To the Shepherds and the Sheep

The Bible is clear that God expects his sheep and their shepherds to live in a certain way. These expectations are accompanied by tremendous promises, both for those who serve as leaders and those who submit to their leaders. We encounter this emphasis in the last chapter of Peter’s first letter. Let’s take a look at this chapter with an exciting new title, the NIV Application Bible.

The NIV Application Bible is the newest title in Zondervan’s line of Application Commentary Resources. Based on the bestselling NIV Application Commentary, both the NIV Application Commentary on the Bible: One-Volume Edition and the NIV Application Bible presents this material in a condensed and accessible format. Make sure to check out the video at the bottom of this post to learn more about the feature of the NIV Application Bible.  

Bible Passage

“To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

1 Peter 5:1–5

Original Meaning Notes

5:1 Peter cites two traits that he and the elders of these churches share: They are all elders and will all partake of the future glory.

5:2 Elders are responsible for shepherding God’s flock. This is rooted in the description of God as a Shepherd to his people. Peter calls leaders of house churches to tend to their groups as assigned to them by God. Without question, Peter ends any sense of possession by stating that it is “God’s flock,” not theirs. Service in the church ought to be done with personal willingness and a sense of divine calling, not under compulsion. The elders are not to serve in the churches in order to gain a profit.

5:3 Finally, Peter urges the elders to lead by example. Power is addictive. Instead of seeking God’s agenda, power-hungry church leaders pursue their own, doing what they can to increase their own reputation.

5:4 Peter appeals to the promise they will receive for faithfully discharging their calling. When Jesus returns as Savior and Judge, he will give them a “crown of glory” for their faithfulness to him.

---

Question for Growth

1Pe 5:4 ❖ How can we as believers look toward our “Chief Shepherd” to lead us through life?

---

5:5 The term “submit” should be understood as “living according to some constituted order”–here, the order established by the directives of the elders. Peter addresses the entire church. Christians are to develop a deferential and humble attitude toward one another. Once again, Peter grounds his exhortations in the coming judgment of God (see at 4:7, 17–19).

Application Notes

✜ 5:1–5 Our text offers a list of three problems of motivation, and church leaders need to look over this list, examine their hearts, and ask themselves, “Why do I serve God in the church?” First, are we as church leaders motivated to serve in the church because we have to or because we want to? Second are we as church leaders motivated to serve in the church because of the money we can acquire or because of our enthusiasm for ministry? Third, are we as church leaders motivated to serve in the church because of our desire for power or because of the impact our life makes on others?

Bible Passage

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

1 Peter 5:6–14

Original Meaning Notes

5:6–7 Peter grounds his readers’ submission to God in God’s loving care and protection. By turning over their fears and worries to God, they express their trust in him and rely on him to bring about vindication and justice. By submitting to and waiting out God’s deliverance, they can expect that same mighty hand to deliver them, just as the Lord delivered the children of Israel from the Egyptians.

5:8–9 Christians resist Satan by not giving in to his temptations to deny the Lord and to be faithless in suffering.

5:10–11 Peter begins this prayer with a theological reflection. The God they worship and serve is a God of grace. He then directs this reflection toward the specific calling God has given them: He has made them his people so they could be with him eternally and praise him forever. This calling requires suffering for a while. Finally, Peter’s prayer is for their strength to endure, remain faithful, and resist temptations.

---

Character of God // God is Steadfast

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

1 Peter 5:10

In the crush of daily life, finding an anchor to hold on to can be difficult. We find ourselves distracted by the tasks that we all have to manage from week to week. From getting the kids ready for school and hustling to work, pressing deadlines and complex work problems, and the need to pay bills and fix things–not to mention having to constantly decide what to cook for dinner–it’s easy to be swept along in the rush of these tasks and feel exhausted and uninspired when the weekend finally rolls around. All of this gets immensely complicated when relational or financial or health issues kick in.

Those who believe in the God of the Bible, however, find themselves able to hold on to an anchor in the storms of daily life. The passage above promises that, no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, the God that we serve “will himself restore you”–did you get that? God himself will restore us–“and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” That’s an incredible promise for busy families today, as well as those who find themselves in the grip of things beyond their control: cancer, marital breakdown, or the death of a loved one.

God can deliver on this promise because he himself is steadfast. With every millisecond, the God who created everything (Ge 1:1) manages incomprehensible complexity as he holds the universe together (Col 1:16). While he does that, he also holds evil in check (Pr 16:4) and cares for even the least of his creation (Ps 139:1–18; Jnh 4:11; Mt 19:14). What’s more, he’s also deeply concerned about the daily lives of individuals, whom he pursues relentlessly, calling them into loving relationship with himself (Ps 14:2; Lk 19:10; Jn 4:23).

Application ✜

Take a moment to reread the passage above. God, in his incomparable grace (a gift for all who will receive it), has called us into his eternal glory (sure hope for the future) in Christ (our sacrificed, resurrected Savior and King). While we all, at times, suffer on this earth (because of the fall of Adam and the sin in our own hearts), God is the One who holds us fast (because he himself is steadfast and unchanging); and he himself is the One who can help us navigate the complexity of life and eventually lead us into our eternal home with him. What an honor to be so deeply loved by so great a Father!

---

5:12–14 Peter concludes his letter like the endings of other NT letters: mentioning the scribe or messenger of the letter (Silas), summarizing his intention (to encourage and testify), greeting them, and wishing them God’s peace.

5:13 Because Babylon was a notorious place of sin, it became a figurative expression for any place known for its sinfulness. It surely describes Rome here, and early Christian tradition confirms that Peter wrote from Rome. Both Peter and Mark share their greetings.

5:14 Peter urges his readers to “greet one another with a kiss of love” (v. 14), the standard form of greeting in the ancient world. Peter’s final blessing then follows: “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

Application Notes

✜ 5:6–14 Our identity is to be wrapped up not in our social location, whether that be low (like Peter’s churches) or high (like many churches today in the West), but in the fact that we are God’s family and are related to him. As such, we are to serve one another with the gifts God has granted and live orderly and lovingly with one another. No matter how many adjustments we have to make as we read Peter’s letter in our world, we are anchored to his world by the fact of the common salvation that transforms our behavior (1:3–2:10). We are challenged to live faithfully in our society (2:11–3:12), and we are expected to live as the family of God ought to live (3:13–5:11). When we live like this, people will glorify him on the day he visits us (2:12).

Get the New NIV Application Bible

We’re excited to offer the new NIV Application Bible on the Olive Tree app. With a long history of providing helpful commentary with the NIV Application Commentary, this new study Bible distills the best of the 44-volume commentary in a single volume, providing applicable insights from God’s Word. Be the first to get your copy of this new title on the Olive Tree app in our store today!