1 Peter 5

Elders were the spiritual leaders of the early churches (see also Acts 14:23; 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17–19; Titus 1:5; James 5:14). By calling himself a fellow elder, Peter shows he shares their responsibilities and the guidance he offers them.

Peter concludes the letter with directions to:

• elders (5:1–4),

• younger people (5:5), and

• the entire church (5:5–11).

He then gives final greetings and ends the letter (5:12–14).

Be shepherds of God’s flock: The word pastor comes from the New Testament image of a shepherd tending his flock.

young men: This might refer to a group of ministers who were still learning or who helped the elders in different ways. However, it most likely refers simply to the younger people in the church (see, for example, 1 John 2:12–14).

• your brothers: Here, the Greek word adelphoi refers to people, both male and female, who are members of the same family.

• throughout the world: Persecution was not limited to the churches in Asia Minor. Christians faced persecution in many places, in different ways and with different levels of intensity, wherever the good news about Jesus Christ was preached. Peter reminds his audience of this to comfort them and to encourage them to follow the example of those who had already endured suffering with faith.

a little while: Sufferings in this life may seem to never end, but they last only a short time when compared with the eternal glory believers will share with God (compare 1:6; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:16–18).

• Through: This word identifies Silvanus as the amanuensis. An amanuensis is a person who writes down words as another person speaks or directs.

• Silvanus: Silvanus is also known by the shorter name Silas. Both names refer to the same individual. He was a close colleague of Paul after the council in Jerusalem (Acts 15:40; 16:19; 17:10, 14–15; 18:5; 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1).

  We do not know how Silvanus later joined Peter in Rome. He may have traveled with Paul or followed him at a later time (Acts 27:1–28:31).

• Babylon was probably a symbolic name for Rome. Like Rome, Babylon was a great city and the capital of a large empire. In the 500s BC, Babylon ruled much of the ancient Near East.

  Babylon was also the empire that burned Jerusalem and took many Israelites to live in Babylon as captives. Because of this history, many Jews saw Babylon as the center of a world that opposed God’s people. For this reason, the book of Revelation uses Babylon as a metaphor for Rome, or as a code word that pointed to Rome. Peter probably used the name in the same way.

• Mark, also called John Mark, was another co-worker of the apostle Paul. He wrote the Gospel of Mark, which many people believe is based on Peter’s teachings.

a kiss of love: See study note on Romans 16:16.