1. Our Relationship to God. 1:1-2:10

2. Our Relationship to the World. 2:11-4:6

3. Our Relationship to the Church. 4:7-5:11

A. We are Stewards. 4:7-11.

B. We might become Christian Sufferers. 4: 12-1`9

C. Shepherds during Suffering. 5:1-4

D. Sheep during Suffering. 5:5-11

Conclusion: 5: 12-14

A. Shepherds during Suffering.5:1---"Therefore...shepherd the flock among you."

1. "Therefore", a continuation of a previous conversation.

2. During times of persecution an elder would be tempted to cease or neglect his duties of shepherding the flock. Satan then uses suffering to divert attention.

3. The Shepherd's need to protect and encourage the flock during persecution and suffering would increase.

4. During suffering elders need even more to commit themselves to God to find strength and wisdom to fulfill their duties as shepherds.

B. Fellow Shepherds. 5:1 --"I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow-elder and witness of the suffering of Christ, and a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed."

1. Peter was a partner elder or "fellow elder" in 3 ways.

a. In service: he was appointed a shepherd as well as an apostle, when he attempted to go back to his old profession of fishing. Jn. 21:15-16; Lk. 22:32.

b. In suffering: he would soon be crucified in Rome at the hands of Nero.

c. In salvation: he will inherit the same crown of glory they will inherit at Christ's final coming. 1st Peter 5:4; 1:7; Rom. 8:17-18.

2. Peter's instructions as a fellow-elder (he apparently was one of the elders of the church in Jerusalem as well as one of the twelve apostles, Acts 15:2),would be meaningful to God's shepherd's in Asia Minor.

C. Elders-Shepherds: 5:1 " the elders among you"

1. The Greek, presbuteros, "elder" is a comparative, meaning "older" than the average man. If 70 years (Psalms 90:10) is the average age of death, older people in the church would have to be above the mean age of 35, and thus about 40 or more. ¹

2. If older "men" is the thought and one becomes a man at 20, then the media age between 20 and 70 would be 45. Young men below that age of 35-40, certainly do not qualify as a shepherd of God's people.

3. The reason for "older" men is because of the wisdom and maturity that is demanded for the function of a shepherd of God's flock. There is a certain wisdom and maturity that can come only with age and experience in the Lord's Word. Alternatively, there many older men who have neither wisdom or maturity.

D. Pastor- Shepherds: 5:1 ---"Shepherd the flock of God."

1. Greek for shepherd is poimaino, from which comes the noun, poimein, translated "pastor" or shepherd."

2. While "elder" refers to age, experience and wisdom needed, "shepherd" refers to the work or service to be preformed.

3. Ezek. 34:1-23 describes the work of a shepherd:

a. Feed to flock instead of oneself. 34:2-3,14.

b. Strengthen the weak and sick, heal the diseased, bind up the broken. 34:4

c. Seek the lost and bring back the scattered. 34:4-6.

d. Lead the flock. 34:15

4. Jn. 10 describes the work of the Good Shepherd, Jesus

a. He knows and calls his sheep by name and they know him and recognize his voice. Jn. 10: 3-5, 14.

b. Gives life rather than death to his sheep. Jn. 10:10, 28.

c. Lays down His life (suffers) for the sheep. Jn. 10:11-13.

d. Leads the sheep and they follow him. Jn. 10:27.

e. Protects His sheep. Jn. 10: 28-29.

