A.T. Robertson Commentary 1 Peter 5

Who am a fellow-elder (ο συνπρεσβυτερος). Earliest use of this compound in an inscription of B.C. 120 for fellow-elders (alderman) in a town, here only in N.T., in eccles. writers. For the word πρεσβυτερος in the technical sense of officers in a Christian church (like elder in the local synagogues of the Jews) see Ac 11:30; 20:17. It is noteworthy that here Peter the Apostle (1:1) calls himself an elder along with (συν) the other "elders."

A witness (μαρτυς). This is what Jesus had said they must be (Acts 1:8) and what Peter claimed to be (Acts 3:15; Acts 10:39). So Paul was to be a μαρτυς (Acts 22:15).

Who am also a partaker (ο κα κοινωνος). "The partner also," "the partaker also." See Lu 5:10; 2 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Peter 1:4. See same idea in Ro 8:17. In Ga 3:23; Romans 8:18 we have almost this about the glory about to be revealed to us where μελλω as here is used with the infinitive.

Tend (ποιμανατε). First aorist active imperative of ποιμαινω, old verb, from ποιμην (shepherd) as in Lu 17:7. Jesus used this very word to Peter in the interview by the Sea of Galilee (John 21:16) and Peter doubtless has this fact in mind here. Paul used the word to the elders at Miletus (Acts 20:28). See 2:25 for the metaphor.

Flock (ποιμνιον). Old word, likewise from ποιμην, contraction of ποιμενιον (Luke 12:32).

Exercising the oversight (επισκοπουντες). Present active participle of επισκοπεω, old word (in Heb 12:15 alone in N.T.), omitted here by Aleph B.

Not by constraint (μη αναγκαστως). Negative μη because of the imperative. Old adverb from verbal adjective αναγκαστος, here alone in N.T.

But willingly (αλλα εκουσιως). By contrast. Old adverb, in N.T. only here and Heb 10:26.

Nor yet for filthy lucre (μηδε αισχροκερδως). A compound adverb not found elsewhere, but the old adjective αισχροκερδης is in 1 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:7. See also Tit 1:11 "for the sake of filthy lucre" (αισχρου κερδους χαριν). Clearly the elders received stipends, else there could be no such temptation.

But of a ready mind (αλλα προθυμως). Old adverb from προθυμος (Matthew 26:41), here only in N.T.

Lording it over (κατακυριευοντες). Present active participle of κατακυριευω, late compound (κατα, κυριος) as in Mt 20:25.

The charge allotted to you (των κληρων). "The charges," "the lots" or "the allotments." See it in Ac 1:17,25 in this sense. The old word meant a die (Matthew 27:25), a portion (Colossians 1:12; 1 Peter 1:4), here the charges assigned (cf. Acts 17:4). From the adjective κληρικος come our cleric, clerical, clerk. Wycliff translated it here "neither as having lordship in the clergie."

Making yourselves ensamples (τυπο γινομενο). Present active participle of γινομα and predicate nominative τυπο (types, models) for which phrase see 1 Thessalonians 1:7. Continually becoming. See 2:21 for υπογραμμος (writing-copy).

To the flock (του ποιμνιου). Objective genitive.

When the chief Shepherd shall be manifested (φανερωθεντος του αρχιποιμενος). Genitive absolute with first aorist passive participle of φανεροω, to manifest, and genitive of αρχιποιμην, a compound (αρχι, ποιμην) after analogy of αρχιερευς, here only in N.T., but in Testam. of Twelve Patrs. (Jud. 8) and on a piece of wood around an Egyptian mummy and also on a papyrus A.D. 338 (Deissmann, Light, etc., p. 100). See Heb 13:20 for ο ποιμην ο μεγας (the Shepherd the great).

Ye shall receive (κομιεισθε). Future of κομιζω (1:9, which see).

The crown of glory that fadeth not away (τον αμαραντινον της δοξης στεφανον). For "crown" (στεφανος) see Jas 1:12; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 2:10; 3:10; 4:4. In the Gospels it is used only of the crown of thorns, but Jesus is crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9). In all these passages it is the crown of victory as it is here. See 1:4 for αμαραντος, unfading. Αμαραντινος is made from that word as the name of a flower αμαρανθ (so called because it never withers and revives if moistened with water and so used as a symbol of immortality), "composed of amaranth" or "amarantine," "the amarantine (unfading) crown of glory."

Be subject (οποταγητε). Second aorist passive imperative of υποτασσω.

Unto the elder (πρεσβυτεροις). Dative case. Here the antithesis between younger and elder shows that the word refers to age, not to office as in 5:1. See a like change in meaning in 1 Timothy 5:1,17.

All (παντες). All ages, sexes, classes.

Gird yourselves with humility (την ταπεινοφροσυνην εγκομβωσασθε). First aorist middle imperative of εγκομβοομα, late and rare verb (in Apollodorus, fourth cent. B.C.), here only in N.T., from εν and κομβος (knot, like the knot of a girdle). Εγκομβωμα was the white scarf or apron of slaves. It is quite probable that Peter here is thinking of what Jesus did (John 13:4ff.) when he girded himself with a towel and taught the disciples, Peter in particular (John 13:9ff.), the lesson of humility (John 13:15). Peter had at last learned the lesson (John 21:15–19).

The proud (υπερηφανοις). Dative plural of υπερηφανος (James 4:6; Romans 1:30) after αντιτασσετα (present middle indicative of αντιτασσω as in Jas 4:6 (quoted there as here from Pr 3:34).