Page images
PDF
EPUB

and a witness of the sufferings of Christ in the garden and on ferings of Christ, and also the cross, and also a partaker of his gloa partaker of the glory ry of governing the world by the gospel, which glory is to be manifested at the last day.

which is to be revealed.

2 Feed the flock of God which is (w, 162.) with you (EWIEKOWUNTES) Cxercising the bishop's office, not by constraint, but willingly; neither for the sake of base gain, but (podvuws) from good disposition;2

3 Neither as lording it1 over the heritages of God:2 But being (roi) patterns to the flock,

also to distinguish it from exσ

2 Feed the flock of God which is committed to your care faithfully, exercising the bishop's office, not constrained thereto by men, but willingly from a sense of the excellence and usefulness of the office; neither exercise it for the sake of gaining a maintenance, but from a good disposition to promote the glory of God and to save souls;

3 Neither as lording it over the flocks which are the heritages of God: But being patterns to the flock in disinterestedness, temperance, humility, and charity to the poor.

willingly, mentioned likewise in the preceding clause.In the Syriac version this word is translated toto corde.Benson's observation on this verse is, "How severely are they here con"demned who feed themselves and not the flock, who take the patrimony “of the church, and commit the care of souls to others, to whom they allow "a very small share of that plenty which they have for doing little."

Ver. 3.-1. Neither as lording it. Karaxupivovтes. This is a strong word, denoting that tyranny which the men of this world often exercise, when they have obtained offices of power.

2. Over the beritages of God. The word aan properly signifies a lot. But because the land of Canaan was divided among the Israelites by lot, the word came to signify an heritage. Wherefore, believers being God's people, or portion, the different churches or congregations for worship, are called here God's heritages.—In process of time the name ang clergy was appropriated to the ministers of the gospel, because being considered as the successors of the Levitical priests, they were regarded as God's lot or portion.-From this prohibition it would seem, that in the apostle's days, the bishops were beginning to assume that dominion over their flocks, which in after times they carried to the greatest height of tyranny. Or St. Peter, by inspiration foreseeing what was to happen, condemned in this prohibition the tyranny which in after times the clergy exercised.-Bengelius thinks the power exercised by the Christian bishops, anciently called Seniores, elders, gave rise to the French title Monseigneur, and to the Italian Signore, &c.

4 And when the chief

4 Και φανερωθεντος του

Shepherd shall appear, ye αρχιποιμενος, κομιείσθε τον

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.

[blocks in formation]

αμαραντίνον της δόξης ςεφα

νον.

5 Ομοιως νεωτεροι ὑποταγητε πρεσβυτέροις· παντες δε αλληλοις ὑποτασσόμενοι, την ταπεινοφροσύνην εγκομβώσασ δε ότι ὁ Θεὸς ὑπερηφανοις αντιτασσεται, ταπεινοις δε διο δωσι χαριν.

6 Ταπεινώθητε ουν υπο την κραταιαν χειρα του Θεου, ἵνα μας ύψωση εν καιρῷ

7 Πασαν την μεριμναν ΰ. μων επιρρίψαντες επ' αυτόν, ότι αυτῷ μελει περι ὑμων.

8 Νηψατε, γρηγορησατε ότι ὁ αντίδικος ὑμων, διαβολος, ὡς λέων ωρυόμενος, περιπατει, ζη

των τινα καταπιῇ,

Ver. 4.1. Which fadeth not away. This is an allusion to the crowns of green leaves of trees and herbs, bestowed by the ancients as the rewards of military prowess, or of victory in the games. See 1 Cor. ix. 25. note 2. These, together with the honours of which they were the symbols, soon faded away. But the crown of glory, the reward to be given to faithful shepherds, will never fade, being a crown of righteousness, 2 Tim. iv. 8. and a crosun of life, James i. 12.

Ver. 5.-1. For the like reason. So the word is signifies here. For the preceding, being an exhortation to the elders, to feed the flock, and not to lord it over God's heritages, the apostle could not begin his exhortation to the people with saying to them, In like manner subject yourselves to the elders: But he might say to them, with propriety, For the like reason that ye are to receive a crown of glory, subject yourselves to the elders.

2. Ye younger persons subject yourselves. As in the preceding part of this chapter the apostle by an elder, means a person holding a sacred office, such as a pastor or teacher, it is reasonable to think that he uses the word in the same sense here: Consequently, that verges which signifies an inferior of

4 And when the chief Shepherd (see chap. ii. 25. note) shall appear, ye shall receive the crown of glory, which fadeth1 not away.

5 For the like reason,1 ye younger persons, 2 subject yourselves to the elders, Yea all be subject to one another, and be clothed with humility; 3 for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.

6 Be humbled, therefore, under the strong hand of God, (chap. iv. 12.) that he may exalt you in due time.

7 Cast all your anxious care on him1 (¿rı, 254.) because he careth for you.

8 Be sober, be vigilant; (r,) because your adversary the devil is walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may swallow up.

4 And to encourage you, know that when the chief Spherd shall aphear to judge the world, ye who have discharged your duty to your flocks faithfully, shall receive from him the crown of glory which fadeth not away.

