THE ELDERS WHICH ARE AMONG YOU... — The best text preserves the word “therefore” after “elders.” In view, that is, of these hopes and threats, of the present persecution, and of the coming judgment, St. Peter gives his solemn charge to those who shared with him the responsibility of office in the Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
V. (1-11) FURTHER EXHORTATIONS SUGGESTED BY THE CRISIS. — The officers of the community are not to flinch from the duties imposed upon them, nor yet to perform them in any spirit of self-assertion. The laity, on the other hand, are to observe discipline. Indeed, mutual submission is the only safe-g... [ Continue Reading ]
FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU. — By the word “feed” here is meant, not merely the giving of pasture, but the whole government. It is the verb used in John 21:16, not that in the 15th and 17th verses. There can be hardly any doubt that St. Peter was thinking of that scene when he issued th... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER AS BEING LORDS. — Rather, _nor yet as lording it._ The English version is somewhat too strict for the Greek and for the sense. There is a sense in which the heads of the Church are, and ought to be, lords and princes over the rest; but this is very different from “lording it,” acting tyranni... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR. — Or, _And at the chief Shepherd’s appearing._ The “and” treats it as a simple natural consequence of acting as just indicated. The beautiful word for “chief Shepherd” seems to have been invented by St. Peter, and it has been apparently imitated in Hebrews 1... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE, YE YOUNGER. — Self-submission has been, at least tacitly, inculcated upon the pastors in 1 Peter 5:3; so the writer can say “likewise” in turning to the rest. In comparison with the presbyters or elders, the lay people are styled “younger,” or “juniors;” although in point of natural age, o... [ Continue Reading ]
HUMBLE YOURSELVES THEREFORE. — This, too, looks an amplification of a proverb, when we compare it with James 4:10. The humility here recommended is not merely a submissive bearing of the strokes which it pleased God to let fall upon them, but it was to be shown, as we see in the former verse, in the... [ Continue Reading ]
CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM. — An adaptation of Psalms 55:22, according to the LXX. Anxiety implies not only some distrust of God’s providence, but also some kind of belief that we may be able to manage better for ourselves; therefore here, as in the Sermon on the Mount, we are exhorted, especial... [ Continue Reading ]
BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT. — Single words in the Greek, and in the tense which bespeaks _immediate_ attention. The best text omits the following “because.” These are the sudden cries of warning of a shepherd who spies the lion prowling round the flock in the darkness, while the guardians of the flock li... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM RESIST STEDFAST IN THE FAITH. — The expression is somewhat more picturesque in the Greek than in the English. “Stand and face him,” instead of running away from posts of duty (1 Peter 5:2), or lying still and letting things take their course (1 Peter 5:8). And the words for “stedfast in the fai... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HATH CALLED US UNTO HIS ETERNAL GLORY. — The true reading is, _who called you,_ not “us.” The moment of the call was that when St. Paul and the others first preached there. (See 1 Peter 1:12; 1 Peter 1:25, and Notes.) The God who _now_ bestows all _grace,_ by the giving of that grace calls us in... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HIM TOE GLORY. — “The Apostle,” says Leighton, “having added prayer to his doctrine, adds here, you see, praise to his prayer.” This is the true consolation in trouble, to extol the power of God. If His be the dominion, and He have called us to His glory, then what can we fear?... [ Continue Reading ]
BY SILVANUS, A FAITHFUL BROTHER UNTO YOU, AS I SUPPOSE. — There is not any reason for doubting that this is the same as the Silas of the Acts and the Silvanus of 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1. It is not a common name, and nothing would suggest the doubt, except the acc... [ Continue Reading ]
(12-14) CONCLUDING GREETING. — You will trust the bearer of this Letter, and abide steadfastly in the faith which he has taught you. The exiled Israel in this wicked capital feels for you. Love and peace be among you.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHURCH.... ELECTED TOGETHER WITH YOU. — In the original it simply stands “the co-elect one [fern. sing.] in Babylon.” Some, therefore, seeing immediately after, “Marcus, my son,” and knowing that St. Peter was a married man (Matthew 8:14; 1 Corinthians 9:5), have thought that this “co-elect one”... [ Continue Reading ]
KISS OF CHARITY. — Not only does he wish them to receive the greetings of the Roman Church, but to display their brotherly love to each other as well. On the kiss of charity, see 1 Thessalonians 5:26. The “peace” which he wishes to them includes, though it is not limited to, peace amongst themselves... [ Continue Reading ]