1 Peter 5:3

Being lords. Or, “lording it.” Church office does not justify dictatorial measures. Appointment to any position of leadership should be considered as an opportunity to serve, not as an invitation to exercise authority. Peter admonishes elders not to yield to that temptation but to be exemplary in all their conduct (cf. on Titus 1:7).

Heritage. Gr. kleroi, “lots,” hence, “what is obtained by lot,” used here in the sense of “allotted charge” (cf. on Acts 1:17). The word “God’s” does not appear in the Greek. Peter’s emphasis is clearly on the “heritage” as being that which has become the elders’ responsibility. The use of the plural (in the Greek) probably designates separate Christian communities isolated from one another. Each company was doubtless placed under the care of an elder, who was to serve the believers, not as a tyrant, but as a tender shepherd of needy sheep.

Ensamples. Gr. tupoi, “copies,” “patterns,” “types.” For comment on the singular form, tupos, see on Rom. 5:14. Compare Paul’s use of tupos in 1 Thess. 1:7; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7. The elders were to be model Christians, true representatives of the faith that other believers could safely imitate.