Sermon Tone Analysis

Peter has primarily been addressing individual believers in their struggles with suffering and trials.

He has spent the letter encouraging Christians to continue faithfully following Christ, even in suffering, because of glory that is to come.

Now, at the end of his letter, Peter addresses the church as a whole.

What things need to be observed as a church community in light of their trials and sufferings?

The summation or conclusion to Peter’s letter began back in chapter 4. Peter summarized his message of encouragement by imploring these believers to arm themselves with the same way of thinking as Christ did when He suffered in the flesh.

Then in v. 7 Peter once again draws their attention to the end times, challenging the believers to live as if the return of Christ was imminent.

Now in chapter 5 Peter addresses concerns within the church.

He instructs the church with key imperatives that must be followed if they are to remain faithful in trials.

So we too as a biblical church must heed these imperatives if we are to remain faithful in the trials that God allows into our lives.

What imperatives must we observe?

I.

The church must have a pastor who fulfills the biblical role of his office (vv.

1-4)

If the people that form a local church are going to remain faithful to Christ through fiery trials, then the church must have a godly pastor who functions they way that God intended him to function.

A. Peter’s qualifications (v. 1)

Peter first turns his attention to the elders or the pastors of the church.

In the Greek text, the word “therefore” links 5:1 to the preceeding context of suffering and persecution.

This suffering and persecution of individual believers would put a strain on the entire church.

Therefore, Peter begins his message to the local churches by exhorting the pastors.

Peter begins by giving a three fold qualification for the imperatives he is about to state.

Peter calls himself a “fellow elder”

Rather than stress his superior role as an apostle, Peter includes himself among the group of elders/pastors of these local church in Asia Minor.

Probably because his roles as an apostle, like Paul, would give Peter concern for all the churches with which he has worked.

So in this sense Peter identifies himself with the rest of the pastors and refers to himself as a fellow elder.

2. Peter calls himself a “witness of the sufferings of Christ”

Does this statement raise any questions in your mind?

Where was Peter when Christ was being crucified?

Could Peter call himself an eyewitness when he fled the scene?

Peter did actually observe Christ in his ministry, saw the opposition mount against him, was present when he was arrested, and may have found his way to the cross after denying him.

Even if he was not present at the crucifixion, he would have received the tradition incredibly early from John the Apostle, the Lord’s mother, and other witnesses.

Schreiner

3. Finally Peter call himself, “a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.”

Notice Peter again identifies himself with the pastors of these churches by saying he would also be a partaker of the glory.

The glory that shall be revealed I believe is a reference to the second coming of Christ.

All through the letter Peter has been encouraging believers to endure trials because of the glory that awaits them when Christ appears.

So here Peter specifically encourages the elders to follow after Christ, enduring suffering and trials here an now, so that they may share in Christ’s glory when He appears.

B. The Pastor’s Role (vv.

2-3)

1.

His Function (vv.

1-2a)

Peter uses three terms that I believe describe the function of the pastor of a NT church.

a).

Elder- (v. 1)

πρεσβύτερος- Elder, speaks of maturity and dignity primarily in terms of his spiritual life.

A pastor must exhibit spiritual maturity, He must not be a novice (age does not mean maturity).

The term stresses the importance of experience and training and it suggests that a pastor should have character above reproach.

b).

Shepherd- (v. 2)

ποιμnv / ποιμαίνω- Shepherd, Pastor, indicates he is responsible for feeding the flock.

Notice the flock (church) is God’s flock and the pastor has been given the responsibility to Shepherd or feed it- primarily done through the Word.

Acts

A Pastor is to provide spiritual guidance for a congregation, oversight and protection.

He is responsible for the spiritual feeding of the Word.

He is to render individual care and concern.

He is to Shepherd the flock of God.

A Pastor is to provide spiritual guidance for a congregation, oversight and protection.

This is exactly what Peter is doing in writing this letter- He is feeding the flock of God.

Pastor’s are given the same function.

c.) Overseer- (v. 2)

I Pet

ἐπισκοπns / ἐπισκοπέω- Bishop, overseer, chief administrator, ruler.

His assigned work is that of planning, guiding, giving direction, employing foresight.

He is responsible for the smooth operation of a working force.

He is responsible for ruling, for taking care in a local church.

This words describe the Pastor’s function.

Some would argue that each of these words is not simply the function of one office, but each its own office.

In other words there should be pastors, elders, and bishops in a church.

I think it is helpful to understand passages like , where Peter uses all three terms clearly in reference to one office.

All three terms- Elder, Pastor, Overseer are descriptive of the function of one office, the office of the NT Pastor.

Again, in all three terms are clearly used of one office- that of the NT pastor.

This is why we have only two offices here at Faith- the pastor and the deacon.

I believe that Scripture only teaches two.

2. His Methods (vv.

2b-3)

The pastor’s function describe what he should be doing in a local church- He is to function as an elder, he is to shepherd, and he is to oversee.

In the last part of verse 2 and into verse three Peter describes the methods of the pastor, or how he should carry out his function.

a).

Not under compulsion but with a whole-hearted desire, which is God’s will for them.

not by constraint, but willingly

Most early manuscripts have willingly, according to God (according to the will of God)

Those who serve only because they feel they must will lose their joy, and the church will suffer as a consequence.

Thomas R. Schreiner, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, vol.

37, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2003), 234.

Those who serve only because they feel they must will lose their joy, and the church will suffer as a consequence.

elders would presumably work long hours and be the first targets of persecution, both of which could quench their desire to continue.

b).

A pastor must not serve in a leadership position out of greed.

not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Instead they are to serve out of a ready mind / being eager to be of service, willingly, eagerly, freely.

Pastors are to be eager to meet the needs of others rather than seeking gain for themselves.

Illustration:

An evangelist famous for preaching the "prosperity gospel" wants donations so he can buy a $54 million private jet.

He claims to have been given this edict from the heavens above.

According to MSN, "Louisiana-based televangelist Jesse Duplantis raised eyebrows Tuesday when he said God told him he needs a new jet."

Duplantis then asked his followers from around the globe to send him donations for this divinely-inspired jet that costs more than just a widow's offering.

Mr. Duplantis also cited Scripture to justify this heavenly jet, saying that if Jesus were on Earth today, he'd trade out the donkey for his one of those Falcon 7Xs.

"He’d be in an airplane preaching the gospel flying all over the world," he said.

Duplantis told his followers that God whispered unto his disbelieving ears, "I want you to believe in me for a Falcon 7X."

Naturally, Duplantis worried about the price, but God reprimanded him, saying, "Jesse, I didn’t ask you to pay for it, I asked you to believe for it."

And by believe for it, God surely meant for Mr. Duplantis to ask his followers for donations.

He has done this as many as three times "for God."

"I like all people to know exactly what I'm doing in this ministry; we don't hide nothing whatsoever at all.