Instructions to Elders 1 Elders therefore among you I encourage, the fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory about to be revealed:
Tertullian · AD 220 Exhibit therefore even now to me, apostolic sir, prophetic evidences, that I may recognise your divine virtue, and vindicate to yourself the power of remitting such sins!
Oecumenius · AD 550 Since Peter proposes to discuss the modesty of the spirit, which he even touches upon while speaking about "doing good", (1 Peter 4:19) and now calling himself a co-elder, that is, both an elder together with them. Through this, Peter designates either his own age or the honor of bishops. For it is known that bishops are also called elders, as the book of Acts indicates.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 The Apostle was about to speak of humility, which he had already mentioned, saying: "doing good" (1 Pet. 4:19). He calls himself a "pastor" (elder) either on account of his age or on account of the dignity of a bishop; for the book of Acts (Acts 20:17) also calls bishops elders.
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight — not under compulsion but willingly, according to God; not for base gain but eagerly;
Ignatius of Antioch · AD 108 Ye presbyters, "feed the flock which is among you," till God shall show who is to hold the rule over you. For "I am now ready to be offered," that I "may win Christ." Let the deacons know of what dignity they are, and let them study to be blameless, that they may be the followers of Christ. Let the people be subject to the presbyters and the deacons.
Hilary of Arles · AD 449 Here Peter is telling the leaders of the church exactly what the Lord told him: "Feed my sheep."
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 He who in himself offers his flock an example of good conduct pastures them "not by compulsion," and thereby urges them to vie with one another in emulating their teacher.
3 not as exercising lordship over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
Hilary of Arles · AD 449 Even though you may have authority over the church in what you say or in the office which you occupy, you should never have a superior attitude toward others.
Paschasius of Dumium · AD 600 Practice what you preach, so that you may offer your people not only advice but a model as well, that they may imitate your example.
Bede · AD 735 Nor as being lords over those assigned to your care, etc. So that the humility, which you desire your subjects to have towards you and among themselves, you may first show by your own actions and keep in your own mind intact, according to the word of the Lord: "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise au…
4 And when the Chief Shepherd is made manifest, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Methodius of Olympus · AD 311 But let us, beloved, return in our discourse to that point whence we digressed, exclaiming, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord: that good and kind Shepherd, voluntarily to lay down His life for His sheep. That just as hunters take by a sheep the wolves that devour sheep, even so the Chief Shepherd,
Oecumenius · AD 550 Furthermore, when it is said, "And when the chief Shepherd appears," it is a conjunction. And it is informally placed for "So that": that is, "So that when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory." Just as in Psalm 89, when it is said, "And look upon your servants and upon your works." For there "And" is placed in the place of "Because of which.…
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 In the words "and when the Chief Shepherd appears," the conjunction "and" is put in place of "so that," that is, so that when the Chief Shepherd appears, you may receive the crown of incorruption.
Cast Your Cares on Him 5 Likewise, younger ones, be subject to the elders. And all of you gird on humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Clement of Rome · AD 99 Moreover, you were all distinguished by humility, and were in no respect puffed up with pride, but yielded obedience rather than extorted it, and were more willing to give than to receive.
Apostolic Constitutions · AD 380 We add, in the next place, that neither is every one that prophesies holy, nor every one that casts out devils religious: for even Balaam the son of Beor the prophet did prophesy, though he was himself ungodly; as also did Caiaphas, the falsely-named high priest.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 Because humility is the dwelling place of grace, the grace of the Holy Spirit rests upon the humble alone. Whence Augustine, in the third book of On Christian Doctrine: "For this reason the sins of great men were written down, so that that apostolic saying might everywhere be feared: Wherefore let him who seems to stand take heed lest he fall.
6 Be humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time,
John Chrysostom · AD 407 Peter says that this will happen in due time, because he is teaching them that they will have to wait until the next life for this exaltation.
Oecumenius · AD 550 It is added, "In time." For it refers to the exaltation in the future age, which is the only true exaltation, as unchangeable and everlasting, since the present exaltation is neither secure nor firm, but rather contributes to a perpetual humiliation, so that it may be humbled more quickly than it was exalted.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 The Apostle speaks of "its own time," just as David says: "which yields its fruit in its season" (Ps. 1:3); by the word "in... time" he hints at exaltation in the age to come, which exaltation, and it alone, is unchangeable and firm. For exaltation here is neither safe nor secure, but is rather brought low than raised up.
7 having cast all your anxiety upon him, because there is care with him about you.
Shepherd of Hermas · AD 160 For, like elderly men who have no hope of renewing their strength, and expect nothing but their last sleep, so you, weakened by worldly occupations, have given yourselves up to sloth, and have not cast your cares upon the Lord. Your spirit therefore was broken, and ye grew old in your sorrows.
Oecumenius · AD 550 Then, removing the fear that would arise from humiliation (for perhaps he saw some fearing that by humbling themselves in this present life, they would suffer some evil), he said: "Do not be afraid, casting all your anxiety on the Lord, when you have entrusted yourself to him who will take careful and diligent care of you." "because he cares for you," or concern is placed upon…
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 Then, in order to remove the fear that comes with humility, he says: do not be afraid, but cast all your care upon the Lord, for He cares, that is, He is concerned about all this.
