Elders (1 Peter 1:1-5)

It is important to observe the connection between verse 1 and the preceding verses at the close of chapter 4. In those preceding verses, Peter has referred to the fact that judgment begins at the house of God, which he seems to say is one way of assessing the various troubles that believers were experiencing. The connecting word ‘so’ at the start of chapter 5 indicates that there is a connection between that situation and his exhortation to the elders. The exhortation comes to them because of the serious state of affairs that existed in society at that time.

So Peter begins this section by addressing the elders of the churches to which he was writing. He has the same message for all on them. Although he is speaking to the elders, he addresses them through a letter he sent to all the believers because the elders are described as ‘among you’. So the elders and the others would have heard his message at the same time. Both the elders and the church members would be reminded of the role of an elder.

Before he gives his exhortation, he describes himself in three ways: he is an elder, he is a witness, and he will be a partaker in the future glory. We know that Peter was more than an elder because he was a chosen apostle, and that role gave him a special position in the church alongside his fellow apostles. But the greater office includes the lesser office, so Peter in addition to being an apostle was also an elder who had the place of a ruler in the church.

When Peter says that he is a witness to the sufferings of Christ, he is probably not saying that he was an eyewitness of the cross, because he wasn’t. Rather he means that his main role is to testify about the sufferings of Jesus in the sense of witnessing to it, affirming that Jesus had suffered when he paid the penalty of sin. This role as a witness is similar to, if not the same as his role as an apostle. 

Peter was also looking ahead to when he would share the glory of the eternal state. He is certain about it, both as regarding its arrival and his participation. Perhaps he wanted to encourage his suffering readers facing distressing circumstances. We know that Peter failed Jesus in the upper room; but the Saviour graciously informed him that, when he would be restored, he would strengthen his brothers. And that is what he is doing here. The fact that glory is coming should affect our way of life.

The role

The work of an elder is described as shepherding. I suppose that a shepherd’s work is summarised by three words – leading, feeding, and protecting. That is what oversight means. No doubt a lot of things could be said about each area, but I will mention one detail for each. Leading means clarity of direction for others in the congregation, and often this is shown by example. Feeding means ensuring that believers have the right diet, and a balanced diet, so that they will grow in the faith and become mature. Protecting means being aware of the dangers to the congregation (Paul in Acts 20 reminded the elders of Ephesus that dangers would come from outside the congregation and from inside the congregation).

Peter then mentions three wrong ways and three right ways to function as elders, and he does so by three contrasting pairs. First, their shepherding should be willing service. This is the only kind of service that God accepts. Perhaps some were pushed into the position for a variety of reasons, but a basic reason must be that they want to serve in this way. Paul reminds Timothy that an elder should desire to be one, and if the person does not want to do the role, he shouldn’t do it.

Second, they should not become elders for financial reasons or for obtaining some form of popularity. These are often motives in other walks of life, but that should not be reasons for becoming an elder. Instead, an elder is driven by eagerness to help Christ’s flock by providing leading, feeding and protecting for them. It should never be too much for him to fulfil any of those roles. 

Third, Peter forbids elders from dictating to others what they should do unless they are doing it themselves. Example is crucial. It is inevitable that elders will be imitated when they lose their sense of devotion because others will assume that their actions are suitable. When does an elder engage in dictating? One suggested answer is when he adds to or takes from the Word of God because inevitably when he does that, he is presenting his own opinions. An example of such a person is Diotrophes mentioned by John in his third letter.

The reward (v. 4)

Jesus is the chief Shepherd and one of his roles when he will return will be to reward those elders who have served him in the manner described here. Peter contrasts this crown with the short-lived laurels that athletes in races received for running them. The crown that elders will receive is not a medal, rather it will be glory. Peter here is probably referring to what are called degrees of glory. What that means has not yet been revealed except to say that it will be personal, permanent and prominent. It will be connected to their service, it will reveal the degree of award they have been given, and it will be an eternal enjoyment.

In most businesses, the persons whose opinion ultimately matters are the bosses. They are the only ones who can insist that things be done in the ways that they desire. Sooner or later, they will assess what is being done in their firms and appropriate action will follow. Managers are accountable to their bosses. Elders in this sense are like managers accountable to Jesus. In an ultimate sense, only Jesus can say ‘Well done’ with accuracy.

Peter says that they will receive this reward from Jesus. Often in this life rewards are given by strangers. Yet sometimes the reward that is given to an athlete is handed over by a famous athlete, much better known than the recipient. People notice when that happens because the famous person adds dignity to the occasion. But no matter how dignified an earthly event may be, it falls far short of the glory of the occasion when Jesus will give his rewards to his servants. 

The response of the younger (v. 5)

Peter mentions one response which is that the younger should summit themselves to what the elders decide is appropriate for leading, feeding and defending the people of God. Why should they submit? One commentator suggests three reasons: (1) because the elders should have accumulated wisdom, (2) because the elders should have good understanding of what is required in the Bible, and (3) God has given them the task of caring for his sheep. Those suggested qualifications seem reasonable, whoever the younger are that Peter has in mind when he mentions them.

There is a difficulty in understanding who Peter means by ‘younger’ here. The problem is caused by some wondering, if Paul means young men in particular, why should they be separated from everyone else in the church, including those who were older and also those who were female? 

One suggestion is that it refers to younger leaders in a congregation. Perhaps there may be something in this suggestion because we know that Paul prepared Timothy for his roles and Timothy prepared faithful men for their roles. In a similar way, some think that ‘the younger’ here would be deacons since they are the only other group mentioned in the New Testament. It is sensible that current elders should be thinking ahead and preparing for the future by training others to become elders. 

Otherwise, if we extend the meaning of the ‘younger’ to every person who is younger than the elders, does that mean that older people who are not elders can ignore the elders? The suggestion is absurd, yet it would be expected unless the ‘younger’ are a specific group in close contact with the elders, who should be responding in a specific way with subjection. It is not hard to imagine that in difficult times such as persecution, when the elders could be arrested and punished, that they were preparing younger men to be ready to step into their shoes.

Such a suggestion is not a million miles away from any church today. For example, where does a church expect to be in five years’ time, ten years’ time? While all the teaching of the Bible is important, what are the areas that church leaders must know and teach to their congregations for life and witness in the twenty-first century in their society? Not every topic is suitable for sermons. We are living in dangerous times, when the devil is on the prowl, and God’s people need protection.