1 Peter 5:3

1 Peter 5:3 ‘nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.'

‘lording it over' -While elders do have authority and must ‘rule' (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17). The idea of ‘lording it over' carries the concept of high-handed rule, to play the role of. tyrant (Matthew 20:25). Ruling that has become divorced from reason. ‘it implies something of scorn and tyranny or even of hostility' (P.P. Comm. 207). The previous verse had warned against the motive of greed, here we have. warning against the motive of power. ‘The word “lording it over” always seems to involve the use of arbitrary, arrogant, selfish, or excessively restrictive rule. He implies that elders should govern not by the use of threats, emotional intimidation, or flaunting of power…' (Grudem p. 189)

Points to Note:

The elder must not be in love with being in charge. 2. ‘There are those who love authority, even if that authority be exercised in. narrow sphere. Milton's Satan thought it better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven…Any man who enters on office with the desire for the pre-eminence…has got his whole point of view upside down.' (Barclay p. 316) The man who properly seeks the office will realize that being an elder is much more about serving than being served (Mark 10:43). 3. Diotrephes wasn't the last man who looked at Christianity as. way to elevate himself above others (3 John 1:9).

‘those allotted to your charge' -‘that which has been assigned by lot, portion, share' (Arndt p. 435). The local congregation (1 Peter 5:2) is the portion of God's people which have been allotted to the care of an eldership.

Points to Note:

‘One cannot, consistent with the language of this section…say that elders are over more than one flock or congregation. Nor can one say that elders have only. portion or. few of the local congregation in their care that is allotted to them.' (Hamilton p. 295)

Again, this statement should remind us that what the elders oversee, belongs to God.

‘proving to be examples to the flock' -‘present active, continually becoming' (Robertson p. 131) (Acts 20:28) ‘Examples'-‘models for them to copy' (Nor).

Points to Note:

Some have tried to argue that the only ‘authority' which elders possess is the authority of being. good example. Which in essence is saying that they don't have any authority. If. parent were to tell us, ‘I can't discipline my children, or do anything when they misbehave, all. can do is try to be. good example'. We would label them as. very naïve and ineffective parent. The ‘authority of example' is. meaningless statement. 2. ‘It is important to note that in the foregoing verse that which Peter forbids is the abuse of authority and not its proper use.' (Woods p. 126) 3. ‘Although we may already recognize that God himself is our example to imitate (Ephesians 5:1) and that Jesus is our perfect example for. human life pleasing to God (1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6) we are probably surprised to find how often the early Christians expected all their leaders to live in. way which others could imitate as well: they did not have to be perfect in order to be examples to the flock. Paul frequently urged others to imitate his example (1 Corinthians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 3:17; 1 Peter 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7), and told both Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12) and Titus (Titus 2:7) that they were to live as examples of the Christian life to others.' (Grudem p. 189) What this means is that fallible human beings can be tremendous examples of faith (Hebrews Chapter 11). God hasn't given us an impossible standard. The commands of God are very realistic.