In 1 Peter 5:1-5, instructions are given to the πρϵσβύτϵροι. But who are these elders and what does the author say about their role? This article starts with an exploration of the conceptual background of eldership, before focusing on the specific references to the term in verses 1 and 5 of our passage. Following this, we offer an in-depth exegetical analysis of the instruction to elders concerning their role in verses 2 and 3, before giving brief consideration in closing to the implications of verse 5.
AlandB.AlandK.KaravidopoulosJ.MartiniCarlo M.MetzgerBruce M. (eds.), The Greek New Testament, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1993 (referred to as UBS4).
2.
BauerW.ArndtW.F.GingrichF.W.DankerF.W. (eds.), A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000 (referred to as BDAG).
3.
MetzgerBruce M.A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1994.
4.
MoultonJ. H.HowardW.F.TurnerN.A Grammar of New Testament Greek (Four Volumes), Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1906-76.
5.
WallaceDaniel B.Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995.
6.
AchtemeierPaul J.1 Peter (Hermeneia – A Critical and Historical Commentary on the Bible), Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, s.
7.
BeckwithRogerElders in Every City: The Origin and Role of the Ordained Ministry, Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 2003.
8.
BennettDavid W.Metaphors of Ministry: Biblical Images for Leaders and Followers, Carlisle: Paternoster Press, 1993.
9.
BeyrutherE., ‘Shepherd’ (pp. 546-569) in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology (ed. BrownColin), Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978.
10.
BiggCharlesA Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude (The International Critical Commentary), Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1901.
11.
BornkammGünther ‘πρέσβυς, πρϵσβύτϵρος, συμπρϵσβύτϵρος, πρϵσβύτϵριον’ (pp
.651-680) in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Volume 6) (ed. FriedrichGerhard), Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968.
12.
CampbellAlastair V.Rediscovering Pastoral Care, London: Darton Longman & Todd Limited, 1981 (referred to as Pastoral).
13.
CampbellR.Alastair, The Elders: Seniority Within Earliest Christianity, New York: T&T Clark International, 2004 (referred to as Elders).
14.
CampbellR. Alastair ‘Review of “The Elder and the Overseer: One Office in the Early Church” by Benjamin L. Merkle’, EQ77.3 (2005) 281-283 (referred to as ‘Review’).
15.
DavidsPeter H.The First Epistle of Peter (The New International Commentary on the New Testament), Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990.
16.
ElliottJohn H.1 Peter (The Anchor Bible), New York: Doubleday, 2000 (referred to as 1 Peter).
17.
ElliottJohn H. ‘Ministry and Church Order in the New Testament: A Traditio-historical Analysis’, CBQ32 (1970), 367-391 (referred to as ‘Ministry’).
18.
FeldmeierReinhardThe First Letter of Peter, Waco: Baylor University Press, 2008.
19.
GoppeltLeonhardA Commentary on 1 Peter, Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993 (referred to as 1 Peter).
20.
GoppeltLeonhardApostolic and Post-Apostolic Times, London: Adam and Charles Black, 1970 (referred to as Apostolic).
21.
GreenJoel B.1 Peter (The Two Horizons NT Commentary), Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.
22.
HillyerNorman1&2 Peter, Jude (New International Bible Commentary), Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers Inc., 1992.
23.
JeremiasJ., ‘ποιμήν, ἀρχιποίμην, ποίμανω’ (pp.485-502) in Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Volume 6) (ed. FriedrichGerhard), Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1968.
24.
JobesKaren H.1 Peter (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005.
25.
KellyJ.N.D.The Epistles of Peter and Jude (Black’s New Testament Commentaries), London: A&C Black (Publishers) Limited, 1969.
26.
KirkKenneth E. ‘The Apostolic Ministry’ (pp. 1-52) in (ed. KirkK.E.) The Apostolic Ministry: Essays on the History and the Doctrine of Episcopacy, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1946.
27.
LaniakTimothy S.Shepherds After My Own Heart: Pastoral Traditions and Leadership in the Bible, Leicester: Apollos, 2006.
28.
LightfootJ.B.Saint Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, London: Macmillan and Co. Limited, 1903.
29.
MarshallI.H.1 Peter (The IVP New Testament Commentary Series), Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1991.
30.
MichaelsJ. Ramsey, 1 Peter (Word Biblical Commentary), Waco: Word Books, 1988.
31.
SelwynEdward GordonThe First Epistle of Peter, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1946.
32.
TidballDerek J.Builders and Fools: Leadership The Bible Way, Leicester, InterVarsity Press, 1999.
33.
WaltonSteveLeadership and Lifestyle: The Portrait of Paul in the Miletus Speech and 1Thessalonians, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000.
