1 PETER 5 1 14 1 PETER 5

1 PETER 5: 1 -14

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 BIG IDEA: Fulfill your responsibilities to the body and beware of satan. God will strengthen you in your suffering

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) V. 1: Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) Where does Peter get his authority?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) -From His past as a witness to Christ’s suffering -From His future as a partaker in the glory to be revealed

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) -He identified himself as an apostle at the start of the letter but here as a fellow elder Q: How would his identification with the other elders encourage them?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) Remember that Peter had already seen the glory of Christ at the Transfiguration. What a witness and encouragement he must have been to the elders of the other churches.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) v. 2 -3: Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to 2

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) Q: What is the role of an elder?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) Q: What are the qualities of an elder? 1 Tim. 3 Titus 1

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) The essential role of an elder/shepherd/overseer is as a leader and protector of the flock entrusted to Him. He shepherds the flock as an act of service to God, not for his own glory or as a show of

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) Q: What are some of the pitfalls that elders must be careful to avoid?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) Q: Where would Peter have gotten this sheep/shepherd metaphor?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) John 21: 15 -17: 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these? ” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. ” He said to him, “Tend My lambs. ” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You. ” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep. ” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me? ” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me? ” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You. ” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep. ”

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) V. 4: And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 I. INSTRUCTIONS TO ELDERS (V. 1 -4) ARCHIPOIMENOS – ARCH: FIRST, CHIEF OR RULER POIMENOS: SHEPHERD -EZ. 34: 11 -16 -JOHN 10: 11, 14 -HEB. 13: 20

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) v. 5: You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) “Be submissive” is a prominent theme in 1 Peter -Cf. 2: 13 -36. Submission to rulers and masters, submission of wives and husbands.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) “All of you” (means young and old), “clothe yourselves in humility. ” ἐγκομβώσασθε: “clothe or tie on oneself” enkombōma: the apron of a slave

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) At the last supper, Christ clothed himself with a towel and washed the disciples feet

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 6

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) We are all called to humility under the hand of God. Q: What is the relationship between humility and casting our cares on God?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) Matt. 6: 25 -33 Psalm 55: 22 Heb. 13: 5 God genuinely cares for us!

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 II. INSTRUCTIONS TO YOUTH (V. 5 -7) God’s hand can symbolize discipline (Ex. 3: 20; Job 30: 21; Ps; 32: 4) or deliverance (Deut. 9: 26; Ez. 20: 34) Humility means we accept God’s discipline or His will that we suffer for a time, knowing that He will deliver

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) V. 8: Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) We’ve seen the warning to be sober minded 3 x now in 1 Peter, here, 1: 13 and 4: 7

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Q: What happens to a person’s faculties when they get drunk?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) People who are not sober, should not drive. People who are not sober-minded, (selfcontrolled) are not alert. People who are not alert have fallen prey to all kinds of evil. Behind all that evil is Satan.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Q: Did Peter have any experience with not being sober-minded and falling prey to Satan?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) V. 9: But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Resist is a DEFENSIVE word. Same word as in James 4: 7, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ” We can only resist him if we are standing firm in Christ. Heb. 6: 19: Christ our hope is the “ anchor of our

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Q: Why is there such a thing as support groups?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Whenever we are suffering, we want to know that we are not alone, that there are people who are going through what we are and those who understand our trials. We belong to a fellowship of suffering people.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, 11 confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) If the sufferings and fellowship of others is an encouragement to us, how much more is the encouragement that God himself will restore us?

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Notice how Peter bookends the letter with encouragement through suffering: 1: 6: though for a little while you may have had to suffer… 5: 10: after you have suffered for a little

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) Notice how Peter contrasts suffering with glory: 5: 10: after you have suffered for a little while…the God of grace who calls you to His eternal glory in Christ

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 III. STAND TALL, DON’T FALL (V. 8 -11) The benediction and doxology in verse 11 is similar to the one in 4: 11: “to Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. ”

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) V. 12 Through Silvanus, (aka Silas) our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) Silas probably wrote the letter for Peter, as his amanuensis, which would account for the very different styles of 1 Peter and 2 Peter. I’m looking forward to meeting Silas. What a humble, faithful servant of both Peter and Paul,

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) V. 13: She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) Some scholars argue that “she who is in Babylon” refers to a literal woman, possibly Peter’s wife (cf. 1 Cor. 9: 5). However, since Peter was writing to churches and said “she is chosen together with you, ” most likely “she” refers to the church (which is a feminine noun

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) Babylon is probably a reference to Rome, from where Peter most likely wrote the letter. Speaking of humble servants, Mark was one too!

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) V. 14: Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 IV. FINAL REMARKS (V. 12 -14) The union of believers to each other and in Christ and to Christ is fundamental to this letter. Suffer well together, in Christ, for doing right, for a little while, and receive an eternal crown of glory!

1 PETER 5: 1 -14 APPLICATIONS: When you are suffering, remember, 1. God loves you 2. The church, (that’s us), we love you 3. We are here (I am here) to help, even if it’s just to listen 4. Suffering lasts until it has served its purpose and then God will remove it 5. Suffering is temporary but the rewards are eternal and