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1 Peter 5 (NKJV)

1 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:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by
compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that
does not fade away.
5 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.”
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt
you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are
experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 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.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 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.
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my
son.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus.
Amen.

5:1–3 Three descriptive terms are employed in the N.T. to depict the role of the
pastor. All three are used in this passage, though here two are used in verb form: (1)
“Elders” (presbuteros, Gk.) is a term generically referring to a fully mature man. The
respect accorded to an elderly man is transferred to the office of the pastor. The use of the
word “elder” indicates profound respect and esteem for the office. (2) “Shepherd” the
flock of God employs the Greek verb poimainōg. The nominal form of the word is
poimēgn, which is rendered “pastor” or “shepherd.” The word describes the spiritual
ministries of the leader of the church. As pastor or shepherd, he is to feed, protect, guide,
and pray for the flock of God. (3) “Serving as overseers” is a translation of
episkopountes (Gk.). The noun form episkopos is usually translated “bishop.” The
emphasis is upon the administrative responsibilities of the chief officer of the church. The
terms are all synonymous in that they refer to the same office. They differ only in
emphasis. Believer’s Study Bible

Peter gives a mini-sermon here to pastors. It also gives us a clearer understanding of


church government in the first century church.
Who am also an elder - Greek: “a fellow-presbyter,” (συμπρεσβυτερος
sumpresbuteros.) This word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means that
he was a co-presbyter with them; and he makes this one of the grounds of his
exhortation to them. He does not put it on the ground of his apostolic authority; or urge it
because he was the vicegerent of Christ; or because he was the head of the church; or
because he had any pre-eminence over others in any way. Would he have used this
language if he had been the “head of the church” on earth? Would he if he supposed
that the distinction between apostles and other ministers was to be perpetuated? Would
he if he believed that there were to be distinct orders of clergy? The whole drift of this
passage is adverse to such a supposition. Barnes

Peter then goes on to list the characteristics of pastors and their method of pasturing. It
should be done willingly, not out of compulsion. It should be done eagerly and not out of
a desire for money. There should also be no authoritarianism – the shepherd doesn’t
drive like a cattle rancher, he walks in front and leads.

G4165 - feed
Ποιμαινω poimainō
Thayer Definition:
1) to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep
1a) to rule, govern
1a1) of rulers
1a2) to furnish pasture for food
1a3) to nourish
1a4) to cherish one’s body, to serve the body
1a5) to supply the requisites for the soul’s need

taking the oversight thereof; that is, of the flock; or "take the care of it", as the Syriac
version renders it, and adds, "spiritually"; in a spiritual manner; which is an interpretation
of the phrase: an acting the part of a bishop or overseer of it, as the word signifies;
looking diligently to it, inspecting into the various cases of the members of the church;
using diligence to know the state of the flock, and performing all the offices of a careful
shepherd; as feeding the flock; and not themselves; strengthening the diseased; healing
the sick; binding up that which was broken; bringing again that which was driven away,
and seeking that which was lost; watching over them that they go not astray; and
restoring of them in the spirit of meekness, when they are gone out of the way; and
overlooking both their practices and their principles; admonishing, reproving them for sin,
as the case requires; and preserving them, as much as in them lies, from wolves, and
beasts of prey; from false teachers, and from all errors and heresies: all which is to be
done, Gill

5:3 The instruction not to be lords is a rejection of the world’s tendency to dominate.
Bossing and coercion have no place in the church. Christian leaders lead by teaching and
by being examples. The Open Bible : New King James Version

G5179 - example
Τυπος tupos
Thayer Definition:
1) the mark of a stroke or blow, print
2) a figure formed by a blow or impression
2a) of a figure or image
2b) of the image of the gods
3) form
3a) the teaching which embodies the sum and substance of religion and represents it to the
mind, manner of writing, the contents and form of a letter
4) an example
4a) in the technical sense, the pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made
4b) in an ethical sense, a dissuasive example, a pattern of warning
4b1) of ruinous events which serve as admonitions or warnings to others
4c) an example to be imitated
4c1) of men worthy of imitation
4d) in a doctrinal sense
4d1) of a type, i.e. a person or thing prefiguring a future (Messianic) person or thing

Peter then goes on to talk about humility and submission one to another, two attributes
that are sorely lacking today. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble is a
quote of

Proverbs 3:34 ESV


(34) Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor.

In verse seven, the two words translated as “care” in the KJV are actually two different
Greek words. The first means “worries” and the second means “affectionately care for”.

5:8 Resist: The active imperative indicates an assertive stance against the Adversary’s
operations. Because of the Devil’s aggressive hostility, Christians must be spiritually
alert, not only to withstand his attacks (employing the armor described in Eph. 6:10-18),
but in prayer and spiritual warfare opposing him.
Spirit filled life study Bible

Note that this is an active resistance – it takes effort to resist! We are also told to be
sober:

G3525 - sober
Νηφω nē phō o
Of uncertain affinity; to abstain from wine (keep sober), that is, (figuratively) be discreet: - be
sober, watch.

This relates back to Peter’s words on self-control. Being spiritual does not mean having a blank
mind – it means having a right mind – one that is fixed on God and His word!!

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