RSV ~ 1 Peter 5 Notes
1 Pet 5:1 | ISB Notes
the elders: The shepherds of the local Churches addressed by Peter (1:1). Their pastoral authority to guide, instruct, and protect the flock under their care is derived from the supreme pastoral authority of Christ the “chief Shepherd” (5:4; Acts 20:28-32). And because they stand accountable for the welfare of the Lord’s sheep, Peter warns them not to misuse their authority grudgingly, greedily, or oppressively (5:2-3). In modern terms, the elder is equivalent to a “presbyter” or “priest” (CCC 1551, 1567).
See word study: Elders at Jas 5:14.
fellow elder: Peter shares in the grace of pastoral ministry that is possessed by the clergymen he is addressing. This does not imply, as some have claimed, that Peter saw himself on the same level as these local pastors, as though he possessed no special authority over them. This is a misunderstanding. At the very least, Peter was numbered among the apostles, who were designated “first” in authority over the Church (1 Cor 12:28). Not only that, but Peter held the distinction of being “first” in relation to the twelve apostles hand-picked by Jesus (Mt 10:2). Evidence for Peter’s headship over the Church has a clear and solid basis in the NT, for he alone was singled out to wield “the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 16:19) and to tend the entire flock of Christ’s “sheep” (Jn 21:15-17).
See essay: Peter, Prince of the Apostles at Acts 2.
a witness: Means both that Peter witnessed some of Christ’s sufferings and that he bears witness to them when he preaches the gospel (Acts 5:29-30; 10:34-43).
1 Pet 5:5 | ISB Notes
be subject to the elders: The flock must heed the ordained shepherds of the Church (1 Thess 5:12; CCC 754).
God opposes the proud: A quotation from the Greek version of Prov 3:34.
• The proverb pleads for humility with the promise that God will exalt us in his favor. Peter is encouraging humble submission to clergymen, who represent the Lord to his people (Acts 20:28). The proud, who are puffed up and insubordinate, will one day be humiliated (Jas 4:6-7).
1 Pet 5:6 | ISB Notes
Humble … exalt you: Echoes the saying of Jesus in Mt 23:12.
1 Pet 5:7 | ISB Notes
all your anxieties: Like any good father, God invites his children to unload their worries upon him so that peace and comfort can be given in return (Phil 4:6-7; CCC 322).
1 Pet 5:8 | ISB Notes
Your adversary the devil: Peter points the finger at Satan, accusing him of being the unseen perpetrator of Christian persecutions (5:9). His deadly intentions and predatorial tactics make him comparable to a ravenous lion on the hunt for food. Lions were greatly feared in biblical times (2 Kings 17:25-26) and were sometimes made a symbol of one’s enemy (Ps 7:1-2; 10:8-9) (CCC 2851-54).
1 Pet 5:12 | ISB Notes
Silvanus: Also known in the NT as “Silas”. He was once a member of Paul’s missionary team (Acts 15:40; 2 Cor 1:19) and a co-sender of two of his letters (1 Thess 1:1; 2 Thess 1:1). Most likely, Silvanus is mentioned here because Peter employed him as the writer or drafter of the epistle. It is also possible that he delivered the letter to its original recipients (1 Pet 1:1).
1 Pet 5:13 | ISB Notes
She: i.e., the Church, which is a feminine noun in Greek.
Babylon: The place of writing where the letter originated. Most agree it is a code name for the city of Rome, in central Italy.
See introduction: Origin.
my son Mark: John Mark, an early believer from Jerusalem (Acts 12:12) whom Christian tradition identifies as the author of the Gospel of Mark. Here associated with Peter, he was also a onetime companion of Paul (Col 4:10; 2 Tim 4:11).
1 Pet 5:14 | ISB Notes
the kiss of love: A customary form of greeting in Jewish antiquity (Gen 33:4; Lk 15:20). It was adopted by the early Christians as a sign of their fraternal affection as brothers and sisters in the faith (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20).