8 Be sober, watch. Your adversary the devil prowls about as a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour;
Fabian of Rome · AD 250 Furthermore, we desire you to know this, that in our times, as our sins embarrassed us, and that ancient enemy who always goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,
Augustine of Hippo · AD 430 Who could avoid encountering the teeth of this lion, if the lion from the tribe of Judah had not conquered?
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The soul is disposed to the gift of fortitude through the unconquerable shield of faith. The devil draws man to the concupiscence of the flesh, to the concupiscence of the eyes, and to the pride of life. What is the means of resisting these? Through truth. "His truth shall encompass you with a shield," namely through faith dwelling within.
9 whom resist, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brotherhood throughout the world.
Hilary of Arles · AD 449 There is a world of difference between God and the devil. If you resist God, he will destroy you, but if you resist the devil, you will destroy him.
Bede · AD 735 Resist strong in faith, etc. Be (he says) so much stronger in faith, have so much more patience to overcome the deceits of the devil, as it is certain that you are not tempted alone, but the same passion that wearies you is common to the Church of Christ which is throughout the whole world, that is to say, to your brotherhood.
Bonaventure · AD 1257 The soul is disposed to the gift of fortitude through the unconquerable shield of faith. The devil draws man to the concupiscence of the flesh, to the concupiscence of the eyes, and to the pride of life. What is the means of resisting these? Through truth. "His truth shall encompass you with a shield," namely through faith dwelling within.
Benediction and Farewell 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, he himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Clement of Alexandria · AD 215 "But the God of all grace," he says. [1 Peter 5:10] "Of all grace," he says, because He is good, and the giver of all good things.
Andreas of Caesarea · AD 614 See how the beginning and the end of the epistle are the same. At the beginning Peter said that the Father has mercy on us through the Son and here he once again says that the Father has called us into his eternal glory through Jesus Christ.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 And at the beginning of the epistle (1 Pet. 1:2–3) the apostle said that the Father had mercy on us through the Son, and now, at the end of it, he teaches that the same Father called us through the Son. For this is the very aim of the apostles: to proclaim the mystery, even if they did so together with exhortation.
11 To him be the power to the ages. Amen.
Andreas of Caesarea · AD 614 It is ultimately the role of the Father and of the Son to proclaim the mystery of faith, because the glory and power belong to them, although they condescend to make use of us and of our preaching.
12 Through Silvanus, the faithful brother to you as I regard him, I have written to you briefly, encouraging and testifying that this is the true grace of God — in which stand firm.
Oecumenius · AD 550 "By Silvanus." This Silvanus was very faithful and eagerly motivated around the preaching. Indeed, Paul also mentions him and takes him as a helper along with Timothy in his letters, saying: "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy." (1-2 Thess. 1:1)
Bede · AD 735 Through Sylvanus, your faithful brother, etc. What he says, beseeching, can refer to what precedes, because he writes briefly after all, not commanding, but beseeching them to stand firm in faith.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 This Silvanus believes excellently and labors diligently in the work of preaching. Paul also mentions him, and together with Timothy names him as a fellow worker in his epistles; thus, he writes: "Paul and Silvanus and Timothy" (1 Thess. 1:1).
13 She who is in Babylon, elected together with you, greets you, and Mark my son.
Papias of Hierapolis · AD 130 This also the presbyter [John] said: Mark, having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately, though not in order, whatsoever he remembered of the things said or done by Christ.
Oecumenius · AD 550 Peter calls Rome Babylon, because it was so remarkable and distinguished, as it had been for a long time in Babylon. Peter calls his son Mark according to the spirit, and not according to the flesh. To him, he entrusted the task of writing the Gospel.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 "Babylon" he calls Rome on account of its eminence, which Babylon also enjoyed for a long time. "Elect" he calls the Church of God that was established in Rome. By Mark he means the Evangelist, calling him also a son in the Spirit, not in the flesh. It was to him that he gave the command to write the Gospel.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ.
Tertullian · AD 220 But when is peace more to be concluded with brethren than when, at the time of some religious observance, our prayer ascends with more acceptability; that they may themselves participate in our observance, and thereby be mollified for transacting with their brother touching. their own peace? What prayer is complete if divorced from the "holy kiss?
Oecumenius · AD 550 However, when Paul writes that they should greet each other with a holy kiss (2 Cor. 14:12), Peter says here, "With a kiss of love," saying the same as that. For Paul (1 Cor. 13:1-19) knows the love which is according to Christ and is greater than all virtues, even than martyrdom itself suffered for Christ.
Theophylact of Ohrid · AD 1107 Whereas Paul writes (Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20) that believers should greet one another "with a holy kiss," Peter says: greet one another "with a kiss of love." But the thought of both is one and the same. Paul knows that love in the Lord is greater than all virtues, even martyrdom for Christ, and therefore calls holy the kiss that is given in God.