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Instructions for Spiritual Leaders

I appeal to your spiritual leaders.[a] I make this appeal as a spiritual leader who also witnessed Christ’s sufferings and will share in the glory that will be revealed. Be shepherds over the flock God has entrusted to you. Watch over it as God does: Don’t do this because you have to, but because you want to. Don’t do it out of greed, but out of a desire to serve. Don’t be rulers over the people entrusted to you, but be examples for the flock to follow. Then, when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Instructions for Christians

Young people, in a similar way, place yourselves under the authority of spiritual leaders.

Furthermore, all of you must serve each other with humility, because God opposes the arrogant but favors the humble. Be humbled by God’s power so that when the right time comes he will honor you.

Turn all your anxiety over to God because he cares for you. Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering. 10 God, who shows you his kindness [b] and who has called you through Christ Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, strengthen you, make you strong, and support you as you suffer for a little while. 11 Power belongs to him forever. Amen.

Farewell

12 I’ve written this short letter to you and I’m sending it by Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother. I’ve written to encourage you and to testify that this is God’s genuine good will.[c] Remain firmly established in it!

13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen by God, and my son Mark send you greetings. 14 Greet each other with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 5:1 Or “pastors,” or “elders.”
  2. 5:10 Or “grace.”
  3. 5:12 Or “grace.”

To the Elders and the Flock

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) 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; not lording it over(G) those entrusted to you, but being examples(H) to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd(I) appears, you will receive the crown of glory(J) that will never fade away.(K)

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves(L) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility(M) toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[a](N)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.(O) Cast all your anxiety on him(P) because he cares for you.(Q)

Be alert and of sober mind.(R) Your enemy the devil prowls around(S) like a roaring lion(T) looking for someone to devour. Resist him,(U) standing firm in the faith,(V) because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.(W)

10 And the God of all grace, who called you(X) to his eternal glory(Y) in Christ, after you have suffered a little while,(Z) will himself restore you and make you strong,(AA) firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.(AB)

Final Greetings

12 With the help of Silas,[b](AC) whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly,(AD) encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.(AE)

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.(AF) 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.(AG)

Peace(AH) to all of you who are in Christ.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 5:5 Prov. 3:34
  2. 1 Peter 5:12 Greek Silvanus, a variant of Silas

Leadership and Humility

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: shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion but willingly, in accordance with God, and not greedily but eagerly, and not as lording it over those under your care[b], but being examples for the flock. And when[c] the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

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. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the right time, casting all your cares on him, because he cares[d] for you.

Be sober; be on the alert. Your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 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. 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
  2. 1 Peter 5:3 Literally “the portion”
  3. 1 Peter 5:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“appears”)
  4. 1 Peter 5:7 Literally “it is a care to him”
  5. 1 Peter 5:9 Literally “to whom resist”
  6. 1 Peter 5:9 Literally “the”; the Greek article is used here as a possessive pronoun
  7. 1 Peter 5:9 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal
  8. 1 Peter 5:10 Some manuscripts have “in Christ Jesus”
  9. 1 Peter 5:10 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have suffered”) which is understood as temporal
  10. 1 Peter 5:11 Literally “to the ages of the ages”
  11. 1 Peter 5:11 Some manuscripts have “forever” (literally “to the ages”)
  12. 1 Peter 5:12 Literally “by a few”