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"The elders..."

Text: 1 Peter 5:1

THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH

The Lord Jesus Christ appointed apostles to lead the Church. In turn, the apostles equipped believers so that they could help to shepherd the flock of God. Peter took time to address the leaders of the church and to exhort them.

“The elders who are among you I exhort,
I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.”
1 Peter 5:1

1. “The elders who are among you I exhort”

a) The term “elder” was an honorific title.

i) It is a term of respect.

ii) The word “elder” may also refer to a “pastor” or a “bishop” (Titus 1:5).

b) This word was written to exhort them

i) The word “exhort” means “to encourage”.

ii) Peter was mindful of those who served as leaders to the church that was facing severe trials.

iii) They too needed a word of encouragement.

2. “I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ”

a) “A fellow elder”

i) Peter was an apostle (1 Peter 1:1).

ii) He was the leading apostle of the Twelve (Mark 3:14-19).

iii) None of the elders appointed were of the rank of an apostle.

iv) But he chose to speak of himself as “a fellow elder”.

b) “A witness of the sufferings of Christ”

i) Peter had suffered too (e.g. he was jailed: Acts 12:1-11).

ii) But he preferred to speak about how he was a witness of the sufferings of Christ Jesus instead. His own suffering was nothing in comparison.

3. “And also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed”

a) Peter revelled in the thought of the Second Coming of Christ.

b) To him that would be a glorious day.

c) The glory of Christ would be wonderfully revealed.

d) His joy was simply the thought that he would be a partaker of that glory.

i) Because of his salvation in Christ.

ii) Because of the grace and mercy of the Lord given to all believers.

iii) All would be partakers of that glory to be revealed.