Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Peter's Instruction to the Asian Elders

uses the aorist imperative verb poimanate (from poimaino), which means “shepherd” or “tend.” In effect, he exhorts the elders to be what good shepherds should be, or, as R.C.H. Lenski says, to “do every thing that shepherding requires.”2 King Solomon expressed a similar understanding of the shepherding task in these words: “Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds” (Prov. 27:23). Peter’s charge encompasses the full shepherding responsibility of feeding, folding, protecting, and leading. Biblical commentator Charles E.B. Cranfield succinctly summarizes: “The chief functions of the shep herd, as they are depicted in the Bible, are to seek out the lost, gather the scattered, watch over and defend against wild beasts and robbers, to feed and water, to lead.”3 Some thirty-five years before Peter wrote these words, in an unfor gettable scene on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus charged Peter to shepherd His sheep: So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”...And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep” (John 21:15-17; italics added). Peter now passes on the same commission to the Asian elders. The mandate for elders to shepherd the flock of God is vitally important to the local church. The Bible teaches that people are like sheep (1 Peter 2:25), and sheep cannot be left unattended. Their well-being depends on a great deal of care and attention. As God’s sheep, Christian people need to be fed God’s Word and to be protected from wolves in sheep’s clothing. They need continuous encouragement, comfort, guidance, prayer, and correction. Thus the elder’s life is one of devoted work for the welfare of the flock. At times it is even a life of danger, which was true for the Asian elders. Since the elders are to “shepher ” the local church, those they tend

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