Category: 1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5:4 – Unfading Victor’s Crown

Posted on by Will

and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Truth to Learn

There is an unfading reward awaiting those who faithfully lead.

 

Behind the Words

The expression “Chief Shepherd” is translated from the Greek word archipoimēn, which is made up of archi, indicating high rank and poimēn, meaning “a shepherd.” Hence, this word refers to “the high ranking shepherd.”

“Crown” is translated from stephanos, from the verb stephō, meaning “to put around” or “to encircle.” This is the word used of the victory crown given to the winner of athletic games. It was typically woven of leaves and, as a result, would eventually fade away.

The expression “unfading” is from amarantos, which is made up of the privative a, meaning “not” and a form of marainō, meaning “to extinguish, to pass away, or to fade away.”

 

Meaning Explained

With today’s verse Peter finishes up his exhortation to pastors. God recognizes that being a leader in a church is a very difficult position. The pastor has responsibility for the spiritual care of those whom God has appointed to him, but he has no lordship over them. He is not the boss and only has the oversight of those in his care while they remain in his flock. He is to lead by example and teach with authority. It is easy to see why many pastors fall into one of two traps, either becoming autocratic and bossy, or succumbing to the pressures of the vocal minority and submitting to their will instead of the will of the Chief Shepherd.

It is a fine line that a pastor has to walk, one that requires dedication, perseverance, and constant communion with and submission to the Author and Finisher of our faith.

God recognizes the difficulty of this position and offers this verse of encouragement to all of those who shepherd a flock, whether it is large or small. When the Chief Shepherd appears, those who have labored in the pastoral position will receive a reward in the form of a crown, an unfading crown of glory.

Crowns are spoken of throughout the New Testament as rewards for faithful believers, not just pastors. A few of these crowns are spoken of in: 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; and Revelation 2:10.

And what will we do with these crowns? We will cast them at the feet of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings because only He is worthy of the honor.

the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is sitting on the throne. And they worship Him who lives for ever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, Lord, You are worthy to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because You created all things, and through Your will they are and were created. (Revelation 4:10,11)

 

Application

We should all look forward with anticipation to the day when we will join together in the presence of our Holy God and cast our crowns before Him. Truly, He is worthy!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 5:3 – Example, Not Dictator

Posted on by Will

nor as lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Truth to Learn

The pastor (or elder) of a local congregation is to be an example of Christ, not a dictator over the local church.

 

Behind the Words

The words “lording it over” are a translation of the Greek word, katakurieuō, which means “to exercise dominion over” or “to rule over.” It is a compound word made up of kata, which means “down upon” and a form of kurieuō, which means “to have dominion or rule over someone else, like a lord or master.”

“Allotted” is a translation of the Greek word klēros, which originally meant “a little piece.” It actually refers to a “die” or a “lot.” This was a little piece of wood or stone with an individual’s mark on it. It comes from the Greek custom whereby a die (or lot) was taken from each person, put into a container, shaken violently, then the first one that was poured out indicated who was chosen by the gods for a particular function. From this custom we get our expression “the die (or lot) is cast.” This word later also came to be applied to “an inheritance” or “something assigned to a person.”

The word “examples” is translated from the Greek word tupos (from which we get our English word “type”), which literally refers to “the scar or impression left by a blow or strike of a die.” Figuratively, it refers to a person who has the form or resemblance of someone else, hence the translation “example.”

 

Meaning Explained

In today’s verse Peter continues with his thought from the previous verse. The pastor (elder) is to shepherd the flock and oversee it for unselfish reasons and, as he says in today’s verse:

not lording it over those allotted to you, but being examples to the flock.

The elders in the church have not been given the position of “boss” or “master” of the flock. On the contrary, they have been placed there to shepherd the flock, to care for the sheep, to feed them, to pray over them, and to be an example to them of how we are to live as children of the King of Kings.

The significant thing about the presence of the word klēros in today’s verse is that it refers to those (people) who are allotted to a pastor by God’s divine appointment: the congregation of the local church under an elder’s care. As much as we sometimes like to think that the growth of a church is due to our great teaching and preaching, everyone in a congregation is there because God has placed them there.

The message Peter is giving to pastors (elders) is that we are to oversee the local congregation (placed under our care by God) as under-shepherds of the Chief Shepherd. We are not to be rulers or dictators, rather examples of how the flock is to live in relationship to Christ, the Chief Shepherd.

Talk about a tough job description!

