When one desires to be a minister they desire a noble thing (1 Tim 3:1). However the pitfalls of ministry are great and perilous. Many who claim the title of minister abuse their power in a fashion that robs their congregation of either their self-will or finances. 1 Peter 5:1-7 addresses these pitfalls and offers a way in which ministers are to conduct themselves. This way describes both the proper attitude and conduct that the minister is to have while executing their office. It also provides a reward and a hope for those who struggle with the things required of them. In this paper I will explore the expectations and rewards waiting for those who assume leadership positions in the church. Petrine authorship of the epistle is assumed and only briefly examined as it pertains to the passage. The emphasis of the examination is on the nature of an elder as described in the passage, and the implications for it has for ministers. As such, the questions about whether there is an office of elder or whether elders are the same as bishops are beyond the scope of this paper.
The paper can be found here:
1 Peter 5:1-7 - Leading By Example
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