1 Peter 5:2

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; FEED, [ Poimanate (G4165)] - 'Tend as a shepherd,' by discipline and doctrine. Lead, feed, heed; by prayer, exhortation, government, example. The dignity is marked by "elder;" the duties, to tend or oversee, by "bishop." Peter has in mind Christ's injunction [ Poimaine (G4165) ... boske (G1006)]: "Feed (tend) my sheep ... Feed (pasture) my lambs" (John 21:16). He invites the alders to share the same duty (cf....

2_Feed the flock of God _We hence learn what the word _presbyter _imports, even that it includes the office of feeding. It is for a far different end that the Pope makes presbyters, even that they may daily slay Christ, there being no mention made of feeding in their ordination. Let us then remember to distinguish between the institution of Christ and the confusion of the Pope, it being as different as light is from darkness. Let us also bear in mind the definition given of the word; for the flock of Christ cannot be fed except with pure doctrine, which is alone our spiritual food. Hence pastors are not mute hypocrites, nor those who spread their own figments, which, like deadly poison, destroy the souls of men. The words, _as much as it is in you, _mean the same as though he had said, “Apply all your strength to this very thing, and whatever power God has conferred on you.” The old int...

1-4 The apostle Peter does not command, but exhorts. He does not claim power to rule over all pastors and churches. It was the peculiar honour of Peter and a few more, to be witnesses of Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true Christians to partake of the glory that shall be revealed. These poor, dispersed, suffering Christians, were the flock of God, redeemed to God by the great Shepherd, living in holy love and communion, according to the will of God. They are also dignified with the title of God's heritage or clergy; his peculiar lot, chosen for his own people, to enjoy his special favour, and to do him special service. Christ is the chief Shepherd of the whole flock and heritage of God. And all faithful ministers will receive a crown of unfading glory, infinitely better and more honourable than all the authority, wealth, and pleasure of the world....

Verse 1 Peter 5:2. _FEED THE FLOCK_] Do not _fleece_ the flock. _TAKING THE OVERSIGHT_] επισκοπουντες. Discharging the office of _bishops_ or _superintendents_. This is another proof that _bishop_ and _presbyter_ were the same order in the _apostolic_ times, though _afterwards_ they were made distinct. _NOT BY CONSTRAINT_] The office was laborious and dangerous, especially in these times of persecution; it is no wonder then that even those who were best qualified for the office should strive to excuse themselves with a genuine _Nolo episcopari_, "I am unwilling to be a bishop." _NOT FOR FILTHY LUCRE_] Could the office of a _bishop_, in those early days, and in the time of persecution, be a _lucrative_ office? Does not the Spirit of God lead the apost

FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD - Discharge the duties of a shepherd toward the flock. On the word “feed,” see the notes at John 21:15. It is a word which Peter would be likely to remember, from the solemn manner in which the injunction to perform the duty was laid on him by the Saviour. The direction means to take such an oversight of the church as a shepherd is accustomed to take of his flock. See the notes at John 10:1. WHICH IS AMONG YOU - Margin, as much as in you is. The translation in the text is the more correct. It means the churches which were among them, or over which they were called to preside. TAKING THE OVERSIGHT THEREOF - ἐπισκοποῦντες e

EXPOSITIONS 1 PETER 5:1 THE ELDERS WHICH ARE AMONG YOU I EXHORT. The Vatican and Alexandrine Manuscripts omit the article, and insert "therefore" (the Sinaitic gives both), reading, "Elders, therefore, among you I exhort." The solemn thoughts of the last chapter, the coming judgment, the approach of persecution, the necessity of perseverance in well-doing, suggest the exhortation; hence the "therefore." The context shows that the apostle is using the word "elder" (πρεσβύτερος,_ _presbyter) in its official sense, though its original meaning was also in his thoughts, as appears by 1 Peter 5:5. We first meet with the word in the Old Testament (Exodus 3:16,...

FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU,.... Some read, "as much as in you is"; that is, to the utmost of your power, according to your abilities, referring to the manner of feeding the flock, doing it in the best way they are capable of; but the phrase is rather descriptive of the flock to be fed, which points it out, and distinguishes it from all others, and for which they should have a particular regard; it being the flock, as the Syriac version renders it, which "is delivered unto you"; which was committed to their care, and they were made overseers of, and stood in a special relation to; wherefore it was incumbent on them to regard them, so as they did not, and were not obliged to regard, any other distinct flock: by "the flock of God"; or, "of Christ", as some copies read, is meant, not the whole world, which Philo the Jew r calls the greatest and most perfect, του οντος θεου ποιμ...

1 Peter 5:1. _The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:_ Here again, as in the first chapter, Peter links the sufferings of Christ with his glory. 1 Peter 5:2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 PETER 5:2 @evpiskopou/ntej# mh. avnagkastw/j avlla. e`kousi,wj kata. qeo,n {C} It is difficult to decide whether one should follow the authority of such important witnesses as a* B _al_ and regard the inclusion of evpiskopou/ntej in î72 a2 A and most other witnesses as an exegetical expansion (made perhaps in accordance with 1 Peter 2:25), or whether the shorter text is the result of deliberate excision, prompted either by stylistic considerations (namely, that after poima,nate the word is redundant) or by ecclesiastical conviction (namely, that Pe...

V. EXHORTATIONS CONCERNING SERVICE AND CONFLICT CHAPTER 5 _ 1. As to Christian service (1 Peter 5:1)_ 2. Conflict and victory (1 Peter 5:8) 3. The conclusion (1 Peter 5:12) 1 Peter 5:1 Peter now speaks in great tenderness exhorting to service. The exhortation is addressed to the elders and he speaks of himself as a “fellow-elder.” Does he mean by this an official title or does he mean simply his age and experience? He is not writing in any official capacity, but the word elder has the meaning of old in years. He assumes no ecclesiastical authority to dictate, but speaks out of a ripe experience and a