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 this were the apostle's meaning, he would surely have used the singular, κλῆρος , "the lot or portion of God;" and it is very unlikely that he would have left the most important word to be supplied. Some commentators take κλῆροι in its modern sense, of the clergy, as if St. Peter was commanding the bishops not to tyrannize over the inferior clergy. But this view involves an anachronism; the word had not acquired this meaning in St. Peter's time. It is clearly best to understand it of the lots or portions assigned to individual presbyters. The word κλῆρος originally meant a "lot" ( Matthew 27:35 ; Acts 1:26 ), then portions assigned by casting lots, as the possessions of the tribes of Israel ( Joshua 18:1-28 and Joshua 19:1-51 ), then any portion or inheritance however obtained; thus in Deuteronomy 10:1-22 : 9 the Lord is said to be the Inheritance κλῆρος of the Levites. In later times the word was applied to the clergy, who were regarded as, in a special sense, the Lord's portion or inheritance, perhaps because God was pleased to take the tribe of Levi instead of the firstborn, saying, the Levites shall be mine ( Numbers 3:12 ). But being ensamples to the flock ; literally, becoming examples . They must imitate the great Example, the Lord Jesus, and, by gradual imitation of his blessed character, become examples themselves. Thus they will acquire a more salutary influence and a truer authority. "The life should command, and the tongue persuade" (Athanasius, quoted by Fronmuller).