“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3, TNIV)
- Be wise and you will shine.
- Lead others to righteousness and your shine will endure!
Thoughts?
It is very difficult to be wise and shine. There are so many Bible experts that claim to be wise and shine, but when you compare what they do with the Bible, they are not even obedient much less wise. They shine bright from the platform. Most people like it. But nothing they do is an example for anyone to follow. That isn’t wise. 1 Peter 5:3 “neither as exercising lordship over the heritages, but patterns becoming of the flock” Youngs Literal. Every other translation except KJV adds clergyism into this verse. We must learn a wisdom from God and by pass “leaders” of our day. We can use our direct connection to Jesus. He’s our head. He can lead us to be wise and shine. Skip the sermons.
Thanks, Tim.
Do you mind elaborating on your comment: “Every other translation except KJV adds clergyism into this verse”?
I notice Jesus had very little tolerance for the professionally religious, while at the same time, he was very popular with the ordinary crowds. They were brilliant, understanding his scholarly teaching and his ironic humor!
Here is an example: “David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?” The large crowd was delighted with what they heard.
“He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function…” (Mark 12:37–39, The Message).
NKJV – nor as being lords over those entrusted to you
NLT – Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care,
NIV – not lording it over those entrusted to you
ESV – not domineering over those in your charge,
NASB – nor yet as lording it over [fn]those allotted to your charge
All these phrases attribute God’s people to being “entrusted”, “assigned”, “charge” to the elders. This means the non-pastors, non-elders, the sheep in some way belong to the Elders or Pastors. They are subjects of the leaders. This verse and other verses are used to teach a two tier higherarchy in the church – clergy and laity. What the leader does is RESERVED for him in his upper caste position. He is no longer an “example” to follow. He is a Lord over the people. This verse actually ascribes the people as belonging to the Lord. They are HIS flock – verse 2 “the flock of God”. If leaders led by example, which means they would shine, the saints could then know what shining looks like and also shine. Since there is only sinful self-elevating and dominating by the leaders, the saints have no example to follow in shining.
Thank you, Tim.
My hope that the word “only” can quickly be eradicated form the phrase “Since there is only sinful self-elevating and dominating by the leaders” by leaders who separate from the hierarchical system and lead as alongside examples of God’s flock. After all Jesus cane down here as Emmanuel, that is, “God with (not over) us.”
The original Greek reads: “μηδʼ ὡς κατακυριεύοντες τῶν κλήρων ἀλλὰ τύποι γινόμενοι τοῦ ποιμνίου·” (1 Peter 5:3, AGNT)
τῶν κλήρων = the called ones, or the lot, or the allotment. It never says, allotted to, or assigned to, or entrusted to, or under, your care.
It says “Don’t lord it over the called ones.” Period.
Good “call”, Tim. Thank you!
To put it a little stronger, this translation is stealing the people of God from “the flock of God” and transferring our belonging to a hired man with a title. They are now middlemen between believers and God.
The word κλήρων – allotment is translated “inheritance” in Col. 1:12
“giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” In this verse all believers share in an inheritance from the Lord. In 1 Peter 5:3 we are the Lord’s inheritance, the “flock of God”. Clergyism changes who we belong to which is an act of “dominance” and ends all practice of “setting the example”. The work of a Pastor is reserved for him. He claims we belong to him. This is very sad to the heart of God to see men who “devote their lives” to the Bible yet accept such corrupted translations and go on to practice these corruptions.
Thank you, Tim. I agree.
I was one of those “devoted” pastors and I often struggled with the whole idea of getting paid, being considered or called the pastor. I’m still in recovery and remnants of the hierarchal privilege and position still linger.
Truly, I had no model for change. Little by little, I discover things that keep processing out of that old Shawshank prison. I too am very sad about the vast and devastating separation the clergy and laity division promotes and propagates.
Thank you for joining me in this conversation. It’s about being our shiniest! Satan is an expert at shining too! Thank God, in the long haul even those of us who have been trained by and praised by and paid by the institutions can’t remain deceived.
Shepherd Jesus says of We the Sheep, “They will hear my voice. They will not follow another.” And he says, “if it were possible even the elect would be deceived.” But the Lord is on the move and the calling is clear, “Come out.”