Speaking of the Christian life and of Christians, Peter compares the Savior to an overseer or guard who watches over the safety of those entrusted to Him. The corresponding Greek word can, of course, be translated differently, in a more “elevated” way, but its original meaning...
Speaking of the Christian life and of Christians, Peter compares the Savior to an overseer or guard who watches over the safety of those entrusted to Him. The corresponding Greek word can, of course, be translated differently, in a more “elevated” way, but its original meaning is exactly this: guard, overseer, watchman. In Gospel times, however, it also had another meaning.
In those days among the Jews there were religious brotherhoods of a special kind, whose members regularly gathered together for common meals, usually connected with one or another feast; the most frequent were the Sabbath meals, celebrated every week. In such brotherhoods there were special ministers who presided over the gatherings, called deacons in Greek, and there were special administrators responsible for organizing the meeting and maintaining order during it. This was especially important when the brotherhood was numerous, and such ministers were called bishops in Greek, that is, overseers.
It is precisely by this word that Peter calls Jesus in his epistle. At first glance such a title may seem strange. Indeed, in the terminology of that time it would have been more logical to call the Savior a deacon, a minister, the head of the fraternal community, and the early Christian Church in its form really did resemble a religious brotherhood. It was the minister-deacon who presided over the assembly, broke the bread, and recited the prayer of blessing over the bread and wine.
But the bishop had, among other things, another duty: he had to remember all the members of the brotherhood by name and take care of them. If, for example, one of the brothers did not appear at the assembly for a fairly long time, usually a month, it was the bishop who had to find out the reason. And if it turned out that this person was ill, for instance, or had some other problems, the bishop had to organize whatever help the brotherhood could provide. The bishop had to keep in mind not only the problems of the brotherhood as a whole, but also the problems of each individual person, caring for concrete people who needed help.
By calling the Savior a bishop, Peter evidently wants to emphasize what Jesus Himself said more than once when describing the meaning of His ministry: each person who can be saved matters to Him, each individual person with all his problems. For in the Kingdom there are no masses and collectives; there are concrete people who love Christ and are loved by Him.
2
2:11 Here begins the exhortation drawn from the second motive. Sojourners: pilgrims - The first word properly means, those who are in a strange house; the second, those who are in a strange country. You sojourn in the body; you are pilgrims in this world. Abstain from desires of anything in this house, or in this country.
2:12 Honest - Not barely unblamable, but virtuous in every respect. But our language sinks under the force, beauty, and copiousness of the original expressions. That they by your good works which they shall behold - See with their own eyes. May glorify God - By owning his grace in you, and following your example. In the day of visitation - The time when he shall give them fresh offers of his mercy.
2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man - To every secular power. Instrumentally these are ordained by men; but originally all their power is from God.
2:14 Or to subordinate governors, or magistrates.
2:15 The ignorance - Of them who blame you, because they do not know you: a strong motive to pity them.
2:16 As free - Yet obeying governors, for God's sake.
2:17 Honour all men - As being made in the image of God, bought by his Son, and designed for his kingdom. Honour the king - Pay him all that regard both in affection and action which the laws of God and man require.
2:18 Servants - Literally, household servants. With all fear - Of offending them or God. Not only to the good - Tender, kind. And gentle - Mild, easily forgiving.
2:19 For conscience toward God - From a pure desire of pleasing him. Grief - Severe treatment.
2:21 Hereunto are ye - Christians. Called - To suffer wrongfully. Leaving you an example - When he went to God.That ye might follow his steps - Of innocence and patience.
2:22 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction. Ис 53:4, Ис 53:6, Ис 53:7, Ис 53:9.
2:23 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction.
2:24 Who himself bore our sins - That is, the punishment due to them. In his afflicted, torn, dying body on the tree - The cross, whereon chiefly slaves or servants were wont to suffer.That we being dead to sin - Wholly delivered both from the guilt and power of it: indeed, without an atonement first made for the guilt, we could never have been delivered from the power.Might live to righteousness - Which is one only. The sins we had committed, and he bore, were manifold.
2:25 The bishop - The kind observer, inspector, or overseer of your souls.