1 Peter 5
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 5
Faithful and Humble Leadership.[a] 1 I now exhort the presbyters[b] among you, as a fellow presbyter myself and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and as one who has shared in the glory that is to be revealed. 2 Be shepherds of the flock of God that has been entrusted to your care. Watch over it, not as a duty, but willingly in accord with the will of God, not for sordid gain, but because you are eager to do so.
3 Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4 Then, when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.
Humility and Firm Faith.[c] 5 In the same way, you who are younger must be submissive to those who are older. And all of you should clothe yourselves with humility in your relationships with one another, for
“God opposes the proud,
but he gives grace to the humble.”
6 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares about you.
8 Remain sober and alert, for your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him and be firm in your faith, for you are well aware that your brethren throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
10 Promise of Strength and Vindication. After you have suffered for a brief period, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and support you. 11 All power belongs to him forever and ever. Amen.
Conclusion
12 Final Greetings.[d] I have written this brief letter to you through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, in order to exhort you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.
13 Your sister Church[e] in Babylon sends you greetings, as does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a loving kiss.[f]
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 5:1 The presbyters (or elders) exercise responsibilities in the life of communities (see 1 Tim 5:17; Tit 1:5-9). However, authority always experiences the temptation to exercise power for its own profit. This should not be the case in a Christian group. We might recall the word of Jesus: “I am in your midst as one who serves” (Lk 22:27). On this subject, we could also read Paul’s reflection to the elders of the region of Ephesus (see Acts 20:28-35).
- 1 Peter 5:1 Presbyters: the official teachers of the Christian community (see 1 Tim 5:17f; Tit 1:5-8; Jas 5:14). Witness to the sufferings of Christ: Peter had been a witness of all the phases and aspects of Christ’s ministry, including his suffering (see Mt 26:58; Mk 14:54; Lk 22:60-62; Jn 18:10-11, 15-16).
- 1 Peter 5:5 Nothing is more opposed to the Gospel than pretense and pride; hence this Letter insists on attitudes of submissiveness. It also recommends that Christians remain steadfast in the spiritual combat—which is more difficult to do in this context of threats—in order to achieve true victory. It is from God himself that believers await the courage. You who are younger: these may simply be the faithful distinguished from their leaders.
- 1 Peter 5:12 The Letter is doubtless written at Rome, the “Babylon” of the age (see Introduction). Silvanus: one of Paul’s coworkers (see 1 Thes 1:1; 2 Thes 1:1; 2 Cor 1:19) also known by the name of “Silas” (see Acts 15:22; 17:4).
- 1 Peter 5:13 Your sister Church: literally, “Your chosen sister.” Mark: an occasional companion of Paul (see Acts 12:25; 2 Tim 4:11) and probably the author of the second Gospel.
- 1 Peter 5:14 Kiss: on the liturgical kiss, see 1 Cor 16:20. Peace to all of you who are in Christ: in concluding, the author stresses a basic theme of the Letter—the union of believers with Christ.
1 Peter 5
Lexham English Bible
Leadership and Humility
5 Therefore I, your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and[a] also a sharer of the glory that is going to be revealed, exhort the elders among you: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly, 3 and not as lording it over those under your care[b], but being examples for the flock. 4 And when[c] the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
5 In the same way, younger men, be subject to the elders, and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the right time, 7 casting all your cares on him, because he cares[d] for you.
8 Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him[e], steadfast in your[f] faith, because you[g] know the same kinds of sufferings are being accomplished by your community of believers in the world. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ,[h] after you[i] have suffered for a short time, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the power forever and ever[j].[k] Amen.
Conclusion and Final Greetings
12 Through Silvanus, the faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly[l] to encourage you and to attest that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen the same as you, greets you, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Footnotes
- 1 Peter 5:1 The conjunction “and” is supplied here to make it clear that the following phrase refers also to the author of the letter and not to Christ
- 1 Peter 5:3 Literally “the portion”
- 1 Peter 5:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“appears”)
- 1 Peter 5:7 Literally “it is a care to him”
- 1 Peter 5:9 Literally “to whom resist”
- 1 Peter 5:9 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
- 1 Peter 5:9 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
- 1 Peter 5:10 Some manuscripts have “in Christ Jesus”
- 1 Peter 5:10 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have suffered”) which is understood as temporal
- 1 Peter 5:11 Literally “to the ages of the ages”
- 1 Peter 5:11 Some manuscripts have “forever” (literally “to the ages”)
- 1 Peter 5:12 Literally “by a few”
1 Peter 5
King James Version
5 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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