Studiesin

1 Peter Presentation 12

The Structure of the Book1v1-2 Salvation: grounded in the Godhead1v3-5 Salvation: accomplished in their hearts1v6-9 Salvation: confirmed by their suffering1v10-12 Salvation: anticipated through history1v13-21 Salvation: outworked in their lives1v22-2v3 Salvation: and the Word of Truth2v4-12 Living Stones - Chosen People2v13-17 Submission to the State2v18-25 Submission to Superiors3v1-7 Wives and Husbands3v8-17 The Believer and Suffering3v18-22 Christ’s Victory 4v1-6 Responding to Christ’s Victory4v7-11 Living for God4v12-19 Suffering for Christ5v1-11 Elders and Young Men5v12-14 Final Greetings

Elders and Young Men

Chap 5v1-11

IntroductionIn this closing section we see the pastoral heart of Peter and his concern is for God's flock. He calls for humility on the part of those who lead the church and those who are led. He appeals first to the elders, the overseers, who have the responsibility for caring for, leading and feeding the people of God.

In times of trial the shepherd's leadership gains importance. Peter addresses his fellow elders as one who had himselfwitnessed the suffering-glory motif displayed in Jesus’life. Peter's words are similar to Paul's farewell address to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20.18-35. Both taught that sharing in suffering now meant sharing in future glory.

EldersIt is impossible to read v2ff without thinking of the charge Peter himself received from the risen Lord Jesus. Jn.. 21.15-19. The word ‘shepherd’ is used to describe God’s dealings with his people cf. Ps 23.1... Jesus describes himself as the Good Shepherd in Jn. 10... He knows his sheep by name and lays down his life for them. Jesus identified the people who flocked around him, hungry for spiritual instruction, as 'sheep without a shepherd'. In 2.25 Jesus is identified as 'the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls'. In the O.T. God promised he would raise up for his people faithful shepherds cf.. Jer3.15. Peter addresses the church elders as those who arethe fulfilment of that promise.

EldersThe elder is told to care for the flock of God. Their love for those under their care will always be proportional to their love for the Lord himself- hence Jn.. 21:15-17. The elder-shepherd is not a cowboy driving the flock like cattle but he walks ahead of them as a shepherd leading his sheep.

Whenever we feel there is an element of compulsion in the responsibilities we are given, we tend to drag our feet, our hearts are not in the task and that communicates itself to others. Peter says the task of shepherding is to be approached not as a burdensome duty but as a privilege expressed by a willing heart.

EldersIt is possible to accept responsibility because it is seen as a route to material gain thus revealing a 'What's in it for me?' attitude. But the shepherd is to ask a different question, ‘How can I give myself to those under my care?' Some see leadership as a means of exercising power over others - giving orders, like an army sergeant. Peter says the shepherd is to lead by example, allowing the truth of God's Word to master him so that others will want to be like him.

It is easy to tell people what to do; i.e. to verbally communicate truth. It is harder to build it into the fabric of our lives so that others say, “We want to be like him”. The elder should be the church's role model. cf. 1Cor.4.16.... Heb.13.7...

EldersNow the elder is not the shepherd of the flock he is an under-shepherd and as such can expect to receive the gratitude of the Shepherd on his appearing v4. Those in leadership have a special accountability to the Lord Jesus Christ. The faithful under-shepherd receives a crown of glory. How are we to understand this reward? Part of the reward is surely the joy and glory of seeing those whose lives they have influenced. cf. Phil 4.1 1Thes 2.19.20

Samuel Rutherford, a famous Scottish churchman,wrote as follows:‘Heaven were twice heaven for me if but one from Anwoth [the town where he ministered], is found standing at my side’.

Young MenIn v5 ff. Peter returns to his theme of mutual submission and the young men are encouraged to humble themselves in submission to those who are older. Is Peter thinking of respect for age? The word translated ‘those who are older’ is the word ‘presbuteros’ used in v1.

It seems clear that Peter is doing more than addressing the problem of the generation gap. He appears to be thinking specifically of the younger members of the congregation who are being Encouraged to listen to and submit to what the elders of the church are saying to them.

Younger men have often rejected wise counsel from older men to their sorrow and regret.Cf. 1Kings 12v6-24

Young MenBut it is not just the youngsters who are to be humble in their relationships - all are exhorted to humility in v5. Why? Because pride lies at the heart of human sin. It caused Satan's downfall just as much as it contributed to the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.

