John Calvin Commentary 1 Peter 5:1

"The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:" — 1 Peter 5:1 (ASV)

In exhorting pastors to their duty, he points out especially three vices which are found to be very prevalent: sloth, desire of gain, and lust for power. In opposition to the first vice, he sets alacrity or a willing attention; to the second, liberality; and to the third, moderation and meekness, by which they are to keep themselves in their own rank or station.

He then says that pastors ought not to care for the flock of the Lord only to the extent that they are constrained; for those who seek to do no more than what constraint compels them do their work formally and negligently. Hence, he wants them to do willingly what they do, as those who are really devoted to their work.

To correct avarice, he instructs them to perform their office with a ready mind. For whoever does not have this goal in view—to spend himself and his labor disinterestedly and gladly on behalf of the Church—is not a minister of Christ, but a slave to his own stomach and his purse.

The third vice which he condemns is a lust for exercising power or dominion. But it may be asked, what kind of power does he mean? This, it seems to me, may be gathered from the opposite clause, in which he instructs them to be examples to the flock.

It is as though he had said that they are to preside for this purpose: to be eminent in holiness, which cannot happen unless they humbly subject themselves and their life to the same common rule. What stands opposed to this virtue is tyrannical pride, when the pastor exempts himself from all subjection and tyrannizes over the Church.

This is why Ezekiel condemned the false prophets: that they ruled cruelly and tyrannically (Ezekiel 34:4). Christ also condemned the Pharisees because they laid intolerable burdens on the shoulders of the people which they would not touch, no, not with a finger (Matthew 23:4). This imperious rigor, then, which ungodly pastors exercise over the Church, cannot be corrected unless their authority is restrained, so that they rule in such a way as to provide an example of a godly life.

The elders. By this name he designates pastors and all those who are appointed for the government of the Church. But they called them presbyters or elders for honor’s sake, not because they were all old in age, but because they were principally chosen from the aged; for old age, for the most part, has more prudence, gravity, and experience.

But as sometimes gray hair is not wisdom, according to a Greek proverb, and as young men are found more fit (such as Timothy), these were also usually called presbyters after having been chosen into that order. Since Peter likewise calls himself a presbyter, it appears that it was a common name, which is still more evident from many other passages.

Moreover, by this title he secured for himself more authority, as though he had said that he had a right to admonish pastors because he was one of them; for there ought to be mutual liberty between colleagues. But if he had the right of primacy, he would have claimed it, and this would have been most suitable on the present occasion. But although he was an Apostle, he yet knew that authority was by no means delegated to him over his colleagues, but that, on the contrary, he was joined with the rest in the participation of the same office.

A witness of the sufferings of Christ. This may be explained as referring to doctrine, yet I prefer to regard it as referring to his own life. At the same time, both may be admitted. However, I am more disposed to embrace the latter view, because these two clauses will then be more in harmony: that Peter speaks of the sufferings of Christ in his own flesh, and that he would also be a partaker of His glory.

For the passage agrees with that of Paul: If we suffer together, we shall also reign together. Besides, it greatly helps us believe his words that he gave proof of his faith by enduring the cross. For from this it is evident that he spoke in earnest; and the Lord, by thus testing His people, seals, as it were, their ministry, so that it might have more honor and reverence among men. Peter, then, probably had this in view, so that he might be heard as the faithful minister of Christ, a proof of which he gave in the persecutions he had suffered and in the hope he had of future life.

But we must observe that Peter confidently declares that he would be a partaker of that glory which was not yet revealed, for it is the character of faith to acquiesce in hidden blessings.