1 Peter 5:1-14

(60.10a)

Hope in Community

What does this Bible passage say?

There are four entities referred to in this study passage. They are:

Elders = the leaders of the church, called pastors in many churches today
Flock = the church congregation, to whom this letter was written (1 Peter 1:1-2).
Chief Shepherd = Jesus
Devil = Satan

Although the first paragraph (vv. 1-4) is directed to the elders, the instructions they are given are focused on the flock. It is important that the flock understands these instructions too because they are instructed to "Obey your leaders and submit to them". (See Hebrews 13:17)

The other three paragraphs (vv. 5-14) are instructions for the whole flock.

Read the study text slowly, thoughtfully, and prayerfully from your own Bible.

► What are your initial thoughts and how does this passage make you feel when you read it?

► What questions do you have about this passage?

You may also find reading from other translations helpful, such as the translation provided on this webpage, or these on the Blue Letter Bible website:
(LSB) (NLT)

► What seems to be the main idea of this passage?

Bible Study Passage

With Leaders (5:1-4)

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you,

as a fellow elder,

and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,

and a partaker of the glory about to be revealed,

2 shepherd God’s flock that is among you,

watching over them,

not by compulsion,

but willingly,

in accordance with God,

not for personal gain,

but from a real desire to serve,

3 not dominating over those under your care,

but becoming examples for the flock.

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears,

you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

In Humility (5:5-7)

In like manner,

you who are younger, be subject to your elders.

Everyone, clothe yourselves with humble-mindedness toward one another

because God opposes the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore, humble yourselves under the powerful hand of God,

so that He may raise you up at the proper time,

7 having cast all your anxiety on Him,

because He is concerned for you.

Being Alert (5:8-11)

Control yourself; be alert.

Your adversary the Devil walks around as a roaring lion,

seeking whom he may swallow up.

9 You must resist him,

steadfast in the faith,

knowing your fellow believers throughout the world are experiencing the same kinds of suffering.

10 Then, having suffered a while, the God of all grace,

who called you into His perpetual glory in Christ,

will Himself make you:

complete,

established,

strengthened,

and settled.

11 To Him is the glory and the sovereignty forever and ever! Amen.

As Family (5:12-14)

With the help of Silvanus,

the faithful brother, as I regard him,

I wrote to you through a few words,

encouraging and declaring this to be the true grace of God;

Stand firm in it.

13 She in Babylon,

chosen with you,

greets you,

and my son Mark.

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to you all who are in Christ.

Read the Study Text and complete the study question above before answering the following questions.

What did this Bible passage mean
to the people of its day?

(Learn about them, then)

► If you have a study Bible, what do the notes on this passage teach you?

► Go to: https://www.bibleref.com/1-Peter/5/1-Peter-5-1.html

On the right side of that webpage, click on the "Expand" button under the Context Summary section and read the commentary there.
Then, on the left side of the webpage, under the word VERSE, click on each of the verse numbers in this lesson, one at a time, and read the article "What does [this verse] mean?" on the right side of the webpage. (Click on the button "Expand" to see the whole article.)

► What did you learn about the study passage from these notes and articles?

► What did God want or not want people to know, feel, think, say or do back when Peter wrote this letter?

What is the message of this Bible passage
for people today?

(Learn for us, now)

The letter of 1 Peter is a message of:

Hope for the Chosen in Christ (1 Peter 1:1-2)

The letter explains how we grow spiritually through our:

Hope from Our Salvation by Christ (1 Peter 1:3-2:10)
(Growing in our knowledge of Jesus)
Hope through Living in Christ (1 Peter 2:11-4:11)
(Growing in our relationship in Jesus)
Hope for Persevering with Christ (1 Peter 4:1-5:14)
(Growing in our service with Jesus)

► Take a few minutes to step back and

Review the outline for the letter of 1 Peter.
Read straight through the letter of 1 Peter to get a feel for the content and flow of the letter.

► What does God want or not want people to know, feel, think, say or do today?

► What does God want or not want you to know, feel, think, say or do this week?

(This Page Last Updated 12/5/2024)

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