1 Peter 5:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 5:8-9

Here the apostle does three things:? I. He shows them their danger from an enemy more cruel and restless than even the worst of men, whom he describes, 1. By his characters and names. (1.) He is an adversary: ?That adversary of yours; not a common adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against you in your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls.? (2.) The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren; this title is derived from a word which signifies to strike... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 5:6-11

der the mighty hand of God that in his good time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you. Be sober; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Stand up to him, staunch in the faith, knowing how to pay the same tax of suffering as your brethren in the world. And after you have experienced suffering for a little while, the God of every grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant ,.... The apostle had exhorted to each of these before; see 1 Peter 1:13 but thought fit to repeat them; sobriety and watchfulness being exceeding necessary and useful in the Christian life; and the one cannot well be without the other: unless a man is sober in body and mind, he will not be watchful, either over himself or others, or against the snares of sin, Satan, and the world; and if he is not on his watch and guard, he is liable to every sin and temptation. The... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 5:8

Be sober - Avoid drunkenness of your senses, and drunkenness in your souls; be not overcharged with the concerns of the world. Be vigilant - Awake, and keep awake; be always watchful; never be off your guard; your enemies are alert, they are never off theirs. Your adversary the devil - This is the reason why ye should be sober and vigilant; ye have an ever active, implacable, subtle enemy to contend with. He walketh about - he has access to you everywhere; he knows your feelings and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 5:8

Verse 8 8Be sober This explanation extends wider, that as we have war with a most fierce and most powerful enemy, we are to be strenuous in resisting him. But he uses a twofold metaphor, that they were to be sober, and that they were to exercise watchfulness. Surfeiting produces sloth and sleep; even so they who indulge in earthly cares and pleasures, think of nothing else, being under the power of spiritual lethargy. We now perceive what the meaning of the Apostle is. We must, he says, carry... 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 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant . For the first word, νήψατε , see note on 1 Peter 4:7 . The second γρηγόρησατε , is the word so often and so emphatically used by our Lord. The imperatives are aorist, as in 1 Peter 4:7 ; and, as there, either imply that the exhortation was needed by the readers, or are used to express vividly the necessity of instant attention. Because your adversary the devil. The conjunction "because" is omitted in the best manuscripts. The asyndeten, as in the last... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 5:8

Be sober - While you cast your cares Upon God, and have no anxiety on that score, let your solicitude be directed to another point. Do not doubt that he is able and willing to support and befriend you, but be watchful against your foes. See the word used here fully explained in the notes at 1 Thessalonians 5:6.Be vigilant - This word (γρηγορέω grēgoreō) is everywhere else in the New Testament rendered “watch.” See Matthew 24:42-43; Matthew 25:13; Matthew 26:38, Matthew 26:40-41. It means... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 5:8-9

1 Peter 5:8-9. Be sober See on 1 Thessalonians 5:6. Keep your appetites and passions under proper restraint and government, or awake, as υηψανε also signifies; namely, to a deep sense of the certainty and importance of things invisible and eternal; be vigilant Watchful against the subtle and malicious designs of your spiritual enemies. As if he had said, Awake, and keep awake; sleep no more; be this your care, white you cast your temporal and anxious cares on God. How deeply had Peter... 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

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