Live as Servants of God
1 Peter Chapter 5
1 Peter 5:1
The term “elder” (church elders) is used frequently in the New Testament for church leaders (for example, Acts 11:30; 14:23; 1 Tim 5:17–19; Titus 1:5; 2 John 1:1; 3 John 1:1). The practice of calling church leaders “elders” was borrowed from Judaism, where the leaders, whether secular or religious, were designated by this title (compare Mark 7:3; 8:31; 11:27; 14:53; 15:1; etc.), because they would normally be chosen from the older members of the community. This element of age may also be reflected in the Christian usage of the term, but the primary component is that of leadership and not of age.
Arichea, Daniel C., and Eugene Albert Nida. A Handbook on the First Letter from Peter. New York: United Bible Societies, 1980. Print. UBS Handbook Series.
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