1 Peter 5:1-5 Revised Standard Version

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Tend the flock of God that is your charge,[a] not by constraint but willingly,[b] not for shameful gain but eagerly, 3 not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

First Impression?

For this section, I focused in on the age thing. Elders, and willing Elders. Others were impressed by living humbly with responsibility, exalting and mirroring Christ, and for the chapter overall encouragement and assurance.

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. 

• Elders among you. Why does he speak to this group? Why is his witness important? Why is his partaking important?

A:The nominal discussion centered around the elders being more mature and there is always this assumption of age relating to maturity. But I felt the focus of this passage was to convince the older Christians who were not necessarily more mature Christians to step up and take on the mantle of good leadership as a part of their duty as Christians of greater age. An older person should be more mature in general even if not in Christianity and should take on the fatherly or motherly role more specifically than the teacher role that immature Christians never seem to want. We all have worldly talents and spiritual gifts and both are to be used.

2 Tend the flock of God that is your charge,[a] not by constraint but willingly,[b] not for shameful gain but eagerly, 

• Who are these Elders that tend? Willingly, Eagerly: Why wouldn’t they be?

A: Mostly discussed above, but the idea is for them as Christians to want to serve in the manner they are called.

3 not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. 

• Domineering vs examples: Has anyone seen a domineering leader survive in a church?

A:Some great examples were given on both sides. I know domineering leadership has its place in the world, but rarely in the church.

4 And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. 

• Chief Shepherd: Any special meaning to you? Unfading crown?

A:My main discussion here was that while indeed the reference is to Jesus, the idea is for the mature Christians to accept their role in shepherding the flock. You cannot be a fruitful Christian if you are not mirroring the work of Christ in your life, and this is an aspect He calls on the aged to provide.

5 Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

• Younger: Why does age matter? Humility: Where does that play a role between the young and old?

A:Respect your elders. We are all equal in sin and deserving hell, so you have no place to be proud when recognizing this. Humility is therefore our place.

During the discussion, some smart guy asked a question that I had not clued in on before. He uses it on younger people, so he told me. I want to use it on me and anyone who might listen. “When we chose to do something, would we choose differently if Jesus was physically present right next to you?”

i.e What would you do if Jesus was right next to you? Think about that one. Is He not right in our hearts? Is He not right beside us?

What would you do if Jesus was right next to you?