“The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;” (v1-3)
The appointment of elders is covered in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus. Peter recognises them and addresses them. In the Old Testament were established in Jewish culture (see Exodus 3:16 etc). It simply meant men of maturity and wisdom, not necessarily older in years. It developed in the New Testament by Paul and Barnabas appointing elders to teach and guide other elders, care for the flock and set an example.
Note that he calls himself a fellow elder, nothing more, and certainly not a pope! As a fellow elder he was qualified to speak. He was prominent in Acts particularly, and seemed to speak up for the others, but now simply a fellow elder. He had been a witness of Christ’s sufferings as well as a partaken of His glory, probably referring to the transfiguration. We do not know if he was present at the crucifixion, he may have been among those who observed from afar. We read that they all forsook Him and fled, but John certainly made his way back because Jesus spoke to him from the cross. Peter had denied Him and maybe gone to hide his head in shame. However, Jesus restored him and even told those who saw Him after the resurrection to tell Peter. Not only was he partaker of His glory at the transfiguration, but future glory that will be revealed.
Peter’s testimony was a great incentive because he had denied his Lord and been restored. Some may have thought he didn’t deserve it, but Jesus did, and that is an encouragement to us, whatever we have done or not done.
Elders are to shepherd the flock. Perhaps Peter remembered what Jesus had said to him in the commission – Feed my sheep. (See John 21:15-17). The shepherd’s job is twofold to feed and tend for the sheep, this includes nurturing, protecting and caring for them. They also serve as overseers, one who watches over and supervises. However, the most important is to be willing to give one’s life for the sheep, one who is genuinely caring and interested in the sheep.
Elders (shepherds) do not do their job by compulsion or force, instead they should do it willingly from a heart of love who wants to serve. One older commentator has said that God’s soldiers are not mercenaries they are all volunteers. They should do it eagerly and not for dishonest gain. The question may arise as should elders be paid. Usually elders have ‘day jobs’ and being an elder is done voluntarily, in addition to their secular work, but lately elders also called pastors are paid. I see nothing wrong with that but Peter here is stressing that they should not do it for dishonest gain. I was an elder for 28 years unpaid but during most of that time I had a full-time job and then a pension when I retired from my job. During some of that time we had a paid pastor who was also included as an elder.
Paul writing to Timothy (1 Timothy 5:18) stated that it was right that some elders should be remunerated financially.
One writer goes on to say that in 1 Timothy 5:17, Paul explains further: “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” A study of the term double honor reveals that it refers to both respect and remuneration. The phrase emphasises generosity. Paul expects the church to provide reasonable pay for a job well done, and failure to do so indicates a shortage of respect and honor for one’s spiritual leaders. Just as it is right for farmers to feed their livestock and employers to pay labourers worthy of their hire, it is proper and essential for the local church to provide adequate financial support to its dedicated Christian ministers.
Peter goes on to say that shepherds (elders, overseers) should not Lord it over the flock but be an example. Remember the flock belongs to God, we are serving Him and they are entrusted to us. We are to be examples, not dictators. We can be bad examples as well as good examples if we are not careful. God in His graciousness has entrusted the flock to those who lead.
“when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (v4)
One day, elders (shepherds, overseers) will answer to the Chief Shepherd, The Lord Himself. Remember, the flock belongs to Him, not us. We are caring for His flock. Faithful elders etc will receive a crown of glory which will never fade away. Earthly rewards will fade but this one will not. And wonder of wonders, these crowns are also for everyone who was faithful to Jesus and who did what He called them to do (1 Corinthians 9:25, 2 Timothy 4:8, James 1:12).
Peter has now included all who are faithful, thus the ‘likewise’ –
“Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (v5-7)
It is as if Peter begins with a word to the younger people to submit to their elders, but he clarifies it by extending it to all. It is word for the younger ones certainly, but it extends to us all to be submissive to one another, and to be clothed with humility. I gather that the phrase ‘be clothed’ is a rare one, and refers to a slave putting on an apron before serving. Remember Jesus doing that and washing the disciples’ feet. (John 13:4)
Humility includes – willing to do the least and lowest for Jesus’ sake; total dependency upon God; being truly others-centred rather than self-centred, willing to be nothing for Jesus’ sake.
Again, he quotes the Old Testament, Proverbs 3:34 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble,” it is essential that we put aside our pride and be humble to God and each other. God resists the proud. What a place to be in? Where God in effect fights against us. Pride and grace are enemies. Pride makes demands for me, Grace is nothing to do with me, but all to do with God.
It is one thing to be proud of a job well-done, and taking a pride in the achievements of our loved ones but the pride which God hates which is sin of self-righteousness and conceit. Sinful pride is giving the credit to ourselves for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves. The proud think they have no need of God, or even that God should accept them for who they are. We can even be proud of our humility which is totally wrong.
Proverbs 16:18,19 tells us that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall; better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. Isaiah 14 tells us that pride was the very sin that Satan was cast out of heaven for and hell is his final judgment.
If we are willing to be nothing, then God can make something out of us.
