NOTES for Pe1 2:25
Speaking of Christian life and of Christians, Peter compares the Savior to an overseer or guard who watches over the safety of those entrusted to him. One can, of course, translate the corresponding Greek word differently, in a more "elevated" way, but its original meaning is exactly this: guard, overseer, watchman. In Gospel times, however, it had another meaning as well.
In those times among the Jews there existed special religious brotherhoods whose members regularly gathered for fraternal meals, usually connected with one or another feast. The most frequent were Sabbath meals, since the Sabbath is celebrated weekly. In such brotherhoods there were special ministers who presided over the gatherings, called in Greek deacons, and there were special administrators responsible for organizing the gathering and maintaining order during the meeting. This was especially relevant when the brotherhood was numerous, and such ministers were called in Greek bishops, that is, overseers.
It is precisely this word that Peter uses of Jesus in his letter. At first glance such a name 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, since the first Christian Church in form really was precisely a religious brotherhood. It was the minister-deacon who presided over the gathering, broke the bread, and read the prayer of blessing over the bread and wine.
Yet the bishop, besides other duties, had one more responsibility: he had to remember all the members of the brotherhood by name and care for them. If, for example, one of the brothers did not appear at the gathering 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, for example, was sick or had some other problems, the bishop had to organize whatever help the brotherhood could give him.
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, and care 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 characterizing the meaning of His ministry: everyone who can be saved matters to Him. Every individual person with all his problems. For in the Kingdom there are no masses and collectives. There are concrete people. Loving Christ and loved by Him.