![]() ![]() They must be examples to the flock, and practise the holiness, self-denial, mortification, and all other Christian duties, which they preach and recommend to their people. The elders are exhorted to do the office of bishops (as the word signifies), by personal care and vigilance over all the flock committed to their charge. The pastors of the church must take the oversight thereof. To feed the flock, by preaching to them the sincere word of God, and ruling them according to such directions and discipline as the word of God prescribes, both which are implied in this expression, Feed the flock. The pastor's duty described, and the manner in which that duty ought to be performed. It was the peculiar honour of Peter, and a few more, to be the witnesses of Christ's sufferings but it is the privilege of all true Christians to be partakers of the glory that shall be revealed. All the apostles were elders, though every elder was not an apostle. He does not claim sovereignty over all pastors and churches, nor style himself prince of the apostles, vicar of Christ, or head of the church, but values himself upon being an elder. ![]() How different the spirit and behaviour of Peter were from that of his pretended successors! He does not command and domineer, but exhort. Those whose office it is to teach others ought carefully to study their own duty, as well as teach the people theirs. He adds that he was also a partaker of the glory that was in some degree revealed at the transfiguration ( Matt 17 1-3), and shall be completely enjoyed at the second coming of Jesus Christ. He was also a witness of the sufferings of Christ, being with him in the garden, attending him to the palace of the high-priest, and very likely being a spectator of his suffering upon the cross, at a distance among the crowd, Acts 3 15. The person who gives this exhortation-the apostle Peter: I exhort and, to give force to this exhortation, he tells them he was their brother-presbyter or fellow-elder, and so puts nothing upon them but what he was ready to perform himself. The persons to whom this exhortation is given-to the presbyters, pastors, and spiritual guides of the church, elders by office, rather than by age, ministers of those churches to whom he wrote this epistle. ![]() 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 66.)ฤก The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind 3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. He then exhorts all to sobriety, watchfulness against temptations, and stedfastness in the faith, praying earnestly for them and so concludes his epistle with a solemn doxology, mutual salutations, and his apostolical benediction. In which the apostle gives particular directions, first to the elders, how to behave themselves towards their flock ( ver 1-4) then to the younger, to be obedient and humble, and to cast their care upon God, ver 5-7.
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