5:1 Conclusion

SUMMARY OF I PETER 5:

A Charge to the Elders. The Young Exhorted. Humility Enjoined. Watchfulness. Salutations from the Brethren at Babylon.

The elders which are among you. That Peter means the officers, not the aged persons, is shown by 1Pe 5:2.

Who am also an elder. An elder as well as an apostle. He exhorts them as one of themselves.

And a witness of the sufferings of Christ. An eye witness of what Christ suffered and of his resurrection.

And also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. An heir of the glory that shall be revealed when Christ comes.

5:2 Feed the flock of God. Tend (Revised Version). The Greek word poimaino means more than feed. See Joh 21:15-17.

Which is among you. The churches wherever you are.

Taking the oversight thereof. Acting as bishops (Ac 20:28).

Not by constraint, but willingly. Attend to the duties cheerfully, willingly.

Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind. Not for sordid love of gain, but with alacrity.

5:3 Neither as being lords. Not with an arbitrary, despotic rule.

Over God's heritage. Rather, over the charge allotted you (Revised Version).

But being ensamples to the flock. Instead of ruling imperiously, rather set an example that others may follow.

5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shapp appear. Christ, to whom all the under-shepherds shall give account.

Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. The eternal reward of faithful duty.

5:5 Likewise, ye younger. Some scholars think that all who are not elders are meant. Among the Greeks younger sometimes meant those inferior in position. Perhaps the word enforces this sense as well as those younger in years.

Submit yourselves to the elder. Elders in the Greek. The duty of submissiveness and humility is the thought of the passage.

Be subject one to another. Mutual deference must be shown, as well as mutual service.

Be clothed with humility. The literal rendering is Wrap yourselves up in humility.

God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Quoted from Pr 3:34.

5:6 Humble yourselves. Because God giveth grace to the humble (1Pe 5:5).

Under the mighty hand of God. God exalts as well as casts down. He lifts up the humble, therefore, Humble yourselves... that he may exalt you.

In due time. In God's own time; not our time, but God's.

5:7 Casting all your care upon him. Simply submitting, doing the Lord's will, and casting all care on him.

5:8 Be sober. Sobriety is necessary to vigilance.

Be vigilant. Wide awake and watchful. The reason follows. An enemy is ready to spring upon them.

The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. He goeth about as the lion, seeking for prey. The lion while hunting only roars when it springs. So the devil is stealthy and does not give warning of his approach.

5:9 Whom resist. See Jas 4:7. When the devil is resisted he flees.

Stedfast in the faith. Firm in the faith.

Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren. That your sufferings are not unusual, but that the brethren everywhere suffer as you do.

5:10 And the God of all grace. Who bestows all grace.

Who hath called us unto his eternal glory. God is always spoken of as the author of the calling.

After that ye have suffered a while. You may be called to suffer for a season, but it will soon be over.

Make you perfect. He will supply every need, leave nothing wanting.

5:12 By Silvanus. Silas, the old companion of Paul. It has been supposed that Paul, then a prisoner of Rome, had sent Silvanus to Peter.

Our faithful brother to you, as I suppose. This implies that Peter had little personal acquaintance, Silvanus having been with Paul in the work among the Gentiles.

I have written briefly. He sends this letter by Silvanus.

This is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The gospel which had been preached to them.

5:13 The church that is at Babylon. She that is in Babylon (Revised Version). The word church is not in the Greek. Peter probably referred to his wife. The salutations are from individuals. On Babylon, see topic 9257. Alford says,

There is no reason whatever for regarding this any place but the Chaldean capital.''

So doth Marcus, my son. Most likely John Mark, the author of the second gospel. See Ac 12:12 13:05 15:37 Col 4:10.

5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. See PNT Ro 16:16.