1 Peter 5

1. Peter exhorts the Elders that they duly feed the flock of God, 4. And promiseth them the Crown of glory for recompense. 5. Afterwards he exhorts the young to subjection and humility; 7. And every one that he should cast his care upon God. 8. Sets before their eyes the subtitle and the power of the Devil, and exhorts them to watch against it. 10. Prayeth to God to strengthen them, 11. And praiseth him. 12. Declares the reason why he wrote to them briefly, 13. And concludes the Epistle with mutual salutation, and, a wish of peace.

1. The Elders which are among you, [That is, the Teachers and Pastors of the Church, as Titus 1:5.] I exhort who am a fellow- Elder [namely, together with you, Peter therefore doth not exalt himself above all, as the head of all Teachers] and the witness of the suffering of Christ, and partaker of the glory which shall be revealed. [This may be understood of the hope of the Apostle, as also of all believers, Romans 8:24. Or else of the special beholding of Christ’s glory, which was showed him with the two other Apostles on the amount, Matthew 17:1. 2 Pet. 1. 16, 17, 18. Which hereafter shall be perfectly revealed before the whole world, 1 John 3:2.]

2. Feed the flock of God which is among you, [that is, teaches the Church of God, and as true shepherds, provides them with all that is necessary to salvation. Or take heed to them, as Paul speaketh, Acts 20:28. A similitude taken from the care of shepherds over their sheep, whereof see more at large, John 10.] having oversight (thereof) not of constraint [that is, not for fear of reproof or punishment] but willingly: nor for filthy lucre, but with a ready mind.

3. Nor exercising dominion over the (Lord’s) heritage, [Gr. Kleron, i.e. lots, or heritages; so called, because the inheritances of the land of Canaan, as also other inheritances in general, were divided by lot. And the particular Churches of the faithful are so called because God hath chosen them for his peculiar, out of the common multitude of men, and take them to be children and heirs. See Acts 26:18. as God also so calls his people in general, Deuteronomy 9:29. 1 Kin. 8. 51. Psalms 28:9. By reason of his special love and care over them, whom he had taken to himself as it were by lot for a propriety] but (as) being become patterns to the flock. [That is, examples in doctrine and life.]

4. And when the chief shepherd [So Peter here calls not himself but Christ. For he only is the shepherd of all shepherds, and of all the sheep both Jews and Gentiles, which title can belong to none else] shall have appeared, ye shall receive the unfading Crown of Glory. [The Greek word Amarantinon, cometh from Amarantus, which is a herb that fadeth not, of which garlands were made in former time. See 1 Cor. 9. 24, 25.]

5. Likewise ye young ones be subject to the old; and be ye all subject one to another: [This the Apostle saith, not in respect every ones office, spiritual or temporal, wherein always due difference must be kept, but in respect of common love, wherein every one must give place and yield to the other as much as is possible. See Romans 12:10.] be clothed [or adorned] with humility; for God testifieth the proud, but he giveth grace to the humble.

6. Humble your selves therefore under the mighty hand of God, [Namely, before all, and in all things, i.e. submit your selves with an humble and believing mind to the will and the government of God, as the following verse also declares] that he may exalt you in his own time.

7. Cast all your care upon him, for he careth for you.

8. Be sober (and) watch; for your adversary the Devil goeth about as a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour. [That is, cause you to stumble or fall away, and thereby come to destruction.]

9. Whom resist, being firm in faith: knowing that the same suffering is fulfilled [Gr. Finished, i.e. happens as well to them every where as to you: for this is the lot of all believers. See Acts 14:22.] in your brotherhood that is in the world. [that is, in all the brethren, which are one with you in faith, as heretofore chapter 2. 17.]

10. Now the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after that ye shall have suffered a little (while,) the same perfect, confirm, strengthen (and) ground you.

11. To him be glory and power to all eternity. [Gr. To ages of ages] Amen.

12. By Silvanus, [Who is also elsewhere called Silas, a companion and fellow-traveller of Peter and Paul, as here and in the Epistles of Paul is every where to be seen. See Acts chapter 15, 16, 17. 2 Cor. 1. 19. 1 Thes. 1. 1.] who is a faithful brother to you, as I judge, [some join this to the former word faithful, because one cannot judge so of another, but out of a good hope. Oth. Join it to the following word few, in this sense. As men use not easily so to speak of their own actions] I have written with few (words) exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which ye stand. [That is, the true doctrine of the grace of God, which is preached unto you, and ye have received by faith.]

13. There salute you the co-elect (Church) which is in Babylon, [some hereby understand the City of Rome, thereby to prove that Peter was at Rome, which by a comparison should by Peter be called Babylon, because it was an idolatrous City, full of confusion, idolatry, and persecutions against the faithful, as the City of Rome is also called in the Revelation of John, ch. 14. 8. and chapter 16. 19. and chapter 17. 5. and chapter 18. vers. 2. 10, 21. But it is much more probable, that here is properly spoken of the true Babylon lying in Caldea or Assyria, where the Apostle Peter, as a special Apostle of the Jews then was: seeing in the same there had still remained great multitudes of Jews after the deliverance out of the Babylonish Captivity; even as there also were the chief Synagogues of all the dispersed Jews: from whence Peter wrote to all other in the dispersion. The rather because it is not the manner to speak otherwise then properly in subscriptions; as Paul also in several Epistles, no less expresseth the name of the City of Rome, than of other Cities. It is an other matter with the Revelation of John, which consists most in figurative phrases] and Marcus [See of him Acts 12:12, 25. and 15. 37. Colossians 4:10. 2 Tim. 4. 11. Philem. vers. 24.] my son. [Namely, not in respect of his birth, but of Peter’s especial love towards him, as Paul also so calls Timothy every where.]

14. Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all which are in Christ Jesus. Amen.