1 Peter 5:2

Contextual Overview

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 shall be revealed: ¹As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: ¹ Church leaders, I am writing to encourage you. I too am a leader, as well as a witness to Christ's suffering, and I will share in his glory when it is shown to us. ¹ Therefore, I urge the congregation leaders among you, as a fellow-leader and witness to the Messiah's sufferings, as well as a sharer in the glory to be revealed: ¹ The elders which [are] among you I exhort, who [am their] fellow-elder and witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also [am] partaker of the glory about to be revealed: ¹ Now I have something to say to the elders in your group. I am also an elder. I myself have seen Christ's sufferings. And I will share in the glory that will be shown to us. I beg you to 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 shall be revealed: ¹ I who am myself one of the rulers of the church, and a witness of the death of Christ, having my part in the coming glory, send this serious request to the chief men among you: ¹ The elders which are among you, I beseech which am also an elder, and a witnesse of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shalbe reueiled, ¹ I EXHORT the ministers who are among you, for I also am a minister and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Feed: Song of Solomon 1:8, Isaiah 40:11, Ezekiel 34:2, Ezekiel 34:3, Ezekiel 34:23, Micah 5:4, Micah 7:14, John 21:15-17, Acts 20:28

the flock: Isaiah 63:11, Jeremiah 13:17, Jeremiah 13:20, Ezekiel 34:31, Zechariah 11:17, Luke 12:32, 1 Corinthians 9:7

which is among you: or, as much as in you is, Psalms 78:71, Psalms 78:72, Acts 20:26, Acts 20:27

taking: Hebrews 12:15,*Gr.

not by: Isaiah 6:8, 1 Corinthians 9:16, 1 Corinthians 9:17

not for: Isaiah 56:11, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10, Micah 3:11, Malachi 1:10, Acts 20:33, Acts 20:34, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 2 Corinthians 12:15, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 3:8, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:11, 2 Peter 2:3, Revelation 18:12, Revelation 18:13

of: Acts 21:13, Romans 1:15, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:40 - General Numbers 3:51 - Moses Numbers 4:16 - the oversight Numbers 24:11 - the Lord Numbers 27:16 - set a man Deuteronomy 18:1 - shall have Deuteronomy 18:6 - and come with Judges 17:10 - I will give 1 Samuel 2:16 - I will take 1 Samuel 12:3 - whose ox 1 Kings 13:7 - I will give 2 Kings 5:20 - and take 2 Kings 12:6 - the priests 1 Chronicles 28:9 - a willing mind Nehemiah 6:12 - hired him Psalms 100:3 - we are his Proverbs 10:21 - feed Proverbs 27:23 - diligent Isaiah 23:17 - and she shall Jeremiah 3:15 - which shall Ezekiel 13:19 - for handfuls Ezekiel 34:4 - but with Ezekiel 44:28 - I am their inheritance Ezekiel 46:24 - General Amos 7:12 - eat Zechariah 9:16 - shall save Mark 6:30 - both John 10:12 - he that Romans 12:8 - ruleth 2 Corinthians 4:5 - we 2 Corinthians 8:3 - beyond Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness Philippians 1:15 - and Philippians 4:17 - because 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Thessalonians 5:12 - and are 1 Timothy 3:1 - bishop Philemon 1:14 - thy benefit Hebrews 13:17 - watch 1 Peter 5:4 - the Revelation 7:17 - feed

Cross-References

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his owne Image, in the Image of God created hee him; male and female created hee them.

Genesis 1:27
So God created humans to be like himself; he made men and women.

