1Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly; 3not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. 4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. 10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
The book of First Peter is an extended counseling session proffered to suffering Christians (1:6, 7) by the Apostle Peter, who personally endured suffering for Christ's sake (Matt 26:75; Luke 22:62; cf. John 21:18). The entire book is summarized by Peter in 1 Peter 5:10, 11. 1 Peter 5:10,11 articulates God's purpose for suffering is fourfold: mend, stabilize, strengthen, and settle, in sum, conform us to the image of Christ (2:21). Christ suffered (2:21-24); therefore, we, as His followers, must suffer as well (2:21). Peter logically posits, however, that if we are going to suffer, we should suffer for doing good (2:20; 4:14-16), rather than evil (3:17; cf. 4:14). Suffering as a Christian glorifies God (4:16). Peter opens his lens to view the full scope of Christian suffering to include slander (3:9), defamation (3:16), false accusation (4:14), relation to government (2:13), domestic differences (3:1-7), social ostracism (4:4), and Satanic opposition (5:9).
Like a thread running throughout the tapestry of the Book, sanctification (that is the setting apart of the believer from sin unto God) during, in, and even by suffering is urged by Peter. He begins the Book with the description of the believers as “elect … through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience …” (1:2). The sense of the term “sanctification” is likely dual, both a positional setting apart unto God through justification through a one-time act of God, as well as a practical ongoing growth process effected over time by the Holy Spirit (1:2). Peter's manifold exhortation for sanctification in suffering includes encouragement to rejoice (1.6-8), reiteration of the categorical imperative of the Pentateuch, "be ye holy for I am holy" (1:15, 16), counsel to consume the Word (2:2) and abstain from fleshly lusts (2:11), as well as a plea for unity, soberness, and prayer (3:8; 4:8; 5:9). Although Peter never discounts the severity of their suffering (cf. 1:6), Peter implies that present suffering should be compared and contrasted with future glory (1:7; 4:13; 5:4; 5:6). Eternal glory (5:9, 10) gives virtual insignificance to temporary suffering (5:9). Accordingly, Peter offers sage counsel in the interim before a believer's glorification (1.7; 5:1, 10, 11) - in the mean time, in the here and now, "let them who suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" (4:19).