John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. Neither as being lords over God's heritage , etc.] Or clergy; meaning not ecclesiastical persons, as presbyters, and deacons, who are supposed to be under the government of bishops, though not to be governed with tyranny, and in a haughty, imperious, and arrogant manner; to which sense the Arabic version inclines, rendering the words thus; not as those who domineer over such that are appointed in the dignities of the priesthood; but such cannot be designed, because they are presbyters, or elders, which are here exhorted not to use such tyrannical power and authority; wherefore the flock, or church of God, the people of Christ, and members of churches, in common, are here intended: the Ethiopic version renders it, his own people; who are the lot, portion, and inheritance of God, and Christ; and moreover, the several churches are the parts, portions, and heritages, for the word is in the plural number, which are assigned to the care of their respective pastors, and elders, in allusion to the land of Canaan, which was distributed by lot: the word clergy is common to all the saints, and not to be appropriated to a particular order of men, or to officers of churches; and these are not to be lorded over by their elders, in a domineering and arbitrary way; for though they are set over them in the Lord, and have the rule over them, and should be submitted to, and obeyed in their right and lawful ministrations of the word and ordinances, and are worthy of double honour when they rule well; yet they are not to take upon them an absolute authority over the consciences of men; they are not to teach for doctrines the commandments of men; nor to have the dominion over the faith of men, but to be helpers of their joy; and are not to coin new articles of faith, or enact new laws, and impose them on the churches; but are to teach the doctrines of Christ, and rule according to the laws he has given: but being ensamples to the flock . The Ethiopic version reads, to his own flock; that is, the flock of God; and the Vulgate Latin version adds, heartily; the meaning is, that they should go before the flock, and set an example to believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity; and be patterns of good works to them, and recommend the doctrines they preach, and the duties they urge, by their own lives and conversations; and particularly should be ensamples to the saints, in liberality and beneficence, in lenity and gentleness, in meekness and humility, in opposition to the vices before warned against.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The apostle Peter does not command, but exhorts. He does not claim power to rule over all pastors and churches. It was the peculiar honou of Peter and a few more, to be witnesses of Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of all true Christians to partake of the glory tha shall be revealed. These poor, dispersed, suffering Christians, wer the flock of God, redeemed to God by the great Shepherd, living in holy love and communion, according to the will of God. They are als dignified with the title of God's heritage or clergy; his peculiar lot chosen for his own people, to enjoy his special favour, and to do his special service. Christ is the chief Shepherd of the whole flock an heritage of God. And all faithful ministers will receive a crown of unfading glory, infinitely better and more honourable than all the authority, wealth, and pleasure of the world.
Greek Textus Receptus
μηδ 3366 CONJ ως 5613 ADV κατακυριευοντες 2634 5723 V-PAP-NPM των 3588 T-GPM κληρων 2819 N-GPM αλλα 235 CONJ τυποι 5179 N-NPM γινομενοι 1096 5740 V-PNP-NPM του 3588 T-GSN ποιμνιου 4168 N-GSN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. As lording it (katakurieuontev). See Matthew 20;25; Acts xix. 16. Other words are used for the exercise of legitimate authority in the church; proistamai, to be over (1 Thess. v. 12; 1 Tim. v. 17); poimainw, as ver. 2, tend. But this carries the idea of high-handed rule. Heritage (klhrwn). Plural. Klhrov means a lot. See on inheritance, ch. i. 4. From the kindred adjective klhrikov comes the English cleric, contracted into clerk, which in ecclesiastical writings originally signified a minister; either as being chosen by lot like Matthias, or as being the lot or inheritance of God. Hence Wycliffe translates the passage, "neither as having lordship in the clergie." As in the Middle Ages the clergy were almost the only persons who could write, the word clerk came to have one of its common modern meanings. The word here, though its interpretation is somewhat disputed, seems to refer to the several congregations - the lots or charges assigned to the elders. Compare proseklhrwqhsan, were added as disciples; A.V., consorted with (Acts xvii. 4). Rev. renders charge.Why not charges?
Examples (tupoi). Peter uses three different terms for a pattern or model: uJpogrammov, a writing-copy (ch. ii. 21); uJpodeigma, for which classical writers prefer paradeigma, an architect's plan or a sculptor's or painter's model (2 Pet. ii. 6); tupov (see on ch. iii. 21), of which our word type is nearly a transcript. The word primarily means the impression left by a stroke (tuptw, to strike). Thus John xx. 25, "the print of the nails." Used of the stamp on coin; the impression of any engraving or hewn work of art; a monument or statue; the figures of the tabernacle of Moloch and of the star Remphan (Acts vii. 43). Generally, an image or form, always with a statement of the object; and hence the kindred meaning of a pattern or model. See Acts xxiii. 25; Rom. v. 14; Philip. iii. 17; Heb. viii. 5.