5 For the like reason, ye the people subject yourselves to the elders, receiving their instructions and reproofs, with humility. Yea, all of you bẹ subject to one another, in the various relations wherein ye stand to each other, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and casteth them down; but giveth the aid of his Spirit to the humble.

6 Seeing God resisteth the proud, be humbled under the strong hand of God; take his corrections patiently; that according to his promise he may exalt you to the possession of heaven in due time.

7 In your distresses, cast all your anxious care on God, (Psal. Iv. 22.) because, in the most affectionate manner, he cureth for you effectually.

8 Yet do not neglect lawful means for delivering yourselves out of trouble. Wherefore, Be temperate, Be vigilant at all times, because your adversary the devil, is going about continually as a fierce lion, seeking whom he may swallow up.

any kind, Luke xxii. 26. and which is opposed to it here, denotes the laity or people of the churches of Pontus, whom the apostle further exhorts to be subject to one another.

Equqμlacards. Julius Pollux, Onoμμx was a white cloak used by

3. And be clothed with humility. mast. lib. iv. c. 18. tells us that the slaves. Whitby says it was a frock put over the rest of the clothes; and that the apostle's meaning is," that humility should be visible over all the. "other Christian virtues, in our whole behaviour."

Ver. 7.-1. Cast all your anxious care on him. Lest the brethren of Pon.

[blocks in formation]

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.

9 ο αντιζητε ξέρει τη πίςει, ειδότες, τα αυτα των παθηματων τη εν κοσμῳ ὑμων αδελφοτητι επιτελείσθαι.

10 Ὁ δε Θεος πασης χαριτος, ὁ καλεσας ήμας εις την αιώνιον αυτου δοξαν εν Χριςῳ Ιησου, ολιγον παθοντας, αυ τος καταρτίσαι ὑμας ςηρίξαι, σθενώσαι, θεμελιωσαι.

11 Αυτῳ ἡ δοξα, και το κρατος εις τους αιώνας των αιώνων. Αμην.

12 Δια Σιλουανου ὑμιν του πίςου αδελφου, ὡς λογι ζομαι, δι' ολίγων εγραψα, πα ρακαλων και επιμαρτυρων ταυτην είναι αληθη χαριν του Θεου εις ἣν ἑςηκατε.

tus might have been too much distressed with the fears of their being reduced to want by the persecution they were suffering, and of their being tempted thereby to renounce the gospel, the apostle exhorted them to be only moderately solicitous to avoid these dangers, and to cast their anxious care on God.

Ver. 8.-1. Be sober, be vigilant. This advice the apostle had given before, chap. iv. 7. (See note 2. there.) But he enforces it here by a new reason, That the devil is going about seeking whom he may swallow up: So the word καταπιη literally signifies ; being used concerning solids as well as liquids. It strongly expresses the insatiable rage of the enemy of mankind to hinder their salvation, and the danger we are in from his devices. For he sometimes attacks the people of God in person though not visible; and sometimes by his ministers the other evil spirits who are in league with him; and sometimes by wicked men his subjects, whom he instigates to tempt them by the terror of persecution. This account of the devil's malice is given with great propriety by Peter, to whom our Lord said, Simon, Sattan bath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat; but I bave praye! for thee. Peter likewise had good reason, as Doddridge observes, to recommend watchfulness, since he had fallen so shamefully himself, not withstanding this warning from his master.-Benson by the devil understands the unbelieving Jews who persecuted the Christians with great fury.

[blocks in formation]

9 Him resist, (See James iv. 7.) by being stedfast in the faith, knowing that the very same kinds of sufferings, proceeding from the devil and his instruments, which ye now sustain, are allotted to your Christian brethren who are dispersed through the world.

10 And may God the author of all goodness, who hath called us to the enjoyment of his eternal happiness by Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a little, himself make you complete in the virtues, support you in the exercise of them, strengthen you to resist temptations, and settle you in the profession of the gospel.

11 To him be the glory of all perfection, and the dominion of the universe ascribed by us for ever and Amen.

ever.

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I conclude from the general tenor of his behaviour, I have written to you in few words, to encourage you to persevere in the belief and profession of the gospel, exhorting you and strongly testifying to you, that this is the true gospel of God in which ye stand it contains a true account of the salvation of sinners.

Ver. 9.-1. Him resist, stedfast in the faith. To shew the efficacy of faith in enabling us to resist temptation, Paul calls it a shield, Eph. vi. 16. wherewith the fiery darts of the wicked one, &c.

Ver. 10.-1. After ye have suffered a little. St. Peter calls the sufferings of the first Christians oxyov a little, either in respect of time or of degree; or perhaps in respect of both, because compared with the joys of heaven, the sufferings of this life are both light and momentary.

Ver. 11.-1. To him be the glory, &c. By this doxology Peter expressed his firm persuasion that the devil hath no title to any honour from men, nor any dominion in the universe, nor power to tempt men, but by permission from God.

Ver 12-1. By Silvanus a faithful brother. If Silvanus, by whom this

« PreviousContinue »