Flock
Flock
One of the most familiar pictures in the OT is that of the Church or people of God as a flock. In Gen 48:15 the correlative figure is found in the shepherding God, and is repealed in the Blessing of the Tribes (the Shepherd of Israel, Gen 49:24; cf. also Psalms 23 and Eze 34:31). In Isa 40:11 the figure is directly employed: He shall feed his flock like a shepherd (in the OT generally meant civil rulers, as in Homer, but in the NT the phrase stands for spiritual guides and teachers).
The OT metaphor is carried over into the NT, where is used exclusively in the figurative sense of church or congregation. It appears thus in the tender address of our Lord: , , Fear not, little flock (Luk 12:32). The words continued to beat like a pulse in the breast of the Church, and are renewed again and again.
(1) St. Paul says to the elders of Ephesus: , Take heed unto yourselves and to all the flock to feed the Church of God (Act 20:28-29). The overseers and themselves part of the flock ( ), and this suggests the insight, sympathy, closeness of intimacy, and the personal knowledge with which the flock is to be superintended. The bishop is and remains a sheep of the flock, and must thus exercise his oversight both on himself and the whole flock (Stier, The Words of the Apostles, 1869, p. 328). Feed and guide, therefore, include the two great tasks of the ministry.
(2) Jesus had said to Peter: , Feed my lambs tend my sheep (Joh 21:15-16). Accordingly the Apostle, in a personal reminiscence (W. H. Bennett, The General Epistles [Cent. Bible, 1901], p. 30) and, in unobtrusive allusions to Christs life which harmonize with his discipleship (Moffatt, Introd. to Literature of the New Testament (Moffatt)., 1911, p. 335), says as a fellow-elder; , Tend the flock of God which is among you making yourselves ensamples to the flock (1Pe 5:2-3; cf. Pss. Sol. 17:45). To feed the flock takes in the whole varied duties of the pastoral office. It is not right that a man should only preach a sermon every Sunday, and after that pay no regard to the people (Stier, op. cit., 328, quoting Gossner). All modes of watchfulness and help are to be displayed. Fold as well as feed them; guide and guard and heal them (Hastings, Great Texts of the Bible, St. John, 1912, p. 422). In the Authorized Version of 1Pe 5:3 the flock is called Gods heritage, but is not in the text, and it is better to read with Revised Version the charge allotted to yon (cf. Tindales Version: be not as lordes over the parrishes). The charge allotted to you is therefore parallel to the flock of God which is among you, i.e. the particular Christian society committed to your care. Each separate was thought of as the portion () of the presbyter who watched over it (E. H. Plumptre, Camb. Bible, St. Peter and St. Jude, 1880, p. 154).
It is evidence of how completely the thought of the shepherd and the flock possessed the mind of the early Church, that in the Catacombs the figure of a shepherd with a sheep on his shoulder and a crook in his hand is the most frequent of all symbols.
W. M. Grant.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
flock
Emblem in art associated with Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Genevieve, Saint Germaine, and Saint Solange as shepherdesses or tenders of flocks.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Flock
(usually and properly , e’der, [or dimin. , a “little flock,’ like , chasiph’, 1Ki 20:27]; occasionally , mikneh’, cattle, as generally rendered; frequently , sheep collectively, as commonly rendered; also ,” marith’, Jer 10:21, pasture, as elsewhere rendered; and , ashteroth’ [q.v.], Deu 7:13; Deu 28:4; Deu 28:18; Deu 28:51, i.e. Venuses, ewes for breeding). SEE FOLD; SEE PASTURAGE; SEE SHEEP.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Flock (2)
the correlative term to “pastor.” “The way in which this term, or the language which implies it, invariably occurs in Scripture (1Pe 5:2; Joh 21:15), points out to the people that they are not properly the minister’s flock (which would exalt him into the mediator between them and God), but Christ’s.” Eden, Church Dictionary, s.v.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Flock
FLOCK.See Sheep.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Flock
The church of Jesus is so often spoken of in Scripture under the figure and similitude of a flock, that I could not think myself justified in passing it by unnoticed. That Jesus is himself called the Shepherd of Israel. (Psa 80:1) and sometimes the good Shepherd. (Joh 10:11) and chief Shepherd, (1Pe 5:4) and the great Shepherd. (Heb 13:20) and the one Shepherd. (Eze 34:23) These are familiar names, by which Christ is well known to his church in Scripture. And consequently, as every shepherd is supposed to have a flock, otherwise his very character of shepherd ceaseth; so the church hath various descriptions also as the flock of Christ by which she is known. The church is said by Jesus himself to be his sheep, which his Father hath given him, and which he hath also purchased by his blood, and made them his by the conquests of his grace. Hence he saith, he called them all by name. He knoweth all their persons, state, and circumstances; goeth before them, and them into wholesome pastures, and causeth them to lie down in safety. He undertakes for all their wants, heals the diseased among them, brings home wanderers, restores the misled, and is so watchful over the whole of his flock, that they must all pass again under the hand of him that telleth them. (Jer 33:13) and hence it is impossible that any of them should perish, but he giveth them eternal life. (Joh 10:1-16)
