Words in italic type have been added for clarity. They are not found in the original Hebrew or Aramaic.

I Peter 5

Shepherd the Flock

I Peter 5:¹ The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

I Peter 5:² Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but (according to God) willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

I Peter 5:³ nor as being (masters) lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

I Peter 5:⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

• See Topic: Five Crowns

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

I Peter 5:⁵ Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for –

“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

• What is the difference between being proud and being humble? It is the same difference between “Pride” and “Dignity”. Dignity is using your God Given gifts for His Glory. Pride is trying to be more than the gifts which God has given you.
• A proud man makes exaggerated claims to puff himself up (ostentatious, pretentious, pompous, vain). A humble person is his authentic self (unassuming, unobtrusive, cares for others).
• A proud man serves himself. A humble man serves others.
• To be “chosen” means to be called into God’s service.

I Peter 5:⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

• “Due time” suggests patience.
  
  Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

• Ezekiel 21:26b Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted.

I Peter 5:⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

I Peter 5:⁸ Be (self controlled) sober, be (watchful) vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

• Satan has the roar of a lying liar.
• Satan is a boring, roaring, toothless lion who is absolutely powerless against God.

I Peter 5:⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

There is suffering in this world because Satan is the “god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4). To resist Satan and trust God, converts “Suffering” into a priceless commodity.

• “The god of this world” II Corinthians 4:4
  
  • 1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
    In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds, that is, of the infidels, that the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, which is the image (breath) of God, should not shine unto them.
    
  • Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
    They do not come to trust because the god of the ‘olam hazeh has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good News about the glory of the Messiah, who is the image (breath) of God.
    
    (Mashiach=The Messiah)
    (neshamah=The Breath of God/The Soul)
    (Gan Eden=The Garden in Eden)

I Peter 5:¹⁰ But may the God of all grace, who called (you) us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, (will) perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

I Peter 5:¹¹ To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Farewell and Peace

I Peter 5:¹² By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

I Peter 5:¹³ She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.

• NOTE: Peter offers greetings from Mark, whom he refers to as a “son.” Most likely, this means a son in the faith and not his actual child. This is very likely the same Mark, also known as John Mark, the cousin of Barnabas, who traveled and ministered with Paul. In Colossians, Paul mentions that Mark was with him in Rome (Colossians 4:10), adding to the idea that Peter was likely writing from Rome.

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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