 

Application

Does this describe your pastor? Is he an example of humility and does he demonstrate a close, personal daily walk with God? If so, you are blessed and you should thank God for him! Sometimes, it’s a thankless job.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 5:2 – Shepherd The Flock

Posted on by Will

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not greedy for money but eagerly;

Truth to Learn

A church leader is to behave like a loving shepherd.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “exhort” in yesterday’s verse is from the Greek parakalo, which literally means “to call alongside.” It is interpreted as meaning “to council, to give advice, and to comfort.” This is the name given to the Holy Spirit by Christ himself:

But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in My name …” (John 14:26)

The word “Comforter” in John 14:26 is the same word translated “exhort” in 1 Peter 5:2.

 “Shepherd” is from the Greek word poimanate and the word “flock” is from poimnion. Even without knowing Greek it is easy to see that these two words have the same root. The first one means “to take care of a group of animals, to feed them, to protect them, to care for them.” This is what a Shepherd does for his flock. The second word means “a flock or group of animals.”

The words “serving as overseers” are from the single Greek word episkopountes, which literally means “to watch over” or “to oversee.” It is the same word that is translated “bishop” in some places in the Bible. Again, notice that this is not a separate or higher ranking position within the priesthood, rather it is the responsibility of each and every pastor (elder) of every local congregation.

 

Meaning Explained

Today’s verse gets into the first part of Peter’s exhortation to the elders (or pastors) of the churches to which this letter was written. The advice that Peter is giving these elders is to feed the flock. Although it is not specifically identified here, Peter’s implication is that we who are called to be overseers of God’s flock are to provide spiritual food for the flock.

The way a pastor is to oversee the flock is not by compulsion (Greek anagkastōs, meaning “not out of necessity” or “not because you have to”), but willingly (Greek ekousiōs, meaning “voluntarily”), certainly not just for money (Greek me aischrokerdōs, meaning “not greedy for money”), but readily (Greek prothumōs, meaning “willingly” or “gladly”).

Hence, a church elder should not take on the responsibility of overseeing the local congregation because he is forced to do so. Neither should he take on this responsibility because he believes he will receive personal gain in the form of money or power. In other words, he should not be doing this for selfish reasons. He should, instead, take on this responsibility readily and willingly because he wants to serve God in this way. He should feel that he has been personally called by God to care for the flock, whether it consists of five or five thousand.

 

Application

Does that describe your pastor? Does he regularly supply you with spiritual food? Does he consider the welfare of the flock under his care as more important than his own desires? If so, you are certainly blessed!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Peter 5:1 – Peter The Elder

Posted on by Will

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 is about to be revealed:

Truth to Learn

Pastor Peter is about to give instruction to church leaders.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “elders” is presbuterous, which literally means “older ones, or those who have a long history of the Christian experience” but is used by Peter and others to refer to those who have oversight responsibilities in the churches.

The words “fellow elder” are translated from the Greek word sumpresbuteros. This is made up of sun, meaning “together with” and presbuteros, which we just looked at, meaning “an elder.” Hence, this word means “an elder along with you.”

“Partaker” is translated from koinōnos, meaning “one who has something in common with others,” or “one who shares.”

 

Meaning Explained

Peter now changes the emphasis of his message to give some specific instruction for the leaders of the churches to which this letter is being circulated. He does not speak to three distinct orders of overseers such as “bishops, priests, and deacons” as some churches teach. Nor does he proclaim that he has preeminence among them as the leader of all the churches.

Instead, he says of himself that he also is an elder. This is significant in that as an apostle he could have claimed this special position in the church as a reason for admonishing the elders under him. If he felt that he had a superior position in the church universal, he surely would have used that position to strengthen his message to the other church leaders. Instead, he simply describes himself as a fellow elder.

The only two things that he claims as distinctive for himself are: he was a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and he shares in the glory that is going to be revealed. Clearly, he was in the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ was seized, and he was present at His trials. And although there is no direct evidence in the Scripture that Peter was at the crucifixion, we can infer it from:

And all those known to Him stood at a distance; and the women, those accompanying Him from Galilee, were seeing these things. (Luke 23:49)

There is some difference of opinion as to whether “a partaker of the glory that is about to be revealed” refers to the fact that Peter was among the few present at the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:1, 2 and Mark 9:2,3) or that he was going to share in the glory of Christ when He is to be revealed at the second coming. I hold to the second interpretation (though both are true), since Peter refers to the glory that “is about to be revealed.” If he had been referring to the transfiguration, he would likely have said “that was revealed.” Again, note that he is not claiming to have a higher office, but to have been a personal witness of Christ’s suffering and to have a hope of sharing His glory. Clearly, Peter did not see himself as Pope, but as a fellow elder, one who shares a common expectation, and one who had witnessed the sufferings of Christ in person.

 

Application

Are you a pastor or have you been a Christian for many years? If you answer yes to either of these, then you have a responsibility to others in the body of Christ. Pay close attention to the next few verses, and ask God to speak to you regarding your ministry to others.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved