Notes on Humility II

1 Peter 5:1-4

1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Peter's address to the elders of the church both upholds and relativises the order of church government here. It is as an equal, not as a superior apostle, that he addresses the eldership: he makes his appeal to them in terms of their shared expectation and status, not in terms of their difference. By doing so he shows them exactly what he wants them to do. He recalls for them the twin poles of suffering and glory that have dominated the letter, and which are the frames on the Christian life. Humility does not mean not leading. The exercise of humility does not mean that there is no authority or power involved. But rather, it means the service and care of those who are lead. Note that this is to be real heartfelt and eager care, not reluctant and merely dutiful care. This is not the description of a professional, or a bureaucrat; there is not the kind of exchange economy of labour here in speaking of eldership. The elders of the church were most likely quite literally 'olders', not a seperate class of individuals called to a particular life-long ministry. They are simply senior, and entrusted with the care of the flock.

They are to exercise the function of overseers (vs 2). I think this passage is a great example of how, in the NT, the form of church government is quite flexible. There is order, but not a specific order as later evolved in terms of bishop, priest, deacon; nor a kind of pristine egalitarian early church presbuteral church government model. The functions of church ministry are there: oversight, eldership, pastoral example, diaconal service and so on; but these are not attached to specific titles and offices as a hard and fast rule.

For further reading: JB Lightfoot's 1888 Philippians Commentary has a great piece on 'The Christian Ministry'. Wonderful.