Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

1 Peter 5:4

‘And when the chief Shepherd shall be revealed (in all His glory), you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade not away.'

And their reward for being faithful under-shepherds will be that when the Chief Shepherd is revealed in His glory they will receive an unfading crown of glory. An unfading inheritance was promised for all in 1 Peter 1:4. This is therefore referring to a part of that inheritance. It is in stark contrast to the fading crown of pride of Ephraim (Isaiah 28:1), and the crown of glory which will be taken away from the unworthy (Jeremiah 13:18). This is not a crown which brings glory to the wearer. It is a crown that brings glory to the One Who bestowed it (Isaiah 28:5). Note again Peter's emphasis on glory. What he had seen of Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration was something that he never forgot (Mark 9:1).

‘The Chief Shepherd.' Compare ‘that great Shepherd of the sheep' (Hebrews 13:20); ‘the good and reliable Shepherd' (John 10:11). The point is that He is totally reliable, and totally able.

‘Shall be revealed.' Just as He was once ‘revealed' on the Mount of Transfiguration, so will He be revealed in the future. That His ‘revealing in glory' is in mind comes out in the description of the crown that He will bestow. It is a crown of glory. We should note again that this crown is not one that brings glory to the individual, but is a crown that signifies one who shares in His glory (Isaiah 28:5). All the glory is to Him, and from Him. John puts it another way, ‘We will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is' (1 John 3:2).

Continues after advertising

See also 1 Peter 5:4 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 1 Peter 5:4. _WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD_] That is, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose is the flock, and who provides the pasture, and from whom, if ye are legally called to the most awful work of preac...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR - The prince of the pastors - the Lord Jesus Christ. “Peter, in the passage above, ranks himself with the elders; here he ranks Christ himself with the pastors...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    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)...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    The writer, himself a presbyter, gives wise and loving counsel to his fellow-presbyters and to their flocks. Sincerity, humility, and love are to mark all their intercourse, and continual subjection t...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    So, then, as your fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as a sharer in the glory which is going to be revealed, I urge the elders who are among you, shepherd the flock of God which i...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH (1 Peter 5:1-4)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    CHIEF SHEPHERD. Greek. _archipoimen._ Only here. See John 10:11. APPEAR. App-106. RECEIVE. See 1 Peter 1:9. A. the. CROWN. Greek. Stephanos. The victor's crown. Compare Revelation 12

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And when the chief Shepherd shall appear_ The word for "chief Shepherd" is not found elsewhere, and would seem therefore to have been coined by St Peter, to express the thought which had been impress...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΦΑΝΕΡΩΘΈΝΤΟΣ. The Chief Shepherd is always present among His under-shepherds, and at last His presence will be manifested. The verb is used of the First Coming of Christ in 1 Peter 1:20 and 1 Timothy...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    1 Peter 5:1 to 1 Peter 5:1  Let me then address a special word of exhortation to those of you who are “elders” in the Church. I do not wish to dictate to you as an Apostle, but to plead with you as on...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΦΑΝΕΡΩΘΈΝΤΟΣ _aor. pass. part. от_ ΦΑΝΕΡΌΩ (G5319) являться, ΆΡΧΙΠΟΊΜΗΝ (G750) главный пастух, начальник пастырей. Надпись на деревянной табличке при мумии показывает, что такая должность действитель...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    A CROWN OF GLORY THAT FADETH NOT AWAY.— See ch. 1 Peter 1:4. The ancients used to wear beautiful crowns, or _crowns of glory,_ in times of festivity and joy; and the Greeks used to bestow crowns, made...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    VI. EXHORTATIONS TO ELDERS 1 PETER 5:1-4 1 Peter 5:1 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...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. AND - And so: as the result of "being ensamples" (1 Peter 5:3). CHIEF SHEPHERD - Christ's specia...

