1 Peter 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 5:1-4

The work of the pastoral office is to be fulfilled also by the private members of the Church, according to their respective gifts and opportunities. So there are practical lessons here for them, as well as for the minister, it is to them the words are addressed, "Exhort one another daily," and "Bishoping, lest any man fail of the grace of God." I. THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH AND THEIR WORK . Church system is in itself worth nothing; its sole value consists in that it is a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 5:1-11

I. EXHORTATION TO ELDERS . 1. In what character Peter exhorts . "The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed." The link of connection is "well-doing," which is here given in detail. The first who are exhorted to do well are the elders , to be understood officially. These elders are referred to as among them, i . e . in the Churches in the various... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 5:2-4

The office of the Christian pastor—the bishop, the presbyter, the deacon—was something new in the history of mankind. The functions of the Christian pastor differ widely and radically from those of the heathen priest or philosopher; and they differ decidedly from those of the Jewish prophet or priest. The bonds uniting pastor and people together are more sacred, more tender, and more morally powerful than the official bonds which owe their efficacy merely to superior power or superior wisdom.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage ; rather, as in the Revised Version, neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you . The κατά in the verb κατακυριέω is not only intensive, it implies something of scorn and tyranny or even of hostility, as also in καταδυναστεύω ( James 2:6 ); comp. Matthew 20:25 . The literal rendering of the clause is, "lording it over the lots." The Authorized Version, following Beza, supplies τοῦ θεοῦ , "God's heritage." But if... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords - Margin, “overruling.” The word here used (κατακυριεύω katakurieuō) is rendered “exercise dominion over,” in Matthew 20:25; exercise lordship over, in Mark 10:42; and overcame, in Acts 19:16. It does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. It refers properly to that kind of jurisdiction which civil rulers or magistrates exercise. This is an exercise of authority, as contradistinguished from the influence of reason, persuasion, and example. The latter pertains to the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 5:3-4

1 Peter 5:3-4. Neither as being lords, or lording it, over God’s heritage Behaving in a haughty, domineering manner, as though you had dominion over their consciences. From this prohibition it would seem that, in the apostle’s days, the bishops or elders were beginning to assume that dominion over their flocks, which in after times they carried to the greatest height of tyranny. Or St. Peter, by inspiration, foreseeing what would happen, condemned in this prohibition the tyranny which in... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 5:1-14

5:1-14 LEADERSHIP, HUMILITY AND WATCHFULNESSChurch elders are to be sincere, understanding and hard-working in looking after the church that God has placed in their care. They are to be shepherds who care for the flock because they are interested in the flock’s welfare, not because they want to make money (5:1-2). They must not use their authority to force people, but rather show by example how Christians should act. They must remember that they themselves are answerable to the Chief Shepherd,... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Peter 5:3

Neither . Greek. mede , as above. being, &c . See Acts 19:16 . heritage = the heritages. Greek. kleros, Plural. Compare Acts 1:17 , Acts 1:25 . " God's " is supplied from 1 Peter 5:2 . Compare Deuteronomy 4:20 . Psalms 28:9 ; Psalms 33:12 , &c. ensamples . Greek. tupos. See Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:17 . 2 Thessalonians 3:9 . 2 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 2:7 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Peter 5:3

neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock.This verse is somewhat difficult; for, as Mason said, "The English version here is somewhat too strict for the Greek and for the sense."[15] The New Testament clearly teaches that in a sense (limited, of course), the elders are "lords" or rulers over their congregations; and what is prohibited here is not the exercise of their lawful authority, but the improper exercise of it. Zerr has this:The... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Peter 5:3

1 Peter 5:3. Over God's heritage,— There is nothing for God's in the original; the word κληροι, seems here to denote those distinct congregations of Christians, which fell to the lot, as it were, of different pastors; alluding to the division of Canaan by lots. Comp. Deuteronomy 4:20; Deuteronomy 9:29. They are called in the next sentence, the flock. Dr. Heylin renders it, Lords over them who are allotted to you: for all Christians are the Lord's portion, and the lot of his inheritance. It has... read more

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