wills them to be punished : ver. 15. The will of God is in Christ. — cr/ffrw nri(fry], to a faithful Creator) to Him to whom souls are safely committed, who does not even at the first [at the earliest time that He might in each instance] send upon us sufferings for our injury. Let the supra-Lapsarians see how they recognise a Creator faithful towards all. — napuriOiffQwffav, let them commit) as a deposit, not alarmed, but rather gladdened by sufferings, since they receive them to their advantage. — their souls) although the body appears to perish. — iv ayuOoxoitcf,, in well-doing) This should be the one and only care of those who suffer, both to act well and to suffer well : He will take care of the rest. To be taken with let them commit. Well-doing always has confidence united to it : ch. iii. 6 ; 1 John iii. 22.
1. n ptff(3urepovs, elders) A title of office, in ver. 2 ; and of age, in ver. 5. — ffv/AorpiGpurepog, a fellow-elder) Mutual exhortation has great weight among equals and colleagues. With propriety and modesty does the first of the apostles thus speak of himself. — xal pa prvg, and a witness) Peter had both witnessed the sufferings of the Lord Him- self, and he was now enduring sufferings. — dogqg, of glory) ver. 4 ; 2 Pet. i. 16. — xoivuvog, a partaker) Apocalypse i. 9. An incentive to good shepherds.
2. Uoi/xuvars, feed) by discipline and doctrine. — to h l/uv) entrusted to you for your part. — / iy\ avnyxccarug, not hy constraint) Necessity is laid upon them, 1 Cor. ix. 16, but willingness prevents it from being felt. This is efficacious both in undertaking and in discharging the office. Those pastors are not undeserving of censure, who, if it were in their power, would prefer to be anything else. — [aXX’ — aXXa, but — but) The motive and scope ought to be free from fault. — Y. g.] — pride aiff^poxspdug, nor for the sake of dishonourable gain) The re- ceiving of pay is not forbidden, 1 Cor. ix. 14 ; but there ought to be the absence of all that is dishonourable, and the presence of a noble promptness. — cr podvjuug, ivillingly) So that the enjoyment consists in feeding the flock, and not in the pay.
3. *xig xarcc7cupie{jovrfg, as being lords over) who only give orders with a proud mind, and not with humility, and who oppress. In later times the presbyters took upon themselves to bear rule ; whence