1 Peter 5:1-5: Elders and Youth I. Base Text: 1 Peter 5:1-5 II. Understanding the Text A. Background 1. 1 Peter 1: great encouragement based in rebirth through resurrection and hope of salvation; value of salvation; imperatives to holiness, love 2. 1 Peter 2: sustained by God's message; Christians as Temple, spiritual Israel; honorable conduct before all people; call to suffer for doing right, as Christ has set forth as an example 3. 1 Peter 3: appropriate conduct of husbands and wives; Christians as living representatives of Christ, doing good and suffering for it if necessary; defending the faith with gentleness and respect; saved through baptism 4. 1 Peter 4: suffer and cease from sin, no matter what Gentiles say; end, judgment near, must show love and serve God through trial B. Exhortation to Fellow Elders (1 Peter 5:1-3) 1. After discussing how judgment will begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17-19), Peter turns to those who are to shepherd the churches-- elders 2. He addresses them as a "fellow elder" (1 Peter 5:1) a. Indicates that he is an Apostle (1 Peter 1:1), a promoter of the Gospel, and an elder b. An elder in Rome (1 Peter 5:13)? c. Meets qualifications per 1 Timothy 3:1-8, Titus 1:5-7 d. We know he is married (cf. Matthew 8:14, 1 Corinthians 9:5) e. Notice he calls himself a "fellow elder," not indicating any kind of superiority f. Devastating to claims by Roman Catholicism regarding Peter as pope 3. Also speaks of himself as "witness of the sufferings of Christ" and a "partaker of the glory to be revealed" (1 Peter 5:1) a. Role of Peter as witness also seen in Acts 2:32, 3:15, 10:39 b. Yet focus here is on him as witness of sufferings of Christ (cf. Luke 22:54, John 18:15-18) c. This personal testimony designed to reinforce the two themes of the letter: Christians will be called upon to suffer as Christ suffered (cf. 1 Peter 1:6-7, 2:12, 2:18-25, 3:9, 3:16-18, 4:1-2, 4:12-13), but will rejoice when they see the revelation of the glory of Christ (1 Peter 1:6-9, 1:13, 4:11) d. Peter is not "above" experiencing what his fellow Christians are experiencing! 4. Peter provides the charge to the elders: shepherd the flock, exercise oversight (1 Peter 5:2-3) a. A demonstration of the unity of the task of the elder/overseer/shepherd b. The elder (presbuteros) is to shepherd (poimaino) the flock and to exercise oversight (episkopeo) c. The task of the elder, then, is to be the overseer/bishop and shepherd/pastor of the believers "among them," that is, in their local congregation (cf. Acts 14:23, Philippians 1:1) d. Peter provides qualifiers for this shepherding and overseeing: not under compulsion, but willingly, which is God's intention; not to make profit through shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering, but by example e. A critical passage of Scripture, for it is some of the only specific guidance given to elders on how to lead the congregation f. Qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-8 and Titus 1:5-7 provide the demonstration of the standards of fitness for an elder, but in and of themselves do not provide guidance on how to accomplish the work g. Examples of James' work in the council in Acts 15:6-21 and Paul's exhortation to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:17-35 illuminating and helpful but not very comprehensive h. From Acts 20:17-35 we understand that elders must watch themselves and the flock, making sure to not be led astray i. Yet 1 Peter 5:1-3 puts it all together for us, showing how "elder" is the term to describe the office, while "shepherd" and "overseer" describe the work j. Great value in pastoral imagery-- sheep need direction to find sustenance, be protected from predators k. Moses and David as shepherds, preparing them for their work (Exodus 2, 1 Samuel 17) l. Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the ultimate Shepherd of us all (John 10:1-18, 1 Peter 2:25) m. To be an elder involves making sure that what is taught is according to Scripture and that the money is properly handled, but it is also much more than that! n. It involves working with the "sheep," knowing the "sheep" and how to direct them to grow in their faith and keep away from danger o. It cannot be done properly through force, coercion, or compulsion-- since it involves leading adults, it must be done primarily by example 5. A great passage for consideration for elders and for those who intend to become elders if the Lord wills! C. Encouragement for Elders (1 Peter 5:4) 1. The task of the elder is hard, often thankless work 2. Most are not paid in money for the work (although it would be Biblical to do so-- 1 Timothy 5:17-18) 3. Peter knows this and provides special encouragement for them 4. The unfading crown of glory will be given to elders when the Chief Shepherd returns 5. Wonderful indeed! D. Exhortation to the Youth, Everyone (1 Peter 5:5) 1. Peter then turns to those who would be younger, exhorting them to be subject to the elders a. cf. Hebrews 13:17 b. The task is challenging work, and it is better when the sheep willingly submit to the shepherds c. A charge that is easily neglected-- we must constantly keep it in mind! 2. Peter then encourages everyone to have the one attribute most necessary to make all of this work-- humility! a. We are to "clothe ourselves" with it b. Quotation of Proverbs 3:34 LXX c. Same quotation and theme used by James in James 4:6-10 d. When we are humble, we recognize our position among one another and before God, and will not think too highly of ourselves (cf. Galatians 6:1-4) e. Elders will not be as liable to be domineering or using their office for personal gain if they remain humble f. The younger will not be as rebellious if they are humble g. Since Christ was humble (Matthew 11:29), if we want to be as Christ, we must be humble! h. After all, we do not want God to resist us! III. Conclusion A. We have considered 1 Peter 5:1-5 1. Instruction, exhortation for elders 2. Instruction to the younger Christians 3. Exhortation to humility for all B. We would all do well to be clothed with humility and serve in our respective roles! C. Let us serve God in all love and humility! D. Invitation/songbook