1 Peter 5:3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5:1-4

Here we may observe, I. The persons to whom this exhortation is given?to the presbyters, pastors, and spiritual guides of the church, elders by office, rather than by age, ministers of those churches to whom he wrote this epistle. II. The person who gives this exhortation?the apostle Peter: I exhort; and, to give force to this exhortation, he tells them he was their brother-presbyter or fellow-elder, and so puts nothing upon them but what he was ready to perform himself. He was also a witness... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

5:1-4 So, then, as your fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as a sharer in the glory which is going to be revealed, I urge the elders who are among you, shepherd the flock of God which is in your charge, not because you are coerced into doing so, but of your own free-will as God would have you to do, not to make a shameful profit out of it, but with enthusiasm, not as if you aimed to be petty tyrants over those allotted to your care, but as being under the obligation to be... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

When we turn to the Christian Church we find that the eldership is its basic office. It was Paul's custom to ordain elders in every community to which he preached and in every church which he founded. On the first missionary journey elders were ordained in every church ( Acts 14:23 ). Titus is left in Crete to ordain elders in every city ( Titus 1:5 ). The elders had charge of the financial administration of the Church; it is to them that Paul and Barnabas delivered the money sent to... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

Peter sets down in a series of contrasts the perils and the privileges of the eldership; and everything he says is applicable, not only to the eldership, but also to all Christian service inside and outside the Church. The elder is to accept office, not under coercion, but willingly. This does not mean that a man is to grasp at office or to enter upon it without self-examining thought. Any Christian will have a certain reluctance to accept high office, because he knows only too well his... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

One thing in this passage which defies translation and is yet one of the most precious and significant things in it is what we have translated "petty tyrants over those allotted to your care." The phrase which we have translated those allotted is curious in Greek; it is ton ( Greek #3588 ) kleron ( Greek #2819 ), the genitive plural of kleros ( Greek #2819 ) which is a word of extraordinary interest. (i) It begins by meaning a dice or a lot. It is so used in Matthew 27:35 which... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:1-4

One of the lovely things about this passage is Peter's attitude throughout it. He begins by, as it were, taking his place beside those to whom he speaks. "Your fellow-elder" he calls himself. He does not separate himself from them but comes to share the Christian problems and the Christian experience with them. But in one thing he is different; he has memories of Jesus and these memories colour this whole passage. Even as he speaks, they are crowding into his mind. (i) He describes himself... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage ,.... Or "clergy"; meaning not ecclesiastical persons, as presbyters, and deacons, who are supposed to be under the government of bishops, though not to be governed with tyranny, and in a haughty, imperious, and arrogant manner; to which sense the Arabic version inclines, rendering the words thus; "not as those who domineer over such that are appointed in the dignities of the priesthood"; but such cannot be designed, because they are presbyters, or... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage - This is the voice of St. Peter in his catholic epistle to the catholic Church! According to him there are to be no lords over God's heritage, the bishops and presbyters who are appointed by the head of the Church are to feed the flock, to guide and to defend it, not to fleece and waste it; and they are to look for their reward in another world, and in the approbation of God in their consciences. And in humility, self-abasement, self-renunciation,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 5:3

Verse 3 3Neither as being lords, or, as exercising dominion. The preposition κατὰ in Greek is taken, for the most part, in a bad sense: then Peter here condemns unreasonable exercise of power, as the case is with those who consider not themselves to be the ministers of Christ and his Church, but seek something higher. And he calls particular churches “lots,” (cleros ;) for as the whole body of the Church is the Lord’s heritage, so the churches, scattered through towns and villages, were as so... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 5:1-4

I. WHAT HE IS WHO ADDRESSES THEM . 1. " Also an elder ." St. Peter is a beautiful example of that humility which should especially mark those who are called to high orifice in the Church, without which high office is a most dangerous temptation. He assumes no superiority; he does not remind them of the great trust committed to him by Christ ( Matthew 16:18 , Matthew 16:19 ); he does not even insist on his apostleship. He identifies himself with those whom he exhorts,... read more

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