The disciples of Peter’s time suffered severe violence from their enemies who raged against them, hauling them before the courts. “Adversary” v.8Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:8 is, in the original Greek, a legal word meaning “opponent at law” and this legal opponent of believers was metaphorically like a “roaring lion”. Examples of this behaviour are recorded in The Acts of the Apostles, Acts 17:5-6Waiting for response for Acts 17:5-6 and the unbelieving Jews especially fiercely attacked believers, behaving like their fathers of old. Ezekiel 22:25Waiting for response for Ezekiel 22:25 This adversary brought false accusation against the disciples, therefore this body of persecutors is called “the devil”. This is an appropriate label for this body of persecutors, being a false accuser, but has no reference to an imaginary supernatural evil being who never charged the disciples before the Roman legal authorities.
These afflictions came upon the Jewish Christians to whom Peter wrote and also upon their Gentile brethren in the faith.v.9Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:9 Both Jew and Gentile believers were exhorted to “cast their care upon the Lord”,v.7Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:7 knowing they had been called to eternal glory, so that after they had suffered they would be strengthened and made immortal and incorruptible at the coming of Christ.v.10Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:10
Verses 1-6
Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:1-6Peter exhorted the elders 5:1 to feed the flock of God,v.2Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:2 not motivated by filthy lucre (money) and not lording it over the disciples who are God’s heritage,v.3Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:3 and they would receive an unfading crown of glory when the chief shepherd appears. Unfortunately, many of them began to lust after money and exalt themselves, eventually arrogating to themselves the title of “clergy”, meaning “heritage”, and subordinating the rest of the congregations to the position of “laity”. However, it is the disciples who are God’s heritage and none should exalt themselves over them. All the disciples are exhorted to humble themselves v.5Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:5 that they might be exalted, not now, but in due time,v.6Waiting for response for 1 Peter 5:6 i.e. at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.