1 Peter 5:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In the words “and when the Chief Shepherd appears,” the conjunction “and” stands in place of “so that.” The meaning is this: so that, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you may receive the crown of incorruption.

The Apostle reflected on his coming martyrdom in such a way that he did not forget he was a bishop. He cared more about what account he would give the Chief Shepherd for the flock entrusted to him than about what answer he would give an unbelieving proconsul concerning his own faith.

Can death have power over souls sealed by the grace of the all-holy Spirit and by the Blood of Christ? Can the spiritual wolf boldly gaze upon the seal of Christ, the Chief Shepherd, with which He sealed His sheep? By no means, faithful and divinely wise brethren.

Chief Shepherd, άρχιποίμενος. Jesus Christ Himself calls Himself the shepherd (Jn 10:11). Now the Apostle, distinguishing Him from the shepherd-presbyters, calls Him the Chief Shepherd. The unfading crown. The image is taken from Greek and Roman soldiers, or from contestants, who received a wreath of unfading flowers and branches.

The elders who are among you I exhort, being an elder, literally from the Greek, a fellow presbyter. In the Russian translation the word elders, πρεσβύτεροι, is rendered pastors, so that it may be clear that the apostle does not mean elders by age, but presbyters who shepherd the flock of God, that is, the Church (Acts 20:28).

Therefore the instructions that follow plainly concern the sacred rulers of the Church: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, visiting, ἐπισκοποῦντες, that is, overseeing, not by necessity, not under compulsion. Thus it was possible to shepherd even under compulsion. Those are compelled who have been appointed to a certain task and are answerable for it before others placed still higher. Rather, shepherd willingly, and according to God, as God wills.

And when He appears, and so forth: instead of vile gain and self-loving domination over God's inheritance, the apostle points the pastors of the Church to a higher acquisition and a higher dominion. He points them to the unfading crown of glory, which will be given them as a reward for the labors of their pastoral ministry.

Appears means is revealed. The reference is to the visible and glorious second coming of Christ at the end of the ages; cf. 1 Pet 1:5, 7; Col 3:4; 1 Jn 2:28.

By the pastors, or presbyters, to whom the apostle here addresses a special counsel, one must understand the presbyters of the Church. By their ministry they are obliged to guide others. In this ministry he places himself on the same level with them, yet with this difference: he was a witness of Christ's sufferings and an eyewitness of the glory of the Risen One.

For this reason he is certain that the future glory of Christ's Kingdom will also be revealed to him. They, however, must still be inwardly filled with this certainty. The other chief apostle, Paul, also expresses such faith and hope when he calls this glory the crown of righteousness; see 2 Tim 4:8. Peter promises this crown to all presbyters, while Paul says that it is prepared also for all who love the Lord.