THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELDERS 1PETER 5: 1-5 Verse one THE Greek word “elder” was used as a designation of a man advanced in years. It became one of the official designations of an officer in a local church who in other places is called an overseer or a bishop (Acts 20:17, 28; I Tim. 3:2), and whose duty it was to exercise spiritual oversight and authority over its members. The Greek for “who am also an elder” could also be rendered “who am a fellow-elder,” which is decisive against the primacy of Peter. Peter neither claimed nor assumed any higher position than that of an ordinary elder in the Church. The word “witness” is the translation of the Greek word from which we get our word “martyr.” It does not refer to the act of seeing, but to the act of testifying to what one has seen. Peter is not merely claiming to have seen the crucifixion, but to have been retained to give testimony concerning what he had seen. In II Peter 1:16, the apostle uses another word which is translated “eyewitnesses.” There he refers to the fact of his having seen the incidents in our Lord’s life. But in 5:1 he speaks of himself as an official witness called to testify by God. Verse two The word “feed” is the translation of a Greek word which literally means “to shepherd,” and includes the duties of a shepherd, tending, feeding, guiding, and guarding the flock of God. The noun form of the word is translated “pastors” in Ephesians 4:11. The word “oversight” is the translation of the same Greek word in another form which is other places is rendered by the words “overseer,” or “bishop,” referring to the spiritual care of the flock. The words “filthy lucre” are literally in the Greek text “base or dishonorable gain.” The pastor is not to commercialize his ministry. Verse three The words “being lords over” in the Greek text speak of a high-handed autocratic rule over the flock, which is forbidden a true shepherd. One could translate, “lording it over.” However, this does not do away with a God-ordained, properly exercised authority which should be administered in the local church by the pastor and the elders. Paul speaks of this in I Thessalonians 5:12 and I Timothy 5:17, using another Greek word. The word “heritage” is the translation of a word meaning “a lot” as in the words, “gave forth their lots” (Acts 1:26). Here it refers to the lots or charges given the elders. Alford translates, “the portions entrusted to you.” It is interesting to note that our word “cleric” comes from this Greek word, and that the latter was contracted to “clerk,” which in ecclesiastical writings referred to a pastor of a church. Instead of lording it over those portions of God’s flock assigned to them, these local pastors are exhorted to be an ensample to the entire flock. The word translated “ensample” means “a print left as an impression after a blow has been struck, a pattern or model of something else.” Under-shepherds should be living patterns or models of the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus. Verse four The Greek word translated “crown” referred to a crown of victory in the Greek athletic games, a crown given for military valor, or a festal garland worn at marriage feasts.1 Here it is the reward given to faithful shepherds of the flock of God. “Fadeth” is a participle in the Greek describing this crown. The word in its noun form was the name of a flower that did not wither or fade, and which when picked, revived in water. The crown given to victors in either athletics or war was made of oak or ivy leaves, the festal garlands of the marriage feast, of flowers. These would wither and fade. But the victor’s crown which the Lord Jesus will give His faithful under-shepherds will never wither or fade. What form this reward will take, is not stated. Paul says that his crown of rejoicing at the coming of the Lord Jesus for His Church will be made of the souls he won (I Thess. 2:19). Verse five a The word “younger” is in this context not to be interpreted primarily as referring to the younger element in the church as composed merely of individuals, but as organized into guilds or associations. Inscriptions speak of youth organizations in the Greek cities of Asia Minor. The idea could easily have been taken over into the local church. The word “elders” in this context does not refer to the older men as a class, but to the elders of the local church as a group. It would seem therefore that the word “younger” would refer, not to the younger element as such, but to organizations composed of younger people. These organizations are exhorted to be in obedience to the elders of the church.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 11:39:18 +0000
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