Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Feed—Greek, "Tend as a shepherd," by discipline and doctrine. Lead, feed, heed: by prayer, exhortation, government, and example. The dignity is marked by the term "elder"; the duties of the office, to tend or oversee, by "bishop." Peter has in mind Christ's injunction to him, "Feed (tend) My sheep . . . Feed (pasture) My lambs" (John 21:16). He invites the elders to share with him the same duty (compare Acts 20:28). The flock is Christ's.
which is among you—While having a concern for all the Church, your special duty is to feed that portion of it "which is among you."
oversight—Greek, "bishopric," or duty of bishops, that is, overseer.
not by constraint—Necessity is laid upon them, but willingness prevents it being felt, both in undertaking and in fulfilling the duty [BENGEL]. "He is a true presbyter and minister of the counsel of God who doeth and teacheth the things of the Lord, being not accounted righteous merely because he is a presbyter, but because righteous, chosen into the presbytery" [CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA].
willingly—One oldest manuscript, Vulgate, Syriac, and Coptic, add, "as God would have it to be done" (Romans 8:27).
not for filthy lucre— (Isaiah 56:11; Titus 1:7).
of a ready mind—promptly and heartily, without selfish motive of gain-seeking, as the Israelites gave their services willing-heartedly to the sanctuary.
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Peter 5:2:
Psalms 109:8
Ecclesiastes 12:11
1 Corinthians 9:7
Ephesians 4:11
1 Timothy 3:8
1 Timothy 5:1
Titus 1:7
Hebrews 13:20
1 Peter 5:1
1 Peter 5:3
1 Peter 5:5
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