And what tends, if possible, to endear yet more this view of Christ’s church as his flock, is the several properties of it. The flock of Jesus is but one. (Son 6:9) though scattered in various parts of the earth, and divided into several folds. Both Jew and Gentile are brought into it, and hereafter will form “one in the general assembly and church of the first-born, whose names are written in heaven.” (Heb 12:23) And this flock of Christ is not only one, but it forms a separate and distinct one. For separated by distinguishing grace and gathered out of the world’s wide wilderness, Jesus hath pent it up, and hedged it in; so that it is for ever separated from the wolves and beasts of prey. Hence Jesus is represented as calling to his church in those sweet words: “Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon; look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir, and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, and from the mountains of the leopards.” (Son 4:8)
There is another great feature of Jesus’s flock, and this is, in the present life, compared to the world, they are but small and inconsiderable in number. Jesus himself calleth it a little flock. “Fear not, little flock, (said that gracious Shepherd), for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luk 12:32) But overlooked and despised as the flock of Jesus is by the great ones of the earth, and low and humble as they are in their own view; yet when they are all brought home, and housed in his eternal kingdom, they will form a blessed company. John, the beloved apostle, in his days, when admitted in that glorious vision of the Lord to see heaven opened, related to the church, that he saw “a multitude, whom no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues.” (Rev 7:9) And who shall say what millions since, the Lord hath gathered and taken home to his everlasting sheepfold above? Oh! the blessedness of belonging to the flock of Christ! Well might the prophet in the contemplation, as if speaking to Jesus, the Israel of his people, cry out, “Where is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?” (Jer 13:20) And how beautiful, indeed, in the eyes of Jesus, must the flock appear, when made comely in his comeliness! How spotless like the whitest fleece, when washed in his blood, covered in the garment of his righteousness, and made all glorious within by the indwelling residence of the Holy Ghost! Hear what the Lord saith to his church: “Thou art beautiful as Tirzah, O my love! comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which come up from the washing, whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.” (Son 6:4; Son 4:2)
Fuente: The Poor Mans Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures
Flock
See CATTLE.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Flock
A term used in the O.T. for Israel as sheep gathered by God as their Shepherd, and called Jehovah’s flock. Psa 77:20; Psa 107:41; Jer 13:17. It is also applied to those of Israel that were gathered to Christ when on earth. To these He added the Gentile believers; and all were united into one flock (not ‘one fold’), with Christ as the one Shepherd. Joh 10:16. When the leaders of Israel were to be judged as not caring for the Lord’s flock, the prophet speaks of the remnant as the poor o f the flock. Zec 11:7; Zec 11:11: cf. Luk 6:20. The Lord also spoke to His disciples as a little flock, bidding them not to fear: it was their Father’s good pleasure to give them the kingdom. Luk 12:32. In Paul’s address to the elders of Ephesus he exhorts them to take heed unto all the flock: the wolves would not spare them. Paul commended the shepherds to God and to the word of His grace. Act 20:28-29: cf. 1Pe 5:2-3.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Flock
akin to poimen, “a shepherd,” denotes “a flock” (properly, of sheep), Mat 26:31; Luk 2:8; 1Co 9:7; metaphorically, of Christ’s followers, Joh 10:16, RV, for the erroneous AV, “fold.” What characterizes Christ’s sheep is listening to His voice, and the “flock” must be one as He is one.
possibly a diminutive of No. 1, is used in the NT only metaphorically, of a group of Christ’s disciples, Luk 12:32; of local churches cared for by elders, Act 20:28-29; 1Pe 5:2-3.
Fuente: Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words
Flock
See SHEPHERD.
Fuente: Biblical and Theological Dictionary
Flock
Psa 77:20 (a) The people of Israel are compared to sheep under the leadership of the Lord GOD of Heaven. (See also Isa 40:11 – Isa 63:11; Jer 13:17; Jer 23:2; Jer 25:34; Eze 24:5; Mic 2:12; Mat 26:31).
Luk 12:32 (a) This refers to the followers of the Lord JESUS. He is the shepherd, those who love Him are His sheep.
Act 20:28 (a) In this passage the church is compared to sheep. It refers to the true church of GOD, consisting only of believers, born-again people. It does not refer to those great national and international organizations which call themselves “The Church.” (See 1Pe 5:2).