  • Commentary on the Minor Epistles by Caton

    VERSE 4. AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR. You elders, you shepherds, for thus faithfully performing the duties of your office, when the chief Shepherd shall come, will receive your reward. I...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    19 Who are these imprisoned spirits ? Are they not the same that Peter mentions in his second epistle (1Pe_2:4) who were thrust down to the gloomy caverns of Tartarus, and the messengers of Jude's epi...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    5:4 unfading (b-12) Or 'amaranthine,' the amaranth plant being an image of that which does not fade or wither. The sense is the same....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    ENCOURAGEMENTS TO SHEPHERDS AND TO FLOCK. PROMISE OF GOD'S PROTECTION. FAREWELLS _B_. 1 Peter 5:1. 'To behave well in this trial you must preserve discipline. Let old and young, rulers and ruled, do...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CHIEF SHEPHERD] cp. 1 Peter 2:25; John 10:11. A CROWN] RV 'the crown,' i.e. the wreath with which victors in such a contest as these elders expect to endure, may hope to be crowned: cp. 1 Corinthi...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    MORE PRECIOUS THAN GOLD 1 PETER _HELEN POCOCK_ CHAPTER 5 ELDERS AND YOUNG MEN v1 So, I want to encourage the elders among you. I also am an elder. I actually saw Christ when he suffered. When he...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Jesus is the Chief *Shepherd. All elders are under his authority. Elders will get rewards when Jesus returns. People in the country of Greece used to love athletics. They put a ‘crown’ on the winner’s...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR. — Or, _And at the chief Shepherd’s appearing._ The “and” treats it as a simple natural consequence of acting as just indicated. The beautiful word for “chief...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    V. (1-11) FURTHER EXHORTATIONS SUGGESTED BY THE CRISIS. — The officers of the community are not to flinch from the duties imposed upon them, nor yet to perform them in any spirit of self-assertion. T...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 16 HOW TO TEND THE FLOCK 1 Peter 5:1 ST. PETER'S last lesson was full of consolation. He showed that it was from God's hand that judgments were sent upon His people to purify them and prepar...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    φανερωθέντος τοῦ ἀρχιποίμενος, _at the manifestation of the chief Shepherd, i.e._, Christ, ἀρχιποίμην is the equivalent of ὁ ποίμην ὁ μέγας of Hebrews 13:20, being formed on them analogy of ἀρχιερεύς...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    SERVING ONE ANOTHER 1 Peter 5:1 According to these words Peter, though he stood at a distance, must have been an eyewitness of the Savior's death. He is careful to speak of the glory in the same brea...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Finally, the apostle proceeded to strengthen his brethren for conflict. The first matter dealt with was the general orderliness of the Church. He enjoined the elders that they care for the flock. Thei...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    SHEPHERDS OVER THE FLOCK OF GOD In the New Testament church the name "elders," which literally means older, came to stand for the leaders of local congregations (Acts 11:29-30; Acts 14:23; Acts 15:2-3...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (7) And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. (7) That the shepherds' minds are not overcome either with the wickedness of men, or their cruelt...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    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: (2) Feed the flock of God which is am...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The epistles of Peter are addressed to the elect Jews of his day, believing of course on the Lord Jesus, and scattered throughout a considerable portion of Asia Minor. The apostle takes particular car...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _A MESSAGE FOR WORKERS_ ‘And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.’ 1 Peter 5:4 ‘When the Chief Shepherd shall appear.’ As I hear that messag...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    4_When the chief Shepherd shall appear _Except pastors retain this end in view, it can by no means be that they will in good earnest proceed in the course of their calling, but will, on the contrary,...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    The apostle returns to christian details. He exhorts the elders, himself an elder; for it appears that among the Jews this title was rather characteristic than official. (Compare 1 Peter 5:5.) He exho...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR,.... This is the encouraging motive and argument to engage the elders and pastors of churches to discharge their office faithfully, cheerfully, and in an humbl...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Ver. 4. _Ye shall receive a crown_] A crown imports perpetuity, plenty, dignity, the height of human...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Neither as being lords_, or _lording it, over God's heritage_ Behaving in a haughty, domineering manner, as though you had dominion over their consciences. From this prohibition it would seem that, i...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    CHIEF SHEPHERD; Jesus Christ....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FINAL ADMONITIONS AND CONCLUDING GREETINGS. An exhortation to pastors:...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL APPEAR, YE SHALL RECEIVE A CROWN OF GLORY THAT FADES NOT AWAY....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    Consistently with Peter's subject of governmental order, he now address elders in v.1, and those younger in v.5. Proper balance in this relationship is always deeply important, for on either side fric...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    _ 1 Peter 5:4 ‘And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.'_ ‘AND WHEN' -Jesus is coming again (2 Peter 3:10). Notice that God doesn't promise elders an earthly...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 suf...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD; the Lord Jesus Christ, the only Prince of pastors, called the _great Shepherd of the sheep, _ HEBREWS 13:20, as here _the chief Shepherd, _ not only for his supereminent d...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Methodius Oration on the Psalms But let us, beloved, return in our discourse to that point whence we digressed, exclaiming, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: that good and kind Sheph...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Peter 5:4 and G2532 Shepherd G750 appears G5319 (G5685) receive G2865 (G5695) crown G4735 glory G1391 away...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Peter 5:4. AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD IS MANIFESTED. The title ‘Chief Shepherd' is nowhere else given to Christ. It is appropriate here, where the duties and rewards of those are dealt with who are...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    We come now upon a brief series of injunctions, dealing with the spirit in which the members of Christ's Church should occupy their respective positions, and bear themselves toward each other. These c...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD SHALL BE MANIFESTED (φανερωθεντος του αρχιποιμενος). Genitive absolute with first aorist passive participle of φανεροω, to manifest, and genitive of αρχιποιμην, a compound (α...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    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...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christian service in view of Christ's soon coming. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Peter, Satan, Silvanus, Marcus. CONCLUSION: Humility is a great preserver of peace and order in the church, givin...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Peter 5:1. _Who am also an elder._ See the note on Acts 20:28, and on Philippians 1:1. Let the bishops, says Jerome, know that they are greater than other presbyters, rather by custom than by virtue...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    AND WHEN. "To encourage you to fulfill your mission, I tell you that when the Chief Shepherd appears, who owns the flock, you will receive the eternal reward!" [The idea of a put-in-for-life church Bo...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The elders which are among you I exhort._ ELDERS EXHORTED 1. In that he, an elder, exhorts them, elders, note that ministers are fittest to teach ministers and to judge of their actions. When we di...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    1 PETER—NOTE ON 1 PETER 5:4 The CHIEF SHEPHERD is Jesus Christ. When he comes again he will reward with GLORY every pastor who has served faithfully....

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    THE ATTITUDE OF HUMILITY _CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL NOTES_ THE exhortations are still designed to meet the crisis in which the Churches were placed. In keeping together, preserving the Christian spiri...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    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, therefo...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now the elders [the overseers] which are among you I exhort, because I am also an elder [or an overseer, an older man], and I am a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and I'm also a partaker of the g...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 John 3:2; 1 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:2;

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    The chief Shepherd [α ρ χ ι π ο ι μ ε ν ο ς]. Only here in New Testament. In harmony with ver. 2. "The last thing Peter could have dreamed of as possible would be its misapplication to himself or his...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    As if our apostle nad said, "It is possible you may miss of your reward here from the hands of men; but when Christ, the great and good Shepherd, shall appear, when the owner, ruler, and lover of his...

Continues after advertising