1 Peter 5:4

2 ^aShepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, ^bnot by compulsion but willingly, ^cnot for dishonest gain but eagerly;

3 nor as ^abeing lords over ^bthose entrusted to you, but ^cbeing examples to the flock;

4 and when ^athe Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive ^bthe crown of glory that does not fade away.

Submit to God, Resist the Devil

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, ^aall of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
^b“God resists the proud,
But ^cgives grace to the humble.”

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Commentaries:

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What Does 1 Peter 5:4 Mean?

1 Peter 5:1-5

Notice all the words that suggest leading and/or following: elder(s), shepherd, flock, serving, overseers, lords, entrusted, and examples. This clearly establishes that God's church is a body in which He has placed leaders to oversee and care for His people. Further, the leadership is to provide examples for them to follow.

The Bible nowhere anticipates independent Christians in its instructions, but it always assumes the body has ministers given by Christ to provide teaching and guidance. Too frequently, people separate from one group then regroup around a person whom Christ has not appointed to teach His Word. It is not that this person cannot teach at all but that Christ has not given him the gifts to teach His people in His behalf. He was not placed in the body for that purpose. Steady spiritual degeneration within that group occurs.

John W. Ritenbaugh
'I'll Never Follow Another Man!'

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 Peter 5:4:**

Proverbs 28:2
John 10:1-5
1 Peter 5:1-3

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Submit to God, Resist the Devil

What Does 1 Peter 5:4 Mean?

1 Peter 5:1-5

Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 Peter 5:4:

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing 1 Peter 5:4:**

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning