Reading for January 28th

 Read 1 Peter 5.1-14, In verses 1-5: Household duties: elders. The last set of household duties addresses local leaders. In verses 1-3: Peter's authority to speak as elder rests on his witness of Christ's sufferings (Mt 26.40, 69-75) and vindication (1.1). Courageous, voluntary leadership which is not self serving is needed ((Mt 20.25-28). In verse 4; Elders, who are local shepherds, will be honored when the chief shepherd comes. In verse 5: Codes of duties, which address reciprocal pairs (wives and husbands, 3.1-7), link elders (5.1-4) with younger men. Characteristic of the subordinate member of the pairs, young men must  have respect for the authority of the elders.  In verses 6-11: Final exhortations. In verses 6-7: Peter applies Ps 55.22 to the church, echoing Jesus' word (Mt 23.12; Lk 14.11). In verses 8-9:The flock of the chief shepherd is attacked by a roaring lion, the devil (Ps 22.13; Lk 22.31). Fidelity comes from solidarity with comparable suffering of  brothers and sisters elsewhere. In verses 10-11: As God vindicated Christ (1.11), so the God of all grace will surely restore or glorify those whom he has called. A doxology follows (4.11). In verses 12-14: Letter closing. In verse 12: Silvanus writes as Peter's secretary (see 1 Cor 16.20). In verse 13: Greetings typically end letters. greetings are sent from Babylon, a symbolic name that refers to the city-state Babylon which destroyed Jerusalem and carried its population into exile (Mt 1.11); Christians also used it to hide the name of their oppressor, the city-state of Rome (Rev 16.19; 17.5; 18.2, 10). it is the, a symbolic place name. still, it echoes the earlier mention of "exile in the Dispersion" (1.1) and "aliens and exiles" (2.11). Eusebius records that mark was Peter's associate in Rome and the author of the second gospel (EH. 2.15.1-2; 3.39.15). In verse 14: The kiss of love reminds the church of its identity as a family or household (see exhortations to love in 1.22; 2.17; 4.8). Comments or Questions..