John Calvin Commentary 1 Peter 5:3

"neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock." — 1 Peter 5:3 (ASV)

Neither as being lords, or, as exercising dominion. The Greek preposition κατὰ is, for the most part, taken in a negative sense. Therefore, Peter here condemns the unreasonable exercise of power, as is the case with those who do not consider themselves to be ministers of Christ and His Church, but seek something higher.

And Peter calls particular churches “lots,” (cleros) for just as the whole body of the Church is the Lord’s heritage, so the churches scattered through towns and villages were like so many farms, the cultivation of which the Lord assigns to each presbyter.

Some very ignorantly think that those called “clergy” are meant here. Indeed, it was an ancient way of speaking to call the entire order of ministers “clergy”; but I wish it had never occurred to the Fathers to speak this way. For it was by no means right to confine to a few men what Scripture ascribes in common to the whole Church. This way of speaking was spurious, or at least it was a departure from apostolic usage.

Indeed, Peter expressly gives the churches this title so that we may know that whatever people ascribe to themselves is taken away from the Lord. This is similar to how, in many places, He calls the Church His peculiar treasure and the rod of His heritage, when He intends to claim His entire dominion over it.

For He never hands over to pastors the government, but only the care, so that His own right remains still complete.