Bible Study on 1 Peter 5

1 Peter 5

Introduction and Big Ideas: Peter concludes his epistle to the suffering and persecuted church with a number of practical and instructions after spending the beginning of the book to redirecting the church to the goodness of God evidenced by his great gift of salvation. Then Peter tells the church how live and standout in the unsaved world through glorifying God through submission. Next Peter went on to explain the many benefits of suffering and then reminding the church that they can rejoice in their suffering and that it is not in vain. Peter concludes the epistle with exhortation to elders, reiterating the theme of submission and humility, resistance to devil and finally the reminder that God works all things for good even in the midst of suffering.

V.1-4 Instruction and Exhortation to the Elders
V.1 Peter now turns to encouraging the elders who like the rest of the church are probably in great need of encouragement during persecution. Peter encourages them in 3 ways: 1 Identifying with them 2 reminding them there suffering is for Christ. 3 reminding them that they are a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. The Greek word here that is translated ‘elder’ is presbuterous where we get our English word Presbyterian. The use of this word helps make it clear that Peter is not just talking about old people in the church but the office of elder. The same Greek word is used in 1 Tim 5:17. For more on the office of elder see 1 Tim 3:1-7, 1 Tim5:17-20, Titus 1:5-9
V.2-3 After Peter encourages the elders he then tells them both how to and how not to shepherd the flock. Things to do: shepherd willing, eagerly, being examples to the flock. Things not to do: shepherd under compulsion, for dishonest gain, lording over those entrusted to the shepherd. Also note the Peter is instructing the elders how to shepherd the flock this is another clue that the kind of elders Peter is referring to is the office of elder and not just older people.
V.4 This describes the reward of God’s faithful shepherds. When the Jesus the chief shepherd appears he the over-shepherd will reward the under-shepherds with the crown of glory which does not fade away. This was another way Peter encouraged the elders of the persecuted church by reminding them that their work is not unnoticed and will not go unrewarded.
Application Questions: What can we biblically expect from those who shepherd over us? How can we encourage our shepherds?

V.5-7 Humility and Submitting to God
V.5 In v. 5 Peter turns his attention to those under the elders by telling them to submit to the elders. Then Peter takes the theme of submission and says all of you are to be submissive to everyone and be clothed with humility. Then Peter quotes Prov 3:34 showing that humility should be what characterize a Christian and that is what God rewards.
V.6 Since God opposes the proud we should humble ourselves under God. The verse says the mighty hand of God this carries the idea that the one we humble our self under is the mighty, sovereign Lord who should rightly and logically humble our self under anyway. The end of the verse tells us how God will at the right time reward those who humble themselves at the right time. Again this is great encouragement to those who are going through persecution that the Sovereign Lord in his timing will exalt them for their humility. The principle that those who humble themselves will be exalted is all through out scripture. See Luke 14:11 The converse is true too that those who selfishly exalt themselves will be humbled.
V.7 This verse tells us to cast our care on God for he cares for us. This is encouraging for any believer at anytime but especially true to the persecuted church Peter is writing to. We can have calm and peace in the midst of all of life’s trouble knowing that the Lord of all creation cares for us. Compare this to Phil 4:6, 7 and Matt 6:25-34
Application Questions: What does humility look like everyday in our Christian walks? What happens when we humble ourselves? Who will oppose us if we do not humble ourselves? What can we have confidence in when we go through times of trouble?

V.8-11 Resisting the Devil and Edification in Suffering
V.8 Peter tells us to be on guard and alert because we have an enemy ready to pounce on us whenever he has an opportunity. Picture a zebra in the wilderness constantly aware of the presence of lions in the jungle. This is also a reminder to the church that their suffering and persecution is part of the on going spiritual warfare that is in the world.
V.9 The method of resistance of the devil is by standing fast in the faith. This is done by abiding in the word and obeying it. To quote John MacArthur “as the believer knows sound doctrine and obeys God’s truth, Satan is withstood.” Going back to the zebra analogy a single, lonely, isolated zebra is likely to become lion food. But a zebra traveling in herd as it should, will have a much greater chance of not getting picked off by the lion. The same is true of believers a loner believer with out sound doctrine can more easily be pounced on by Satan then a believer with sound doctrine surrounded by a church for protection. The end of the verses reminds the church that the trials they are going through are not unique to them but common of all believers everywhere. This helps them to know they are not going it alone and to preserve through trials. See James 4:7
V.10 This tells the believer though on the one hand they are going through suffering on the other hand Christ is working on you. He is perfecting, establishing, strengthening, and settling you in the midst of it. Remember that God works all things together for good to those who love him to those who are the called according to his purposes Rom 8:28. God brings good out of what may at the times only look bad to us.
V11. This verse ends this section with praise to Jesus for how he works his purposes in his ways even in our trials.
Application Questions: What attitude should we have knowing the Satan is real and ready to oppose us because we stand for Christ? How is the enemy resisted? Why can we rejoice when we are going through trials what does this practically look like?

V.12-14 The Conclusion:
V.12 Apparently Silvanus was the one who Peter dictated the letter to and delivered the letter. Silvanus is mentioned in Acts 15:32 and Acts 16:37. Peter reveals his purpose for writing the letter to exhort the church and to tesitify to them about the grace they stand in. Another way of putting it to encourage them and show them the spiritual reality of what they are blessed with and how they can apply it.
V.13 Babylon here does not refer to the nation in Mesopotamia but to a church in Rome. They probably took this code name to avoid persecution and danger to the church. The elect together with you is a reminder that all church are tied together and have in common their relationship to Christ though election. Mark is the spiritual son as Peter and the author of the Gospel of Mark.
V.14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.. I am going to let you make your own interpretation and application of this verse. Keep in mind Scripture is inerrant and God wants you to obey all his commands. The way some Anabaptists groups practice this is by men kissing men and women kissing women during the service maybe that is how it was done in ancient times. Many of Paul’s epistles also end with this same instruction. The last line of Peter’s epistle wishes peace to the church that has been experiencing anything but peace in their persecution.
Application Question: How does what we know about in V.12 help us to interpret and understand the rest of the book?

Wrap Up and Review: Having gone through 1 Peter what we now know about the nature of salvation and all the benefits of suffering should change the way we react to it. We all have suffered at various points in our lives and will at times in the future we also know people who may be suffering now. Let us now be ready to glorify God in all that we go through and exalt and magnify Christ no matter what may happen to us. Let us not waste an opportunity to glorify the Lord. Specifically from this chapter we now know what to biblically expect from those who shepherd over us. Will we hold them accountable to God’s standard? Will we willing submit to their leading? How about the always constant theme of humility and submission? Will we let any pride stand in our way of obeying and glorifying God? Are we prepared for the spiritual battle of life? If not why not? How will you change to get prepared? Lastly, can we always remember and recognize that God is always good no matter what we go through? Think how are we going to let these truths change our lives? The 3 steps of Bible study of observation, interpretation, and application. What steps do you need to take to complete your bible study with application?