CLC

Frank,

I have not deeply delved into all it is that you have written. So forgive me for not addressing it all; but one verse that you cite jumps out at me.

4. “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and witness of Christ’s sufferings who will also share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;…not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders” (1 Pet. 5:1-5).

Contrast those verses with this one:

“14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ”
(John 10:14-16)

That was taken from this set of verses:

“2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me– 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father–and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life–only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.””
(John 10:2-18)

According to Christ, there is but one shepherd. One. If there is anyone else, he is a hired hand who cares nothing for the sheep, though, God would not leave us alone in the hands of a hired hand leaving us vulnerable to wolves.
Christ mentions other sheep that are not of His pen but that he will bring them in also.

So what do you do with these two verses? My opinion is that Christ is giving us the overall picture. ALL of us are sheep. If you are not a sheep, then Christ has not laid down His life for you.

So what do you do with these two verses?

Well, there is this admonishment to Peter:
“15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”
(John 21:15-19)

Do we think that Peter is not part of Christ’s flock? I don’t really think so. If he wasn’t part of Christ’s flock, he wouldn’t be saved because Christ only laid down His life for his flock.
But…, then again, Christ isn’t saying, necessarily, that Peter isn’t a sheep. He simply commanded Peter to taker care of and feed the sheep.

So what do we do with the fact that Christ Himself says that there is only ONE Shepherd and that He is that Shepherd? …….I can’t say for certain. I’ll have to sleep on this one for a while.