E. Bishop-Shepherds: the NIV adds" serving as overseers"

a. The Greek Text containing this phrase are ancient enough and weighty enough for it to be included in our modern text: it is found in papyri#72, an ancient document of the general epistles of the 3^rd and 4^th centuries; it is found in a correction of the Sinaiticus manuscript of the 4^th century and in the original copy of the Alexandrinus manuscript dated in the early fifth century. Only the Vaticanus manuscript of the 4^th century, the only original copy of the Sinaiticus and one 3^rd century Egyptian version omit it.

b. All N.T. elders were also bishops or overseers:

Acts 20:17, 28; Tit. 1:5-7.

c. A plurality of overseers were found in each congregation of the first century, Acts 14:23; Tit.1:5 and Phil. 1:1.

d. Elder speaks of the age of a man; shepherd or pastor of his work. Overseer his authority.

e. The later distinction of bishops over elders, metropolitan bishops over a city, and patriarchal bishops over a region of churches is contrary to NT authority. Gregory the Great (called a Pope), rebuked John the Faster of Constantinople for calling himself the Universal Bishop. Gregory called him the forerunner of the Anti-Christ and said no one but Christ can be a Universal Shepherd.

F. Willing Shepherds:" not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God."

1. "Not under compulsion" not anagkastos, not compelled by necessity or demand, as in 2^nd Cor. 9:7, "let each one do just has he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2. But " voluntarily" hekousios, or "of ones own free will (Gingrick Danker, p. 243), as opposed to legal compulsion";however, it means" deliberately, intentionally" in Heb. 10:26, in relation to sin. Shepherds ought not serve because of any force but because they have a strong desire.

G. Honest Shepherds: "not for sordid gain."

1. Sordid gain means "shameful" gain, gain which is dishonest or unethical.

2. Elders must have a reputation of being honest in their business dealings and work as well their handling the money of the church.

3. In the dark ages the office of a bishop was sold for huge sums of money and the office enabled the holder to gain vast areas of land and money that when into the pocket of the Bishop.

4. Elders have a right to an honest wage from the church if they work full-time for the church, especially in teaching, 1^st Tim. 5:17-18, but they have no right to exorbitant salaries or to use the church funds for personal use.

H. Eager Shepherds: "but with eagerness"

1. The Greek word is prothumos (pro-for; thumos-heat).

2. Elders should be enthusiastic in their service to the church.

3. Paul was eager (same Greek word), to preach to the Romans. Rom. 1:5

I. Servant Shepherds. "not as lording it over those alloted to your charge."

1. Jesus prohibited his apostles from lording it over the flock: how much less ought elders, who do not have apostolic authority, lord it over God's flock: Matthew 20:25-26--"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant."

2. To lord it over as kings do is to give orders to subjects and be served by subjects without serving the subjects. Elders who sit in a closed room and issue orders, but do not get out and serve the flock violate this prohibition.

3. This is not to say that the apostles and elders have no authority and they are not to be obeyed, for they do have authority and must be obeyed (1^st Cor. 14:37 and Heb. 13:7 and 1^st Peter 5:5.), but the apostles and elders who only lay down commands to be obeyed and who do not serve and love and care for the flock will be lording it over the flock.

J. Model-Shepherds " but proving to be examples to the flock."

1. The authority of elders is nullified if not accompanied by an example. (tupos=model) on the part of the elders to do the very thing they ask or urge members to do.

2. Shepherds don not get behind the flock and drive them, but get in front and lead them by showing them the way. The authority of an elder is not merely by example, but their authority is "lording it over the flock" if not accompanied by such example.

3. A wise elder ship will consult the congregation before making major decisions that affect the members.

K. Under-Shepherds: "when the Chief Shepherd appears" 5:4

1. Elders cannot be "lords" because their is only one Lord, and only one Chief Shepherd, our savior Jesus: 1^st Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:5 and 1:22-23.

2. The Greek for Chief Shepherd is archipoimen, which is arch Shepherd and His name is Jesus, not Pope whoever. Jesus is the only head of the church and it is Jesus that has preeminence, Col. 1:18.

3. Later attempts to make an Arch-Shepherd and finally a Pope on

on earth as a vicar of Christ is the same thing the Jews did when they asked Samuel to appoint for them a king, when God was reigning over them. They rejected God in heaven as their king and asked for a king on earth. (1^st Sam.8:7) The Catholics have rejected Jesus as their king and replaced him with a king on earth.