Notice that this passage says that we must humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand. I often cringe when I hear well-meaning believers ask, often in prayer, for The Lord to humble us. In the book of Daniel, we read of King Nebuchadnezzar who became so proud in his own achievements and his position that God had to deal with him and humble him. Daniel had interpreted the king’s dream and told him that he would be come like an animal, eating grass and his fingernails grow like talons. It came to pass and it was only when he humbled himself before Almighty God that he was transformed. He had to recognise that God was greater than himself and it seemed that he put his trust in God.
If we humble ourselves and submit to God’s plan, He will exalt us in due time, His time. True humility is shown by our casting all our care upon Him. We must not presume things in our own hands; God has promised to take care of us. (Matthew 6:31-34) It is said that if we truly humble ourselves we would have far fewer cares to cast upon Him.
Cares of anger, pride, covetousness, ambition and wilfulness must be cast aside. He doesn’t say lay them on God but cast them upon Him. Throw them is more energetic than lay. One has said that we need two hands to do it, the hand of prayer and the hand of faith. Peter assures us that God cares for us and that is The God of the Bible. That marks off Christianity from all other religions – A God who cares for us. Other gods cannot see, hear or feel and certainly not care.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” (v8,9)
Peter says that we must be sober and vigilant. Sober means clear-headed. We usually connect being sober as opposed to being drunk, but it is clearly clear-headed. When one is drunk or under the influence of alcohol or any other controller , because that’s what it is, we are certainly not clear-headed, as we do things we would not do if we were nor under the influence. Being vigilant is being watchful. We talked about being watchful in chapter 4. Why are we to be sober and vigilant? Because our adversary the devil walks about.
This reminds me of Job 1:6,7 where we read “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
The devil (Satan) is not omnipresent, unlike God, he cannot be everywhere at once. Satan has to go to and fro. He has to send his demons about to do his dirty work. Job is thought to be one of the oldest books in the Bible and the fact that Satan is in heaven before God, it is thought that this is before his rebellion against God and before his expulsion. He is however showings signs of his unrest.
He comes in disguises; here we read that he is like a roaring lion. Someone has said that he might roar but his fangs have been made useless at the cross. He is all noise, but, sadly, many are deceived by him. The sound of his roar – his deceptive lies – are still potent and he has the power to devour souls and rob Christians of effectiveness.
Psalm 91:3 suggests that Satan may come against us like a fowler, one who captures birds. The fowler is always quiet and secretive, never wanting to reveal his presence. 2 Corinthians 11:14 tells us that Satan can come as an angel of light, appearing glorious, good, and attractive.
We might be taken in by an angel of light, conned by a fowler, but surely, we would avoid a roaring lion, wouldn’t we?
He is seeking whom he may devour. He isn’t just looking to lick or nibble, but to devour. He wants us to be destroyed, not just miserable.
We are to resist him, steadfast in the faith. This is spiritual warfare and God would not tell us to resist him if we couldn’t. In James 4:7 we are told to resist the devil and he will flee from you. However, we must read the full verse “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” We must first submit to God. If we do not obey and submit to God, we will never resist the devil. We resist him by the Word of God, the sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6) and the shield of faith. There is nothing more frightening to Satan than a believer who is fully equipped with spiritual armour.
We can take comfort that the same sufferings are experienced by our brothers and sisters and we do not fight alone.
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (v10,11)
Peter then says a prayer for their encouragement. He asks God to strengthen them as only He can. He knew that he and they need the grace of God. He had failed but he had experienced God’s renewal and knew that they need the same. He asks God to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle them. We wish that we could know this without suffering, but God does this through suffering. We have been called to His eternal glory, that is amazing, and a privilege. For all this we can only give Him the glory and the praise. Only He will have dominion forever. To Peter, suffering is something the Christian should always see coming. We’re foreigners here, and we shouldn’t expect to be treated differently until our King claims dominion forever and ever.
“By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” (v12-14)
He signs off the letter as we would – he says that he had written it and maybe dictated some to Silvanus who was thought to be Silas referred to in Paul’s letters and in Acts. He considered him very highly, as a true and faithful brother. He encourages them by the grace of God in which you stand. That’s where we also stand. We have no other standing.
The word ‘she’ is probably referring to the church in Babylon. Babylon maybe the actual city or Rome or Jerusalem. In his day Babylon and Rome were famous for their wickedness and spiritual rebellion, just like ancient Babylon was. In any regard, this was one church greeting another. They stood as centres of worldliness in contrast to Jerusalem the City of God.
The Mark mentioned is apparently the same as the one in Acts 12 and 15 and many believe that Peter was the source of Mark’s information in his gospel.
He concludes with a blessing of love and peace to be used as a greeting for one another with a kiss of love showing a oneness in the difficult times. This is not a romantic gesture but a holy gesture. I believe there are five references to this in the New Testament. It is known that the kiss of peace or kiss of charity. The word “holy” separates the gesture from romantic or sensual motives, marking it as a pure expression of Christian fellowship.
In the first-century Mediterranean world, a kiss was a standard, culturally accepted greeting among family and close friends: It acted as a visible sign of peace, erasing social, economic, and ethnic divisions within the early church. Equivalent gestures are handshakes, warm hugs, bows, or the liturgical “sign of peace” showing sincere, welcoming affection.
