Here in the last chapter of this epistle, the Apostle Peter will close with a final address to various members of the Christian community. Those groups include…
- Individual church leaders (verses one to four).
- Youth (verse five).
- The church as a whole (verses six to eleven).
Following those exhortations, our author will offer a few personal remarks and conclude with a benediction in verses twelve to fourteen. Much like the preceding chapter, 1 Peter chapter five is a concise portion of Scripture, comprising only fourteen verses. But good things often come in small packages, as the saying goes. Thus, we are sure to uncover a wealth of insight as we mine the resources that God has made available to us through this portion of Scripture.
Our chapter opens with an exhortation from the Apostle, one that rings with the voice of experience garnered from a life spent in service to Christ…
“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” (1 Peter 5:1).
When we consider the prominent leaders in the Bible, we find they largely served as good (albeit imperfect) examples for others. Despite their flaws and shortcomings, these men and women of God did not live by the mantra, “do as I say, not as I do.” Instead, they sought to honor God in respect and humility. Our text from 1 Peter 5:1 exemplifies that reality.
As one of the first of Jesus’ twelve apostles and one of the select few who received a privileged invitation to view His miracles, Peter might have issued a series of commands. Instead, he chose to make a request (CEB), an urging (NET), or an appeal (NIV) to those who served as fellow leaders.
So why did Peter decline to issue a command? Perhaps it may have something to do with a statement he made earlier in this letter: “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous” (1 Peter 3:8). With this in mind, we might say that Peter is building on his earlier teaching and demonstrating leadership by example.
So as we approach the end of this letter, we should notice that Peter didn’t attempt to force his audience into compliance; instead, he encouraged them. Essentially, Peter said to his readers, “I am a fellow elder just as you are and I am qualified to make this appeal because I was an eyewitness to Jesus’ work on your behalf.”