4. Gregory the Great who is called a Pope by the modern church of Rome, denied he as a pope and said that anyone who claimed to be a universal Bishop was the forerunner of the Anti-Christ. (590-606 A.D).

L. Glorified Shepherds - "you will receive the unfading crown of glory."5:4.

1. Elders must also wait for their crowns; they are not to be crowned as kings or lords while on earth.

2. The crown mentioned in the passage is stephanos, or the victory crown.

II. And Now, the Sheep, 1^st Peter 5:5-11.

A. Submissive Sheep - "You younger men, likewise be subject to your elders."
1. The flock is to submit to the leadership of the elders.

2. The Greek word hupotasso (submit), means to place oneself under the authority of another. This proves that elders do have authority.

3. Sheep should not rebel against the leading of the Shepherd. (1^st Thess. 5:12-13).

B. Humble Sheep: 5:5 b-6.

1. Toward one another. "clothes yourselves with humility toward one another for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

a. Sheep should not ex halt themselves above each other; it is against the nature of sheep to do such a thing.

b. "Clothe yourselves" means to "gird yourselves" or tie something up or on ones self. (Jn. 13:4-15).

c. This attitude is that which manifest itself in submission to elders in the above verse.

d. Motivation for humility: "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble." See the same words in Jas. 4:6.

See, Prov. 3:34; Psa. 101:5; Psa. 138:6; Prov. 6:16-17 and more.

2. Toward God. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you at the proper time."

1. Sheep should always humble themselves under the owner of the flock. We must, submit ourselves to God. Micah 6:6.

C. Carefree Sheep: "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."5:7.

1. Sheep should depend on their Shepherd, fearing nothing and trusting Him to care for them and provide all their needs.

2. No such thing as a sheep with a nervous breakdown.

3. "casting your anxiety on him" is to allow God to take care of our problems.

4. We then are to take our burdens to him in prayer.

5. We do this because: "He cares for us."

D. Alert Sheep. 1^st Peter 5:8.

1. The command: "be sober in spirit, be in the alert."

a. "Be sober of spirit" from the verb nepho, serious, use no mind altering drugs. Must be well focused. Not drunk.

b. "Be on the alert" from the Greek gregoreo --keep one's eyes open, be a wake.

2. Need for the Command: "Your adversary, the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."

a. Sheep need to look out for lions.

b. While the devil is bound in a limited sense, (Matt.12:28-29 and Rev. 20:1-3), He can no longer hold people in hades, nor can he deceive the nations, by preventing them from hearing the gospel (Rev. 20:3 and Heb. 2:14-15), yet his chains are long enough he can roam around. Must seek the protection of the Good Shepherd to stay away from the lion.

E. Resistant Sheep: " But resist him and stand firm in your faith."

1. To resist is to stand against.

2. Back to the central theme of the book. Cannot allow persecution to give the devil the upper hand.

3. Divine power is needed to help withstand temptation. (Eph. 6:10-12).

F. Sympathetic Sheep: " knowing the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."

1. Misery like company

2. Persecution is more than just local.

3. Sometimes we must suffer (Matt. 5: 10-12).

G. Victorious Sheep: "And after you have suffered for a little, the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." 5:10

1. Suffering will be for a little while.

2. The duration of glory is "eternal."

3. The author of our victory is "The God of all grace."

Conclusion.

A. Penman of Peter:"through Silvanus, our faithful brother" 5:12

1. Probably Silas (Silvanus)

2. Silas was a Roman citizen, Acts 16:37, but a Jew by nationality, Acts 15:22,27.

3. Silas was a prophet.

4. Silas served Paul and Peter, Acts 15:37-40.

B. Theme of 1^st Peter. "This is the true grace of God and stand firm in it. "

C. Greeters: "She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you sends greetings, and so does my son, Mark."

1. Probably Rome but could be literal Babylon.

2. Mark, see Acts 15:38-41.

D. Final Greeting: "Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you who are in Christ. (Needs no comment).