WHO AM A FELLOW-ELDER (ο συνπρεσβυτερος). Earliest use of this compound in an inscription of B.C. 120 for fellow-elders (alderman) in a town, here only in N.T., in eccles. writers. For the word πρεσβυτερος in the technical sense of officers in a Christian church (like elder in the local synagogue... [ Continue Reading ]
TEND (ποιμανατε). First aorist active imperative of ποιμαινω, old verb, from ποιμην (shepherd) as in Luke 17:7. Jesus used this very word to Peter in the interview by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:16) and Peter doubtless has this fact in mind here. Paul used the word to the elders at Miletus (Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
LORDING IT OVER (κατακυριευοντες). Present active participle of κατακυριευω, late compound (κατα, κυριος) as in Matthew 20:25.THE CHARGE ALLOTTED TO YOU (των κληρων). "The charges," "the lots" or "the allotments." See it in Acts 1:17; Acts 1:25 in this sense. The old word meant a die (Matthew 27... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL BE MANIFESTED (φανερωθεντος του αρχιποιμενος). Genitive absolute with first aorist passive participle of φανεροω, to manifest, and genitive of αρχιποιμην, a compound (αρχι, ποιμην) after analogy of αρχιερευς, here only in N.T., but in _Testam. of Twelve Patrs_. (Jud.... [ Continue Reading ]
BE SUBJECT (οποταγητε). Second aorist passive imperative of υποτασσω.UNTO THE ELDER (πρεσβυτεροις). Dative case. Here the antithesis between younger and elder shows that the word refers to age, not to office as in 1 Peter 5:1. See a like change in meaning in 1 Timothy 5:1; 1 Timothy 5:17.ALL... [ Continue Reading ]
HUMBLE YOURSELVES THEREFORE (ταπεινωθητε ουν). First aorist passive imperative of ταπεινοω, old verb, for which see Matthew 18:4. Peter is here in the role of a preacher of humility. "Be humbled."UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD (υπο την κραταιαν χειρα του θεου). Common O.T. picture (Exodus 3:19; E... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTING (επιριψαντες). First aorist active participle of επιριπτω, old verb, to throw upon, in N.T. only here and Luke 19:35 (casting their clothes on the colt), here from Psalms 55:22. For μεριμνα see Matthew 6:25; Matthew 6:31; Matthew 6:34.HE CARETH (αυτω μελε). Impersonal verb μελε (present... [ Continue Reading ]
BE WATCHFUL (γρηγορησατε). First aorist active imperative of γρηγορεω, late present imperative from perfect εγρηγορα (to be awake) from εγειρω (to arouse), as in Matthew 24:42. For νηψατε see 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 4:7.YOUR ADVERSARY (ο αντιδικος υμων). Old word for opponent in a lawsuit (Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM WITHSTAND (ω αντιστητε). Imperative second aorist active (intransitive) of ανθιστημ; same form in James 4:7, which see. Dative case of relative (ω). For the imperative in a subordinate clause see verse 1 Peter 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:10; 2 Timothy 4:15; Hebrews 13:7. Cowardice never wins aga... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GOD OF ALL GRACE (ο θεος της χαριτος). See 1 Peter 4:10 for ποικιλης χαριτος θεου (of the variegated grace of God).IN CHRIST (εν Χριστω). A Pauline phrase (2 Corinthians 5:17-19), but Petrine also. For God's "calling" us (καλεσας) see 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:8; Romans 8:29.AFT... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM (αυτω). To God (dative case). Note κρατος in the doxology as in 1 Timothy 6:16 and briefer than the doxology in 1 Peter 4:11, to Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
BY SILVANUS (δια Σιλουανου). Probably this postscript (1 Peter 5:12-14) is in Peter's own handwriting, as Paul did (2 Thessalonians 3:17; Galatians 6:11-18). If so, Silvanus (Silas) was the amanuensis and the bearer of the Epistle.AS I ACCOUNT HIM (ως λογιζομα). Peter uses Paul's phrase (1 Cori... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE THAT IS IN BABYLON, ELECT TOGETHER WITH YOU (η εν Βαβυλων συνεκλεκτη). Either actual Babylon or, as most likely, mystical Babylon (Rome) as in the Apocalypse. If Peter is in Rome about A.D. 65, there is every reason why he should not make that fact plain to the world at large and least of all... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH A KISS OF LOVE (εν φιληματ αγαπης). As in 1 Corinthians 16:20. The abuse of this custom led to its confinement to men with men and women with women and to its final abandonment (_Apost. Const_. ii. 57, 12).THAT ARE IN CHRIST (τοις εν Χριστω). This is the greatest of all secret orders and t... [ Continue Reading ]