1 Peter 5:1-4
New English Translation
Leading and Living in God’s Flock
5 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: 2 Give a shepherd’s care to[a] God’s flock among you, exercising oversight[b] not merely as a duty[c] but willingly under God’s direction,[d] not for shameful profit but eagerly. 3 And do not lord it over[e] those entrusted to you,[f] but be examples to the flock. 4 Then[g] when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Peter 5:2 tn Grk “shepherd,” “tend,” “pastor.”
- 1 Peter 5:2 tc A few significant and early witnesses mss (א* B sa) lack ἐπισκοποῦντες (episkopountes, “exercising oversight”), but the participle enjoys otherwise good ms support (P72 א2 A P Ψ 33 1739 M lat bo). A decision is difficult because normally the shorter reading is preferred, especially when found in excellent witnesses. However, in this instance the omission may be due to a hesitation among some scribes to associate oversight with elders, since the later church viewed overseer/bishop as a separate office from elder.
- 1 Peter 5:2 tn Or “not under compulsion/coercion.”
- 1 Peter 5:2 tn Grk “according to God.”
- 1 Peter 5:3 tn Grk “not as lording it over…but being examples.” The participles continue the command of v. 2 by describing how the shepherding should be carried out.
- 1 Peter 5:3 tn Grk “the ones allotted,” referring to those God has given over to their care.
- 1 Peter 5:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then” to reflect the logical sequence of events.
1 Peter 5:1-4
New International Version
To the Elders and the Flock
5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder(A) and a witness(B) of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:(C) 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock(D) that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;(E) not pursuing dishonest gain,(F) but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over(G) those entrusted to you, but being examples(H) to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd(I) appears, you will receive the crown of glory(J) that will never fade away.(K)
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