Shepherd and Bishop of our souls

[Heath_K]

hello. i was reading in 1st Peter 2:25. and what is the “shepherd and bishop of our souls” referring to? Jesus? the Pope? Your Bishop?
Thanx!!!

 

[Todd_Easton]

hello. i was reading in 1st Peter 2:25. and what is the “shepherd and bishop of our souls” referring to? Jesus? the Pope? Your Bishop?
Thanx!!!

St. Peter could be referring to the LORD God (the Trinity, in general), the “Shepherd of Israel” (Psalm 80:20) or to Jesus Christ (the Son of God, in particular), “the good Shepherd” (John 10:11). The latter interpretation seems to be what he had in mind since he refers to Jesus as “the chief Shepherd” later in the same letter. (1 Peter 5:4)

It seems less likely, but not impossible, that St. Peter was also referring in, a secondary way, to the pope and other bishops of the Catholic Church, since, by virtue of their episcopal ordination, they share in the pastoral ministry of Jesus, taking heed to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made them bishops, caring for the church of God (Acts 20:28), tending the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2), and keeping watch over our souls (Hebrews 13:17), that “we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning of men, by their craftiness in deceitful wiles.” (Ephesians 4:14)