CHAPTER 5

(A.D. 60)

PASTORS

¹The Elders (Pastors) which are among you I exhort (pertains to Pastors of local Churches), who am also an Elder (proclaims the fact that the great Apostle was a Pastor as well, Pastoring then at Babylon [Vs. 13]), and a wit ness of the sufferings of Christ (who was with Christ throughout our Lords Ministry, even unto His Death), and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed (if the Cross is accepted, the Glory is revealed):

²Feed the flock of God which is among you (Preach the Cross [I Cor. 1:21, 23; 2:2]), taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly (privileged to do so, and not because we have no choice); not for filthy lucre (money must not be our motive), but of a ready mind (not swayed by money or anything else, only to do the Will of God);

³Neither as being lords over Gods heritage (the Greek Text speaks of a high-handed autocratic rule over the flock, which is forbidden of a true Shepherd), but being examples to the flock (presents instruction which the Apostle had lived in a most unique way).

⁴And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear (the Lord Jesus Christ, at the Rapture of the Church), you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away (refers to the victory crown).

COMMANDS

⁵Likewise, you younger (associate Pastors in the local Church), submit yourselves unto the Elder (senior Pastor). Yes, all of you be subject one to another (refers to mutual understanding), and be clothed with humility (refers to the virtue that must grace all other virtues, which can only come by Faith in the Cross): for God resists the proud (He sets Himself in array against the proud person), and gives grace to the humble. (One who places his Faith exclusively in the Cross of Christ.)

⁶Humble yourselves therefore under the Mighty Hand of God (the Cross alone and ones Faith in that Finished Work can make one humble), that He may exalt you in due time (proclaims the route to the Blessings of God):

⁷Casting all your care upon Him (refers here to a direct and once-for-all committal to God of all that would give us concern); for He cares for you (translated literally, for you are His concern).

⁸Be sober (mentally self-controlled), be vigilant (awake and watchful); because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour (we are faced with a very powerful adversary):

⁹Whom (the Devil) resist stedfast in the Faith (the Faith always refers to what Jesus did at the Cross; our Faith must be ever anchored in that Finished Work), knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your Brethren who are in the world. (Every true Christian faces the onslaught of the Evil One.)

BENEDICTION

¹⁰But the God of all Grace (refers to God as the Source of all Grace), Who has called us (a Divine summons) unto His Eternal Glory by Christ Jesus (through what Jesus did at the Cross), after that you have suffered a while (the transition from the flesh to the Spirit, which is never easy, fast, or simple), make you perfect (knit together with the Spirit), stablish, strengthen, settle you(on a firm foundation which cannot be moved, as the Grace of God comes to us in an uninterrupted flow).

¹¹To Him (the Lord Jesus Christ)be Glory and Dominion forever and ever. Amen. (This is because of what He did at the Cross.)

¹²By Silas, a faithful Brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true Grace of God wherein you stand. (This proclaims the fact that this subject concerning living for God is so vast, but yet the Apostle attempted to address it in this short Epistle.)

¹³The Church that is at Babylon (refers to the same city mentioned in the Old Testament, the Babylon on the River Euphrates; there is no proof that this statement is a synonym for Rome, as some claim), elected together with you, salute you (those who elect to trust Christ and the Cross are, at the same time, elected to experience the Grace of God); and so does Mark my son (refers to John Mark, who wrote the Gospel which bears his name; he was not the actual son of Peter, but a son in the Faith).

¹⁴Greet you one another with a kiss of charity (the custom in those days). Peace be with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen. (This speaks of Sanctifying Peace, which comes through the Cross.)