Lesson 73

Study of First Peter Chapter 5

Intro:

Peter begins this chapter with an inferential conjunction (ou=n) which links what follows with what preceded in 4:12-19, that is the importance of orienting to suffering in your life as we noted the mechanics for that is to continue "doing what is right."

Peter links in the first 4 verses the function of the P/T in the L/C to the believer being prepared to orient to suffering and testing in life.

 

 

I exhort the elders among you,  durative present of (parakale,w) which means to comfort, encourage, to exhort; here it’s the force just short of an imperative; exhort or urge to take a course of action.

 

- Here the focus is on the one with the Spiritual gift of P/T who is prepared, ready to assume the responsibility of communication of the Word of God.

 

- When he says that these elders are among you (loc pl  evn u`mi/n)  implies the principle of face to face communication.  Any thing else is a cheap substitute.

 

And he does so from the standpoint of being   your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ,  (sumpresbu,teroj)  the prefix sum indicates what Peter had in common with the local P/T's, the gift of communication of truth.

 

witness of the sufferings of Christ  (ma,rtuj)  speaks of firsthand knowledge, eyewitness

 

Some of the implications so far!

1. Christ was a communicator - He suffered UNDSF!

 

2. Peter was also a communicator, a fellow elder and he endured suffering.

 

3. You elders out there in the provinces of Asia Minor are also going to suffer in your ministries.

 

4. By application the P/T's in the C/A are also no different and will undergo suffering in their ministries.

5. This section then is exhortation to keep your objective in view, that is feeding the flock.

 

and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (koinwno,j) refers to a partaker, a sharer, a partner, to have in common with

Peter identifies himself in this verse with 3 important aspects of his ministry.

#1 a fellow elder; #2 as a witness of the sufferings of Christ  and 3rd also a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed.

 

Suffering and glory were never far apart in Peter's mind. "Of the about to be revealed glory"  (Greek order) points to a glory whose unveiling is eagerly anticipated by him.

 

The World will see the glory of Christ, the Messiah, when He returns at the 2nd advent to establish His Millennial rule.

 

Summary

1. As we should have picked up from the study so far suffering whether physical or mental stress is a part of life that we must deal with.

 

2. We have also noted that God's plan and provision will turn this suffering into blessing when we choose to do what is right.

 

3. The suffering we might experience now in time is not to be compared with the glory to come. Rom 8:18  

 

4. The short time we have in f2 is the time we have to accumulate the glory of eternal rewards we will receive at the JSC.

 

5. Not only does the P/T experience the same CHP's as any other believer but he also experiences specialized areas of suffering related to communication of truth.

 

 

 

6. For the communicator, the P/T, must fulfill the imperatives that Peter details in the next 2 verses which pertain to the message and his relationship with the flock that God the Holy Spirit has given.  Acts 20:28

5:2 The duty to shepherd the flock

shepherd the flock of God among you  With this command Peter portrays the work of the P/T by using the familiar shepherd - sheep imagery.

 

Really sums up the functional aspect of the ministry, that is in leading, guiding, feeding and protecting the flock. The means of fulfilling this role is through the Word consistently taught.  

 

Paul's warning in Acts 20:28-29 is very appropriate to establish the importance of the shepherding/pastoring function.

 

So the first phrase is shepherd the flock of God among you 

 

Observations at this point!

1. Christ is the Chief or great Shepherd - 1 Pet 5:4; Heb 13:20

 

2. The P/T of the local church is next in the spiritual chain of command, its delegated authority.  [undershepherds]

 

3. What we must remember is that all P/T's are answerable directly to the Lord for their efficiency reports. 

 

4. Under the proper functioning of the spiritual gift of P/T it is his responsibility to oversee the spiritual diet of the L/C as well as the activities of the L/C.

 

5. The P/T must remember that it ultimately is the Holy Spirit  that placed him in the position of P/T of his congregation.

 

6. Peter was exhorted by Christ to shepherd believers in John 21:15-17 where Christ said to him "if you love me feed my sheep."  [feed, shepherd, feed]

 

7. The test of love for the P/T is how he performs in the pulpit year in and year out over the long haul.

 

Next section of vs:2 deals with what is the P/T's motivation

First the how not then trhe positive:  exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God;

 

- not under compulsion  (mh, avnagkastw/j) adverb;   in a forced manner, unwillingly, out of obligation i.e the wrong motivation

 

 

- the proper motivation is next stated but voluntarily, according to the will of God;  another adverb (e`kousi,wj kata. qeo,n()   willingly, voluntarily,

 

That this response is to the Word and God's grace provision is reinforced by the next part of the phrase  according to the will of God.

 

Next its not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

 

- This is a compound word  aivscroj  which means dishonorable, shameful plus kerdoj  which means gain or advantage.

 

What his motivation should be but with eagerness  this adverb is a very strong word (proqu,mwj) that expresses a zeal, eagerness even a tenaciousness to stay the course of his objective to teach the whole counsel of truth to the flock provided for him whatever number for whatever finances.

 

5:2 Shepherd the flock of God among you, not under compulsion but willingly according to the standard of God (expressed in the Word) and not for dishonorable gain but with eagerness.