CHAPTER V. _Directions to the elders to feed the flock of God, and not_ _to be lord over God's heritage, that when the chief Shepherd_ _does appear, they may receive a crown of glory_, 1-4. _The young are to submit themselves to the elder, and to humble_ _themselves under the mighty hand of God... [ Continue Reading ]
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 disti... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 5:3. _NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER_ GOD'S _HERITAGE_] This is the voice of St. Peter in his _catholic_ epistle to the _catholic_ _Church_! According to him there are to be no lords over God's heritage, the bishops and presbyters who are appointed by the head of the Church are to _feed... [ Continue Reading ]
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 preaching the Gospel, ye have received your commission; when he _shall appear_ to judge the world in righ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 5:5. _LIKEWISE, YE YOUNGER_] νεωτεροι probably means here _inferiors_, or those not in sacred offices; and may be understood as referring to the _people_ at large who are called to obey them that have the rule over them in the Lord. In this sense our Lord, it appears, uses the word, Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _HUMBLE YOURSELVES_] Those who submit patiently to the dispensations of God's providence he lifts up; those who lift themselves up, God thrusts down. If we humble not ourselves under God's _grace_, he will humble us under his _judgments_. Those who patiently submit to him, he exalts in due... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _CASTING ALL YOUR CARE_] τηνμεριμναν. Your _anxiety_, your _distracting care, on him, for he careth for you_, οτιαυτω μελειπεριυμων, _for he meddles_ or _concerns himself, with the_ _things that interest you_. Whatever things concern a follower of God, whether they be spiritual or temporal,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _BE SOBER_] Avoid _drunkenness_ of your _senses_, and _drunkenness_ in your _souls_; be not _overcharged_ with the concerns of the world. _BE VIGILANT_] Awake, and keep awake; be always _watchful_; never be off your guard; your enemies are alert, they are never off theirs. _YOUR ADVERSARY... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _WHOM RESIST_] Stand against him, αντιστητε. Though _invulnerable_, he is not _unconquerable_: the weakest follower of God can confound and overpower him, if he continue _steadfast in the_ _faith_-believing on the Son of God, and walking uprightly before him. To a soul thus engaged he can d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _BUT THE GOD OF ALL GRACE_] The Fountain of infinite compassion, mercy, and goodness. _Mohammed_ has conveyed this fine description of the Divine Being in the words with which he commences every surat or chapter of his _Koran_, two excepted; viz.; [ A r a b i c ] _Bismillahi arrahmani ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _TO HIM_] The God of all grace, _be glory_ - all honour and praise be ascribed, and _dominion_ - the government of heaven, earth, and hell, _for ever_ - through time, _and ever_ - through eternity. _Amen_ - so be it, so let it be, and so it shall be. Amen and Amen!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _BY SILVANUS, A FAITHFUL BROTHER UNTO YOU, AS I_ _SUPPOSE_] To say the least of this translation, it is extremely obscure, and not put together with that elegance which is usual to our translators. I see no reason why the clause may not be thus translated: _I have written to you, as I con... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THE_ CHURCH THAT IS _AT BABYLON_] After considering all that has been said by learned men and critics on this place, I am quite of opinion that the apostle does not mean Babylon in _Egypt_, nor _Jerusalem_, nor _Rome_ as _figurative_ Babylon, but the ancient celebrated Babylon in Assyria,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 5:14. _GREET YE ONE ANOTHER WITH A KISS OF CHARITY._] Romans 16:16, and on _"_1 Corinthians 16:20_"_. In the above places the kiss is called _a holy kiss_; here, φιληματιαγαπης, _a kiss of_ LOVE; i.e. as a mark of their love to each other, in order that misunderstandings might be preve... [ Continue Reading ]