About the Elders

¹I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:[#5:1 Ac 4:20; #5:1 Rm 8:18; Col 3:4]

²Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly;[#5:2 Jr 3:15; 23:1; Jn 21:16; Ac 20:28; #5:2 Other mss omit overseeing; #5:2 Other mss omit as God would have you]

³not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

⁴And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.[#5:4 Jn 10:11,14; 21:15–17; Heb 13:20; 1Pt 2:25; #5:4 1Co 9:25; Rv 12:1]

⁵In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because[#5:5 Or you tie around yourselves]

Conclusion

⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time,[#5:6 Lk 14:11; #5:6 1Kg 8:42; 2Ch 6:32; Dn 9:15]

⁷casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.[#5:7 Ps 55:22]

⁸Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.[#5:8 1Th 5:6,8; 2Tm 4:5; 1Pt 1:13; 4:7; #5:8 Rv 16:15; #5:8 Mt 4:1,10; Ac 13:10]

⁹Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.[#5:9 Eph 6:13–14; Jms 4:7]

¹⁰The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.[#5:10 1Pt 5:1,4; 2Pt 3:18; #5:10 Other mss read in Christ Jesus; #5:10 Or to a small extent]

¹¹To him be dominion for ever. Amen.[#5:11 Some mss read dominion and glory ; other mss read glory and dominion; #5:11 Other mss read for ever and ever]

¹²Through Silvanus, , a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it![#5:12 Or Silas ; Ac 15:22–32; 16:19–40; 17:1–16; #5:12 Ac 15:22; 1Th 1:1; 2Th 1:1]

¹³She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son.[#5:13 Rv 14:8; 16:19; 17:5,18; 18:2,10,21]

¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.[#5:14 Rm 16:16; 1Co 16:20; 2Co 13:12; 1Th 5:26; #5:14 Eph 6:23; #5:14 Other mss read Christ Jesus. Amen.]