We come now upon a brief series of injunctions, dealing with the spirit in which the members of Christ's Church should occupy their respective positions, and bear themselves toward each other. These counsels are remarkable for their point and precision. They are not less remarkable for their tendern... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:1. ELDERS, THEREFORE, AMONG YOU I EXHORT. Instead of ‘ _the_ elders,' which the A. V. and R. V. both (though probably for different reasons) adopt, the better supported reading is simply ‘elders.' The omission of the article perhaps generalizes the statement, as if Peter had said, ‘Such as... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:2. TEND THE FLOCK OF GOD. The ‘feed' of the A. V. is too limited a rendering. In the memorable scene by the sea of Galilee (John 21:15-17), which is probably in Peter's mind here, Christ gave three commissions to the restored Apostle. Of these the first and third dealt with the duty _of fe... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:3. NOR YET AS LORDING IT; or, _in the character of those who lord it._ The expression is again a very strong one. An uncommon compound form of the verb ‘to rule' is chosen, which conveys the idea of _high-handed_ rule, or a rule which is detrimental to the interests of the flock. Bengel no... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:4. AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD IS MANIFESTED. The title ‘Chief Shepherd' is nowhere else given to Christ. It is appropriate here, where the duties and rewards of those are dealt with who are called to act the Shepherd's part of tending Christ's flock for Him on earth. In chap. 1 Peter 2:25... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:5. IN LIKE MANNER, YE YOUNGER, SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO THE ELDERS. The exhortation clearly is to the cherishing of a spirit of deference on the part of one class to another. But the question is, Are the two classes introduced here in respect of _age_ simply, or in respect of _office?_ Seeing... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:6. HUMBLE YOURSELVES, THEREFORE, UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD. Once more is the question of affliction touched, and the duty of submission urged. This time, however, the matter is pressed in connection with the statement of the general principle on which God acts in giving grace to the hum... [ Continue Reading ]
The grace of humility closed the foregoing series of counsels. It appeared there as the safeguard against a lordly spirit on the side of those in office in the Church, and a spirit of insubordination on the side of the members and servants of the Church. It is reintroduced as the first of another br... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:7. CASTING ALL YOUR ANXIETY UPON HIM, BECAUSE HE CARETH FOR YOU. While the A. V. adopts the one term ‘care' in both clauses, the original has two distinct terms, the former meaning _‘anxious_ care,' the latter ‘interest' or ‘concern.' The A. V. follows Tyndale, Cranmer, and the Genevan. Wy... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:8. BE SOBER; see on chap. 1 Peter 1:13, where _sobriety_ is noticed as a condition to the highest type of Christian hope. In chap. 1 Peter 4:7 it appears as a preparation for prayer. In this third recommendation, it is enjoined as a protection against Satan. BE WATCHFUL. The verb rendered... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:9. WHOM RESIST, STEDFAST IN THE FAITH. The ‘stedfast' means _stable_ or _firm._ It is translated ‘sure' in 2 Timothy 2:19, and ‘strong' in Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 5:14 (its only other New Testament occurrences), while its verb is rendered ‘establish' in Acts 16:5, and ‘receive strength,' ‘ma... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:10. BUT THE GOD OF ALL GRACE, WHO CALLED YOU UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY IN CHRIST, AFTER THAT YE HAVE BUFFERED A LITTLE WHILE, WILL HIMSELF PERFECT, STABLISH, STRENGTHEN YOU. Several changes must be made upon the A. V. here, which have been rightly recognised by the R. V. Weight of documentary... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:11. TO HIM BE (OR, IS) THE DOMINION UNTO THE AGES. AMEN. A doxology similar to that in chap. 1 Peter 4:11, but briefer. The longer version of the A. V. is not sustained by sufficient evidence.... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:12. BY SILVANUS. In all probability this is the well-known friend and fellow-labourer of Paul, known as Silas in the Book of Acts, but as Silvanus in the Pauline Epistles (1Th 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:19). He is noticed first (Acts 15:22) as one of the ‘chief men among the... [ Continue Reading ]
Certain details are now appended as to the composition and transmission of the Epistle. The object with which it has been written is stated with great brevity and point. Salutations then follow which have an important bearing on the origin of the Epistle, and have been the subject of much debate. Th... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:13. THE CHURCH IN BABYLON, CO-ELECT, SALUTETH YOU. The original runs simply ‘the co-elect one in Babylon saluteth you,' or, as the R. V. renders it, ‘she that is in Babylon, elect together with _you,_ saluteth you.' Hence some good expositors, including Bengel and Alford, are of opinion th... [ Continue Reading ]
1 Peter 5:14. SALUTE ONE ANOTHER WITH (OR, _BY MEANS OF) _ A KISS OF LOVE. What Peter speaks of here as the ‘kiss of love' is always spoken of by Paul as the ‘holy kiss' (Rom 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26). The Christian Fathers, too, speak of it as the ‘kiss... [ Continue Reading ]