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(i) Advice To The Shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4)NKJV / KJV / NIV / ASV / Overview Chart.
Read Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Peter 5:1-4.
This section would have been based largely on Peter's experience of the event in John 21:15-19 where Jesus appeared on the sea shore to the Disciples and made them breakfast. He asked Peter questions about his love for the Chief Shepherd and said if Peter really loves Him he'll Shepherd the sheep (God's people).
Read Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 21:15-19.
Article by Oswald Chambers on Jesus' question 'Do you love Me ?'.
A. Peter's Qualifications To Be Able To Exhort The Elders (1 Peter 5:1)
Peter exhorts ('parakaleo' - to call alngside for counsel and comfort- the same word used of the Holy Spirit) the
Elders on the basis of the following qualifications....
(1) He is a fellow elder (Verse 1a).
Literally this says he is a co-elder as indeed he was a leader among equals.
(2) He is a witness of the sufferings of Christ (Verse 1b).
Indeed Peter witnessed first hand the sufferings of Christ and had witnessed them in his own life as he partook of them.
See Matthew 26:37 for one instance of Peter witnessing Christ's suffering.
(3) He is partaker of the glory that will be revealed (Verse 1c).
As Peter wrote this he would probably have been thinking back to the Transfiguration experience. Also it could refer to the joy inexpressible and full of glory (see 1 Peter 1:8 ) he has experienced personally in the midst of suffering for Jesus.
B. Peter's Exhortation To The Shepherds (Verses 2-4)
(1) Shepherd (feed) the flock among you (verse 2a).
Peter must have thought back to Jesus' parting words ('feed my sheep') as he wrote this. (See this Article by Oswald Chambers on Jesus' question 'Do you love Me ?'.). Peter passes on this advise to his fellow Shepherds.
Note that he says feed the 'flock among you' and not another Shepherd's flock!
(2) Serve as overseers (verse 2b).
This is the same word as Elder.
(3) Serve not by compulsion but willingly (verse 2c).
They are to feed the sheep willingly (because they want to) and not out of compulsion (because they have to).
(4) Serve not for dishonest gain but eagerly (verse 2d).
They are to minister not for dishonest gain (filthy lucre - the root meaning being 'for shameful reasons') but eagerly(willingly,of a forward spirit).
(5) Don't be Lords over those entrusted to you (verse 3a).
They are not to lord it over those who are their inheritance (literal rendering). Think of ways this could be so.
See Scriptures about Lording it over others.
(6) Be examples to the flock (verse 3b).
The word for 'example' here is 'tupos' where we get the word 'Type' (eg. David is a Type of Christ) which literally means to show forth the image of someone special (in this case Jesus).
(7) Will receive a crown of glory when Chief Shepherd appears (or is manifested) (Verse 4).
Good shepherds will receive the victor's Crown (used of wreath given on winning a race) - this is being put in a place of rulership and recognition when Jesus comes again.
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