As Peter wraps up this last section of his letter, and before his closing remarks, he inserts a brief doxology. Take a look at it in 1 Peter 5:10-11.

This brief exhortation of praise is typical throughout the New Testament, and is used frequently, especially in Paul’s letters. Peter follows suit here and offers a brief doxology, and gives some final encouragement to his readers while doing so.

In this brief statement, Peter revisits three of his central themes, those of grace, salvation and suffering.

First, Peter calls God the “God of all grace.” This is in keeping with his theme of the grace of God that runs through this entire letter. Peter continually emphasizes God’s grace over and over to his readers, and has done so in places like 1:2, 1:10, 3:7, 4:10, and 5:5, just to name a few.

Second, Peter again emphasizes that God has called his readers to new life, a thought he has addressed in 1:2, 1:15, 2:9 and 3:9.

Once again, Peter returns to one of the major themes of this brief letter, the idea that we will experience suffering because of our faith. This time, he identifies the root cause of it. See it for yourself in 1 Peter 5:8-9.

This is not the first time that Peter encourages self-control in this letter either. He has done so already in 1:13 and 4:7. But this time, he adds to it and tells his readers to stay alert as well. This is a common instruction through out the New Testament, but is the first time Peter has used it. His reason for including it is that the enemy, the devil, is looking for any opportunity to trip us up.

For the first time, Peter identifies this enemy. It is Satan, the devil, who is behind all the suffering and persecution that believers face. Peter describes him as a lion, a very powerful and menacing image to first century readers. The lion is a powerful predator, and is very intimidating, especially when faced in the wild. Peter uses this metaphor to describe the enemy, and his pursuit of Christians. He is looking for any and every opportunity to trap us, to tempt us, and to devour us.

The first few verses of 1 Peter 5 are addressed to elders, but as Peter draws some application from his instructions, he shifts his focus to all of his readers. Take a look at what he says in 1 Peter 5:5-7.

These three verses of 1 Peter 5 may be some of the most well known, and most often memorized. They are very encouraging, but they are also very much to the point, and contain some instructions that we need to make sure we follow closely. They deal with the topic of humility.

First of all, Peter gives a parallel to his instructions concerning elders to the younger men of the church community. There is some debate among commentators as to whether this is in direct contrast to his remarks to elders, or just a linguistic mechanism to shift gears. Based on what he states here, I feel that he is offering some instructions for both men and women, and especially as it relates to submitting to the authority of the elders’ leadership, who have the responsibility of overseeing, or shepherding, the flock under their care.

Those instructions are a close parallel to what he has already given to the elders. The elders are not to “lord it over” those in their care; and in the same way, those younger are to submit to the authority of the elders and leadership. Both sides of this relationship are to be characterized by humility, much like Peter stated back in chapter 3, verse 8. To reinforce this, Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34, where we are told that God opposed arrogance, and seeks an attitude of humility in our hearts.

In the first two verses of chapter five, Peter gave a couple of contrasts to leaders and elders of the church. In this week’s passage, he completes that though and gives a rationale. Take a look at this passage in 1 Peter 5:3-4.

The first two contrasts were found in last week’s passage, and they dealt with one’s willingness to serve and not feeling pressure, and being eager to serve instead of doing it for the money. In verse three, Peter gives the third contrast.

While there are several other passage sin the New Testament that speak to leadership, and especially those who are elders or overseers in the church, Peter’s instructions here are worth paying close attention to. He doesn’t give a lot of information that isn’t found elsewhere, but they do seem to be very encouraging insights to his readers. Remember that Peter is writing to a primarily Gentile audience, and many of his readers may have been new to church leadership. Peter’s words here seem especially encouraging.

It’s also worth noting again that Peter calls leaders to nothing that isn’t applicable, and in fact instructed, to all Christians, whether in positions of leadership or not. Leaders just display such traits perhaps more publicly.

The third contrast that Peter gives is in verse 3. He instructs leaders in the area of authority: “Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”

As chapter five begins, Peter shifts from suffering as a Christian to the role of elders, or overseers. Take a look at this passage for yourself in 1 Peter 5:1-2.

It may seem a bit odd for Peter to shift to leadership here, but if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. In a time and place where persecution for being a Christian was a very real possibility, and probably a reality, strong spiritual leadership and solid relationships with that leadership was a must. The concept of relationship as already been seen as a thread through this letter, in such places as 1:22, 3:8, and 4:8-11, among others. For Peter to revisit it here is really no surprise at all.

He begins chapter 5 by speaking to the elders. This could mean just those who are older, since he will address those who are younger in verse 5, but that is probably not the case. Verses 2-4 pointedly indicate that he is speaking to leadership here, and encouraging them to lead well. He probably was familiar with Paul’s writing on the topic of elders, from 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and 5:17-19, Titus 1:5-9, and maybe even Acts 14:23 and 20:17-18.

Peter appeals to them as a fellow elder, as a witness to Christ’s sufferings, and as one who will share in the glory to come. He clearly compares such men to himself, and gives encouragement from this position of authority, and as a fellow shepherd. As Gentiles, Peter’s readers would have been familiar with this imagery, even if not as vividly as a Jewish audience would have been. They may have had opportunity to read some of Paul’s letters which spoke of being God’s flock, and the need to be shepherded. But Peter clearly reminds them that the flock is not their own; it is God’s flock, and they are simply shepherds, overseers, and leaders.