Samuel 17:40).

b. To go before them, lead them, and guide them safely. See Psalms 23:1-6.

c. To find feed for them. The chief care of the shepherd is to see that the sheep find plenty to eat and drink. The flocks are not fed in pens or folds, but, summer and winter, must depend upon foraging for their sustenance (Psalms 23:2).[23]

[23] The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, p. 2763.

d. To watch the flock carefully. He tries to keep them from straying, but if one goes astray, he goes after it and brings it back to the fold (Luke 15:3-7).

exercising the oversight

One word in the originalepiskopeo. Just as the previous duty was the verb form of the word pastor or shepherd, this word is the verb form of episkopos, bishop or overseer. It might be loosely rendered to do the work of an overseer. It means to look upon, inspect, oversee, look after, care for. The Greek word skopeo would have been enough to express the thought of to look at, or to inspect, for that is its meaning. But to this verb is added the emphatic particle epi (on, upon, over). Thus our word means more than just gawking, looking, or gazing, but looking with a sense of care and concern toward the object or person upon whom the attention is centered. This essential element of the meaning is accurately brought out by the translators in the only other occurrence of the word in the New Testament, Hebrews 12:15. Paul exhorts the Hebrew Christians to be looking carefully (episkopeo) lest there be any man that falleth short of the grace of God.

not of constraint, but willingly

The word constraint (anagkastos) means by force, or compulsion; unwillingly, It is opposed to (and the opposite of) hekousios; voluntarily, spontaneously, of one's own accord. The latter word occurs only one other time in the New Testamentin the familiar Hebrews 10:26, For if we sin willfully.

according to the will of God

Literally, according to God, i.e., God would have it this waywillingly.

nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind

These two stand in sharp contrast. When one is laboring in a spirit of eagerness for base gain,[24] he is not working spontaneously and zealously for Christ.

[24] Souter.

One of the qualifications of an elder is that he be no lover of money (1 Timothy 3:3)[25] and not greedy of filthy lucre (Titus 1:7, 1 Timothy 3:8).[26] Thus he is to be free from this trait in his everyday life before he is qualified, and after he is in the office he is to be free from it as a motivating force in his work as an elder. This duty is especially fitting when we remember that some elders are to receive financial support (1 Timothy 5:17-18).

[25] Where we have aphilarguros.

[26]Where we have aischrokerdes, the noun form of the very word under consideration, aischrokerdos. Contained within this word is aischros, which means indecorous, dishonorable, vile. The reference, then, is not simply to one who is greedy of money, but to a man who so loves money that he will, without hesitation, stoop to low practices to make a quick buck, In biblical language, filthy lucre-' is not all money, but money gained dishonorably.

When one's work is done of a ready mind (prothumos) it is done eagerly, promptly, heartily and cheerfully. Broken down, this word is from pro, which here means with, and thumos, glow, ardor. Stronger in meaning than hekousios (willingly) it implies zeal and enthusiasm. How desirous are these traits in the lives of every Christian!

neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you but making yourselves ensamples to the flock

Again we have a negative and positive exhortation in direct contrast to each other. He is not to lord it over his subjects. Katakurieuo means to gain or exercise dominion over (see Acts 19:16, mastered). The significance here is doubtless the same as that given to it by Jesus, when He called the Apostles unto Him and said:

Ye know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over (katakurieuo) them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Not so shall it be among you: but whosoever shall become great among you shall be your minister; and whosoever would be first among you shall be your servant (Matthew 20:25-27). (By Gentiles Jesus evidently had particularly the Romans in mind, for they were the ruling power in Judaea and the whole Mediterranean world at that time.) So Barnes says of this word, it refers properly to that kind of jurisdiction which civil rulers or magistrates exercise. This is an exercise of AUTHORITY, as contradistinguished from the influence of reason, persuasion, and example.

Rather than ruling with an iron hand and making much of his authority, he must lead primarily by his example (tupos). Tracing the history of this word, it was first the mark or strike of a blow (from tupto, to strike, smite, beat). See John 20:25, print. Then it meant a figure formed by such a blow or impression, or a die (Acts 7:43). After examining the 13 other passages where the word is employed in the New Testament, apart from this literal sense, it is my opinion that the word could have been consistently rendered outline or pattern. It is this very word which we would use, if we were Greeks writing 2,000 years ago about a dress pattern or blueprint for a house. But it is variously translated form, ensample, example, figure, and pattern, in the Scriptures. Thus the elder should be one who so lives in his everyday life that he provides a pattern for imitation to the members of the congregation.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested, ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Expanded Translation

And when the chief (head) Shepherd appears, you will obtain for yourselves the crown (or wreath, or garland) of glory, that never fadesnever loses its original brightness, lustre, or beauty.

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And when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested

i.e., Christ, when He returns, cp. 1 Peter 2:25.[27] He is the head of the church, his flock, and the elders are his under-shepherds. Note the similarity of expression in Acts 20:28.

[27] Peter says much of the second coming of Christ and the glories of our future home: 1 Peter 1:3-9, 2 Peter 3:10-14.

ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away

The word crown (stephanos) had usual reference to some type of wreath or garland, such as those given for winners of the athletic contests (1 Corinthians 9:25). Such prizes were given as a reward, Earthly accomplishments quickly wilt, fade, and crumble. Even golden crowns soon tarnish. Not so with our eternal reward! (See the term fadeth not away discussed under 1 Peter 1:4.)