1 Pet 5

1) v1: How did Peter describe himself in v1, and why?

• Is there evidence of him being a pope-like head of a clerical hierarchy, or the first among equal peers?
  • Or did he want to say that in the church all are equal, and that no one should exercise authority over anyone?
• Of all the credentials he could have listed, Peter chose to name only three: Do you find anything unusual?
  • e.g. if you compare this to how leaders may  commend themselves today?
• Why did he describe himself as a ‘partaker’?
  • What effect has it on you how Peter describes his assurance of his own salvation in no uncertain terms?

2) vv2-4 prioritize three characteristics that distinguish godly from ungodly leadership styles. What are those?

• How would anyone lead ‘unwillingly’? Unwilling to do what? =>
  • Is ‘willingness’ about willingly putting yourself last? cf Lk 9:48
• What kind of ‘eagerness to lead’ is the opposite of ‘leading for the sake of shameful gain’?
• What is ‘domineering over the flock’ and why is that contrary to leading by example?

3) vv5-7 address the newbies (gr. ‘neoteroi’ (young, fresh, new on the scene) and their relationship to ‘elders’ (gr. presbyterois): Who are these?

• Is he talking about new converts, or about young ‘pastors’ (zealous, perhaps, for change)? [Context: The entire chapter addresses leaders]
• v5: What incentive is in v5 to ‘humble yourself’, and how will such humility look like?
• What do vv6-7 imply about the financial situation of these junior ministers? Why did especially their financial situation call for genuine willingness (v2) to serve?
• What has humility to do with being poor?

4) Do vv8-11 change the subject, or are they still about spiritual leadership?

• v8: How can you be sure whether you yourself are sober-minded and watchful?
• Why are these qualities pressed upon ministers as most important to not fall prey to Satan?
  • Since no one thinks of themselves as being asleep or dreamy, what makes it easy to fall asleep on the watch without noticing?
• v9: What will a sober-minded leader expect to be the reward of faithful service: More trouble, or a trouble-free ministry?
• v10 calls God the ‘God of all grace’: Why, especially in this address to church leaders?
  • How does v10 describe what ‘all’ grace includes?
  • Why promise to leaders that God works all of salvation (our calling, restoration, confirmation, strengthening and establishing) even if in the fire of sufferings it might not look like it?
• v11: How can leaders resist the temptation to seek lasting dominion for themselves?

5) vv12-14: Why does it matter to recognize what this letter declared to be the ‘true grace’ of God? cf 1Pet 1:10; 1:13; 5:5

• How can one ‘firmly stand’ in this grace?
• v14: What has any of this to do with how you greet (and care for) one another?

6) Personal & application

• Do you regard yourself as standing in the true grace of God? Why or why not?
• What is a more sure sign of God’s grace: If you are spared from sufferings, or if you are being tested by them?
• Can you do anything to receive more grace? v5 [Humility is evidence of grace, not a means to merit grace – or else it would no longer be grace, cf Ro 11:5-6]
  • Can anything in Peter’s own example (Q1) model what it means to be humble, and to lead by example?
• What does ch5 mean to you also when you don’t see yourself called to a leadership position?
• Can you help your leaders to be sober-minded and watchful? How?