October 11 Daily Discovery
October 11 Daily Discovery - Read 1 Peter Chapter 5
This passage below is from the King James Version (ekjv.org).
Remarks from the Berean Fellowship follow the passage below.
[1] The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
[2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
[3] Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
[4] And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
[5] Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
[6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
[7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
[9] Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
[10] But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
[11] To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
[12] By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
[13] The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
[14] Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
The Role of Elders in the Church
In some ways the kingdom of God and the church of God are interchangeable terms, but there are some specific differences as well. The New Testament presents us with the offices of the church in the book of Ephesians; see Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20 and Ephesians chapter 4 verses 11 and 12. Deacons are also mentioned along with elders in 1 Timothy 3:8–13.
- The cornerstone: Jesus Christ
- The foundation: apostles and prophets
- The superstructure: evangelists, pastor-teachers, deacons and saints
The entire structure is built upon Jesus Christ. The apostles were the first century authorities that Christ himself had chosen; the prophets were assistants that they ordained, thus expanding and extending their outreach. The evangelists were preachers of the gospel that that did not have a continual connection to a local assembly like pastors or elders or bishops would. What is called a missionary in contemporary evangelical church ministries is most directly associated with what would have been called an evangelist during the first century.
This letter was written by Peter, who was an apostle and had therefore apostolic authority, but he refers to himself as an elder. All of the apostles were also elders.
The letter is referred to as one of the general epistles, which were letters that were not addressed to a specific church or person. Peter addresses his letter to Christians that have been scattered throughout the world as a result of the persecutions that they have been subject to from both the jews as well as the Roman authorities.
The word used for elder in the original language could be translated literally as an older man but it could also be used figuratively as someone that was mature in the faith. For example, Timothy, being a young man and a direct extension of the apostle Paul -- making him a prophet as well, was also an elder even though he was relatively young in age physically.
The Exhortation of Peter
The first few verses of this chapter demonstrates how different words are used for the same office in the church. He is addressing elders, and then he instructs them to feed the flock ( it is a shepherd that takes care of the flock this is the word that is used in ephesians chapter 4 verse 11), they are told to take the oversight of it. Oversight comes from the same word that is used and translated as bishop in other places.
- You are an elder: be a holy example
- You are a shepherd: feed your flock (teach them)
- You are an overseer: care for them (watch ovwe their spiritual and physical welfare)
He reminds them that God's people have a Lord and his name is Jesus Christ. The means of their administration would need to come from their example, not from a place of authority. He reminds them that if they do this well the Chief Shepherd will reward them for it later. Those that are shepherds are shepherds under Jesus Christ, the Chief shepherd.
Listen, You Elders
- Be humble: So God will be assisting you rather than resisting you
- Be praying: So you don't become overburdened by personal cares
- Be vigilant: So you don't become pray for the devil
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Continue Your Search
Do you see any: Commands to Obey, Warnings to Heed, Promises to Claim, Examples to Follow, Vices to Avoid, Praises to Emulate, Prayers to Use, Principles by which to Live, Questions to Ask or Actions to Take?
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