Genesis 1:27
So God created humankind in his own image; in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27
And God created Man in his image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:27
So God created humans in his own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27
And God made man in his image, in the image of God he made him: male and female he made them.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his owne image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Feed the flock of God which is among you,.... Some read, "as much as in you is"; that is, to the utmost of your power, according to your abilities, referring to the manner of feeding the flock, doing it in the best way they are capable of; but the phrase is rather descriptive of the flock to be fed, which points it out, and distinguishes it from all others, and for which they should have a particular regard; it being the flock, as the Syriac version renders it, which "is delivered unto you"; which was committed to their care, and they were made overseers of, and stood in a special relation to; wherefore it was incumbent on them to regard them, so as they did not, and were not obliged to regard, any other distinct flock: by "the flock of God"; or, "of Christ", as some copies read, is meant, not the whole world, which Philo the Jew r calls the greatest and most perfect, του οντος θεου ποιμην, "flock of the true God"; but the church of God, over which they were elders or pastors, consisting of Christ's sheep and lambs, he ordered Peter to feed, as he now does his fellow elders; and because they are the flock of God, which he has chosen, distinguished, and separated from the rest of the world, and has made the care and charge of Christ; put them into his hands, whence they are called the sheep of his hand; which he has purchased with his blood, and effectually called by his grace, and returned them to himself, the Shepherd and Bishop of souls, who before were as sheep going astray, and folded them together in a Gospel church state; all this is a reason, and a strong one, why they should be fed; not with every wind of doctrine, which blows up the pride of human nature, and swells men with vain conceits of themselves; nor with the chaff of human doctrines; nor with trifling and speculative notions; but with knowledge and understanding of divine and evangelical truths, with the words of faith and sound doctrine, with the wholesome words of our Lord Jesus Christ; with the Gospel of the grace of God, which contains milk for babes, and meat for strong men; and with a crucified Christ himself, who is the bread of life, and whose flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drink indeed; by directing them to his person, blood, and righteousness, to live by faith on; by preaching the doctrines of peace and pardon by his blood, atonement and satisfaction by his sacrifice, and justification by his righteousness, and complete salvation by his obedience and death: in short, feeding includes the whole of the pastor's work, the ministry of the word, the administration of ordinances, and the rule and government of the church, in the several branches of it; for the same word signifies to rule as to feed; and which work is further expressed by

taking the oversight thereof; that is, of the flock; or "take the care of it", as the Syriac version renders it, and adds, "spiritually"; in a spiritual manner; which is an interpretation of the phrase: an acting the part of a bishop or overseer of it, as the word signifies; looking diligently to it, inspecting into the various cases of the members of the church; using diligence to know the state of the flock, and performing all the offices of a careful shepherd; as feeding the flock; and not themselves; strengthening the diseased; healing the sick; binding up that which was broken; bringing again that which was driven away, and seeking that which was lost; watching over them that they go not astray; and restoring of them in the spirit of meekness, when they are gone out of the way; and overlooking both their practices and their principles; admonishing, reproving them for sin, as the case requires; and preserving them, as much as in them lies, from wolves, and beasts of prey; from false teachers, and from all errors and heresies: all which is to be done,

not by constraint; or with force, in a rigorous and severe manner; for this may be understood actively of pastors not forcing their flock, over driving them, or ruling them with force and cruelty, complained of in Ezekiel 34:4 or passively, of their being forced to feed the flock, and superintend it; as such may be said to be, who enter into the ministry, and continue in it, because obliged to it for want of a livelihood, and not knowing how to get one any other way; or through the pressing instances of relations, acquaintance, and friends; this ought not to be a matter of necessity, but of choice; they should be induced to it by no other necessity than what Christ has laid upon them, by calling them to the work, and furnishing them for it with the gifts of his Spirit; and should engage and continue in it by no other constraint than that of his love; wherefore it follows,

but willingly. The Vulgate Latin version adds, "according to God", and so some copies; according to the will of God, and agreeably to his word; and the Ethiopic version renders it, "with equity for God"; with all uprightness and integrity, for the sake of the honour and glory of God; this should be done with all a man's heart and soul, and should spring from pure love to Christ; for no man is fit to feed Christ's lambs and sheep but those who sincerely love him; see John 21:15, and from a cordial and affectionate concern for the good of souls; and from, an hearty desire unto, and delight in, the work itself; otherwise all he does will be as a task and burden; he will do it grudgingly, and with negligence, and will murmur under it, at least secretly. The Arabic version renders it, "watching, not forced watches, but willing ones". This contrast of phrases seems to be Jewish, or Rabbinical s; it is a tradition of the Rabbans;

