The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 236

high dostiny. "Eternal glory in Christ;" such Mis (1) revealed in Christ; (2) share,t with Christ; (3) inherited through Christ. 2. A trial that is transient. "Arte~ ye have suffered a little while." Often it seems long. "Life, an age to the miserable, a moment to the hn.ppy." Ilut it is a "little while" comparntively to eternity, an<! absolute in itself. 3. A character tlwt is complete. "Perfect;" no deficiency or defect. " Stablish;" all this to be made permanent. Not goodness like the early cloud an,l morning dew. "Strengthen;" inspire with force to overcome all hostile influences. 4. A character that calls for praise to God. "To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen." Peter exulted that God reigned, and yearned for him to have empire that was universal and perpetual, and acknowledged by all with the "Amen," not only of all men, but of all the powers in every man.-U. R. 'f. Vera. 1-11.-0oncluding exhortations. I. EXHORTATION TO F.LDERS. 1. In what character Peter exhorts. "The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow- elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed." The link of connection is " well-doing," which is here given in detail. The first who are exhorted to do well are the elders, to be understood officially. These elders are referred to as among them, i.e. in the Churches in the vario\13 localities. Peter might have commanded even the elders, as an apostle; there was notbing derogatory to his apostleship, and there was a gain of influence, in his humbly exhorting them as a fellow-elder, who had the same duties of the eldership to perform. If he hnd superior authority, he would only derive it from the fact that he was "a witness of the sufferings of Christ." He had seen Christ suffer in the garden and on the cross; he had, therefore, the advantage of proceeding on personal testimony in his preaching, An eye-witness of the sufferings of Christ, might he not claim to have a special title comfortably to exhort the suffering, the persecuted ? Taking them back to the Crucifixion-scene, he does not leave them there, but points them forward. He was also "a partaker of the glory to be revealed," i.e. future sharer with Christ when revealed in his glory, of which he had already enjoyed the foretaste in his having been a privileged witness of the 'l'ransfigurn.tion. He does not say" fellow-partaker;" but we may suppose that this was in his mind for the comfort of the persecuted.. 2. To what duty he exhorts. (1) Shepherding. "'l'er.d the flock of God which is among you." 'l'hrice Peter fell; thrice the Master laid on him his commission. 'l'wice the word of the commission wasfeed, as if special attention was to be given to feeding of the flock, finding spiritual food for them; on the second occasion the word of the commission was more comprehensively shepherd, or, as it is translated," tend." It is that word which is used here, ta.ken, we can believe, from the commission. The shepherd has to guide, guard, fold, as well as find food ; so the minister (the elder chiefly, though not exclusively, to be thought of) has not only to teach, but also to do what i~ sometimes, with a limitation, called pastoral work-attending; to the sick, the aged, the anxious, the tempted_ The elders were to tend the flock in their several localities in the conscious- nes~ of its being the flock of God, i.e. not belonging absolutely to them, but God. (2) Character of the shepherding. First ne_qative and positive. "Exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, accorning unto God." Shepherding is of the nn.ture of overseei11g. This overseeing is not to bs engaged in of co11straint, i.e. from outward 11ressure such as the solicitation of frie0<ls, but willingly, i.e. from free choice. '''he remaining words introduced into the Ileviscd Versiou seem unnecessary in thoug11t. Second negative and positive. "Nor yet for filthy lucre, but of n. ready mind." Over- Reeing is uot to be engaged in for filthy lucre, i.e. lucre which is not filthy in itself, hut becomes filthy when made the determining consideration in the holding of a sacred office. On the contrary, it is to be engaged in of a ready mind, i.e. from love for the work. Support cannot be overlooked, hut it will be a secondary consideration with a man who loves his work, is glad to have the abundant opportunity of doing good in the name of Christ. Third negative and positive. "Neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves en~amples to the flock." Elders are to oversee; it is said that they are to preside; it is also said that they are to lead; but it is not said that they are to lord it, nor th1t they are to lord it against, as it is literally here, i.e. against the rights or interests of the people over whom they aro placed. 'l'hey are not to lord it over the cha1·9es allotted to them. On the contrary, they are to make  234 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [err. v. 1-14.