I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder
Mon, 28 November, 2005: Today’s Bible readings.
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 going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who 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.”
Today we end First Peter. Peter calls us to humility, and he the humility to which he is calling us.
What do we learn from this?
Notice how in his instructions to the elders, Peter does not claim a superior status. He says he is simply says he is a fellow elder. In essence, he is saying that he is no different than they are. He makes no claim to being an apostle, or even to being the first Pope. The Roman Catholic Church claims that Peter was the first Pope, but Peter does not claim such a lofty title. Rather, he says in essense, I’m just a fellow elder, like you.
Peter does hint at the fact that he has been given a tremendous blessing in being associated with Jesus during his earthly ministry. Peter says that he was a witness of Christ’s sufferings. He doesn’t mention having been taught by Christ, but he does mention that he had the privilege of seeing Christ suffer.
But almost as if to make it clear that he does not mention his time with Christ as a way to claim privileged status, Peter follows the statement by saying he is Christian, saved just like they are. Peter says he is just one who also will share in the glory to be revealed. I’m nothing special. I’m saved like you, and bound for the same glory, just like you. Peter goes out of his way to associate with the elders, and to emphasize that he is not superior to them in any way.
This is how Peter begins his teaching on humility, by modeling it for us. He will tell us not to lord it over those who are under us in a hierarchical structure. But here he is demonstrating how to do it by not lording it over the elders whom he is addressing.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Peter goes on to encourage the elders to shepherd the flock of God. They are to faithfully serve the people of God understanding that they serve the chief Shepherd who is going to return. All pastors (teaching elders) and ruling elders must understand that they do not serve themselves, but rather they serve the people of God on behalf of Jesus Christ.