Pride produces resentment and division and the souring of relationships more than anything else.

Now the humility spoken of here is more than the absence of pride. Humility opens the door to the provision of God’s grace. Cf.. 1Cor. 4v7, 15v10

Pride despises other creatures and rebels against God. That is why God opposes it!

Young MenIn his story of the Pharisee and the tax collector Jesus concludes; 'For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’. Remembering the ‘mighty hand of God’ should move us to humility. But the hand of God not only shows itself to be against the proud, it raises the humble.

Peter knew, more than most, the power of pride which causes us to fall flat on our Faces. He had promised Jesus, ‘I will lay down my life for you’ Jn.. 13.37. Peter's Subsequent denial caused him to humble himself under God's mighty hand and he discovered the mercy, gentleness and tender compassion of that hand to comfort, restore and raise up to fruitful service.

Young MenIt is this glorious aspect of God's nature, his care for his people, that encourages Peter to exhort his readers to cast their anxieties upon God.

Anxiety concerning the trials and sufferings they were experiencing. Anxiety about being Christian doormats and meekly submitting when the world's advice was to ‘demand your rights’. Anxiety about their failure to be the kind of people God had called them to be.

These four words, 'he cares for you' need to be branded upon the walls of our minds and hearts. Remember that lying at the very root of man's original rebellion was the slanderous accusation made by Satan that God really did not care! Gen.3v1-5

Young MenThis is the context for v8.... When we think of ‘roaring lions’ we tend to think of animals safely caged in a zoo or the subject of a TV nature programme. But the days were fast approaching when Christian would literally face such beasts in the Roman arena. The blood of the martyrs would drip from their lips. These were not tame lions but frightening predators.

And Peter uses this graphic picture to describe the devil. He is not a tame household pet but a wild animal, ‘a roaring lion’, who has made has made Christians his prey. He seeks to unsettle and unnerve us. He seeks to undermine our confidence in God.

Young MenSatan comes to us when our suffering is at its most acute and he whispers, 'You are a fool. You are enduring all of this and God has not lifted a finger to help you. You are not really special to God. Indeed, he could not care less about you!'

Peter says be ‘self controlled, be alert. Resist him’. Repudiate these statements. By faith affirm that your present suffering does not indicate God's disinterest. Remind yourself that your experience is not unique but normal for Jesus’ followers. It isthe Jesus’ road! And because suffering was the route to glory along which Jesus walked, It is the route we have been invited to follow. Cf. Mark 8v 34-38

Young MenHow is it possible to cope with such suffering? Peter’s answer is found in v10. Note the sufficiency of grace in the words ‘the God of all grace’. Then too there is a certainty concerning our destination - we are bound for heaven! Our suffering is but for a little while - though it may not appear so when we are caught up in the immediacy of suffering.

God is not only with us in the crucible of affliction but at work in us to restore, strengthen and equip us. He enables us to stand despite the gales of suffering that blow on us.

No wonder Peter finishes his instruction by magnifying God in v11 ‘to him be all the power for ever and ever’.

Final GreetingsChap 5v12-14

Final GreetingsPeter’s mention of Silas [Acts 15.3] could imply that Silas wrote what Peter dictated but more likely he was the messenger who delivered the letter. Silas held a high position of trust in the early church and had been Paul’s travelling companion. [Acts 13.2]

Verse 12 summarises the whole purpose of the letter, that they might ‘stand fast’ in ‘the true grace of God’.

Peters encouragement is grounded in his ‘witness’. Peter was appointed as an apostle to witness to the truth and it is only because his witness is true that his encouragement is real. It warms our hearts with what the Reformers calledthe ‘ring of truth’

Final Greetings

John Mark, after his earlier failure as a missionary [perhaps produced by a fear of persecution [Acts 13.13, 15.36], is now clearly rehabilitated. Cf.[2Tim. 4.11]. Mark was to Peter what Timothy was to Paul. He later wrote the Gospel of Mark. But what a note to end on! Past failure does not disqualify from present and future fruitfulness. Hallelujah!

Peter uses the word ‘Babylon’ to refer to Rome. This is done in the book of Revelation [ Rev. 14.8, 16.19, 17.5 etc.]. Peter doesn’t use this name to disguise the place of writing. But he is interested in the symbolism of the name. Babylon was the capital city of the world empire into which the O.T. people of God were carried captive. Peter has been writing to a new diaspora [1.1], the captive people of God in the Roman empire.

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