"Elders" : church officials appointed to take spiritual charge of the church members. As noted in, the Jerusalem church had elders early on. The term presbyteroi indicates the status, whereas the term episkopoi describes their function, but uses the two words interchangeably.
Verse 2
"Shepherd": from the Greek verb: ποιμάνατε, , which has the same root as the word Jesus used to charge Peter in after the resurrection. Paul also used the word to charge the elders at Ephesus (.
Verse 4
"Chief Shepherd" is one of the names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, alluding to the principal shepherd, who own the sheep, and have helpers under him, so-called "little shepherds" ; perhaps similar to the "hirelings" who are retained, or removed, according to their behavior. These, in the Talmudic language, are called, or ; though, according to Guido, the word, pronounced in the latter way, signifies a "chief shepherd", who takes care of men, and has other shepherds, servants under him; and such a one used to be called, "the great", or "chief shepherd". According to Jewish commentators it was the custom for "the chief shepherd" to have servants under them, to whom they committed the flocks to keep, and the shepherd that is under him is obliged to make good any loss.
"The crown of glory that does not fade away": The "crown" alludes to the ones given to the conqueror or the champion, in the Olympic games, which were made of divers flowers, of the olive, wild olive, pine tree, and of parsley, and inserted in a branch of the wildolive tree, but they quickly faded away. It could be an allusion to crowns made of amaranthus, the so-called "everlasting" plant, because it never fades by the nature of it. However, the "crown of glory" or a glorious crown, that never fades away, means the eternal glory and happiness, ever shines in its full lustre; and this faithful ministers shall receive at the hands of the chief Shepherd, as a gift of his, as a reward of grace; when they have finished their work, they will enter into the joy of their Lord, and shine as the stars for ever and ever; they shall reign with Christ, as kings, on a throne of glory, wearing a crown of glory, and enjoying a kingdom and glory to all eternity.
Submit to God (5:6–11)
Verse 8
Christians can live a care-free life, but not a careless one, because they are involved in a constant spiritual warfare, so they must be watchful of the enemy, the devil, which seeks opportunities to destroy them.
Epistolary Closing (5:12–14)
Verse 12
"Silvanus ": a helper of Peter, either in the writing of the epistle or the delivery or both. He may be the same person noted in Acts 15-18 and mentioned in ; ;.
Verse 13
"Babylon": identified as the ancient capital of Babylonia, or a Roman garrison town in Egypt, or Rome, with the last one seeming most likely.
"Mark": may refer toMark the Evangelist, to whose home Peter went after being liberated from prison, and had accompanied Paul the Apostle. Eusebius the historian noted a quotation from Papias that Mark compiled a written record of Peter's recollections about the deeds and words of Jesus Christ, known today as the Gospel of Mark, which from early times is associated with the church at Rome.
