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First Peter presents itself as written by the apostle Peter with help from Silvanus, to Christians scattered across Asia Minor who faced suspicion and suffering for their faith; some scholars think it came from Peter's circle. Chapter 5 closes the letter. Peter speaks first to the elders as a fellow elder, urging them to shepherd willingly and humbly, then calls everyone to humility, alertness, and steadfastness against the adversary. Babylon in verse 13 is widely understood as a coded name for Rome. Watch for the promise of verse 10, spoken to people in the middle of suffering.
1Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed:
2shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
3not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time,
7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings.
10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.
13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son.
14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Meditate
Peter invites you to hand your worries to a God who cares. Name each worry slowly, and place it in his strong, gentle hands.
Read it slowly, then sit with the prompt. Free: stillingwaves.com/bible/1-peter/5/
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain).Scripture: King James Version (1769 text), public domain outside the United Kingdom; in the United Kingdom under Crown patent.
There is a lovely modesty in how Peter describes himself: a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings. Perhaps he remembers being told, beside a lakeshore, to feed Jesus' sheep. Notice how verses 6 and 7 belong together. Humbling yourself under God's hand and letting go of your cares are almost the same act; you stop gripping what was never yours to carry alone. Then the lion. Peter does not tell you to be terrified of it, but to be awake and steady, knowing that believers around the world share your struggle. Who near you carries a weight you could help with? What would it look like to lead or serve without lording it over anyone? Read verse 10 slowly, four strong verbs from the God of all grace, and ask him to steady you.
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