"blood which is defiled, and they sprinkle it ignorantly, it is accepted; presumptuously, not accepted; of what things are these said? of a private person; but of a congregation, whether ignorantly or presumptuously, it is accepted; and of a stranger, whether ignorantly or presumptuously, בין באונס בין ברצון, "whether by constraint or willingly", it is not accepted:''

it follows here,

not for filthy lucre; not from a covetous disposition, which is a filthy one; and for the sake of gaining money, and amassing wealth and riches, as the false prophets in Isaiah's time, who were never satisfied; and the false teachers in the apostle's time, who, through covetousness, made merchandise of men, and supposed that gain was godliness; whereas there is no such thing as serving God and mammon; and as the work of the ministry should not be entered upon, and continued in, with any such sordid view; so neither for the sake of gaining glory and applause, a presidency, and chief place in the churches, and a name among the ministers of the Gospel, and credit and esteem among men:

but of a ready mind; or, "from the whole heart", as the Syriac version renders it; and in a cheerful view of reproaches and persecutions, of the loss of credit and reputation, of worldly substance, and of life itself; and with a sincere concern for the glory of God, and the good of immortal souls; being ready to do everything with cheerfulness, that may contribute to either of these. The Ethiopic version renders it, "in the fulness of your heart with joy".

r De Agricultura, p. 195. s T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 25. 1. Vid. T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 54. 1. & Maimon. Hilch. Issure Mizbeach, c. 4. sect. 5, 6.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Feed the flock of God - Discharge the duties of a shepherd toward the flock. On the word “feed,” see the notes at John 21:15. It is a word which Peter would be likely to remember, from the solemn manner in which the injunction to perform the duty was laid on him by the Saviour. The direction means to take such an oversight of the church as a shepherd is accustomed to take of his flock. See the notes at John 10:1-16.

Which is among you - Margin, as much as in you is. The translation in the text is the more correct. It means the churches which were among them, or over which they were called to preside.

Taking the oversight thereof - ἐπισκοποῦντες episkopountes. The fair translation of this word is, “discharging the episcopal office”; and the word implies all that is always implied by the word “bishop” in the New Testament. This idea should have been expressed in the translation. The meaning is not merely to take the oversight - for that might be done in a subordinate sense by anyone in office; but it is to take such an oversight as is implied in the episcopate, or by the word “bishop.” The words “episcopate,” “episcopal,” and “episcopacy,” are merely the Greek word used here and its correlatives transferred to our language. The sense is that of overseeing; taking the oversight of; looking after, as of a flock; and the word has originally no reference to what is now spoken of as especially the episcopal office. It is a word strictly applicable to any minister of religion, or officer of a church. In the passage before us this duty was to be performed by those who, in 1 Peter 5:1, are called presbyters, or elders; and this is one of the numerous passages in the New Testament which prove that all that is properly implied in the performance of the episcopal functions pertained to those who were called presbyters, or elders. If so, there was no higher grade of ministers to which the special duties of the episcopate were to be entrusted; that is, there was no class of officers corresponding to those who are now called “bishops.” Compare the notes at Acts 20:28.

Not by constraint, but willingly - Not as if you felt that a heavy yoke was imposed on you, or a burden from which you would gladly be discharged. Go cheerfully to your duty as a work which you love, and act like a freeman in it, and not as a slave. Arduous as are the labors of the ministry, yet there is no work on earth in which a man can and should labor more cheerfully.

Not for filthy lucre - Shameful or dishonorable gain. See the notes at 1 Timothy 3:3.

But of a ready mind - Cheerfully, promptly. We are to labor in this work, not under the influence of the desire of gain, but from the promptings of love. There is all the difference conceivable between one who does a thing because he is paid for it, and one who does it from love - between, for example, the manner in which one attends on us when we are sick who loves us, and one who is merely hired to do it. Such a difference is there in the spirit with which one who is actuated by mercenary motives, and one whose heart is in the work, will engage in the ministry.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

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 distinct.

Not by constraint — The office was laborious and dangerous, especially in these times of persecution; it is no wonder then that even those who were best qualified for the office should strive to excuse themselves with a genuine Nolo episcopari, "I am unwilling to be a bishop."

Not for filthy lucre — Could the office of a bishop, in those early days, and in the time of persecution, be a lucrative office? Does not the Spirit of God lead the apostle to speak these things rather for posterity than for that time? 1 Timothy 3:3.

But of a ready mind — Doing all for Christ's sake, and through love to immortal souls.