About the Elders

I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness(A) to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed:(B) Shepherd God’s flock among you,(C) not overseeing[a] out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you;[b] not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd(D) appears, you will receive the unfading crown(E) of glory. In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with[c] humility toward one another, because

God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.[d](F)

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Footnotes

  1. 5:2 Other mss omit overseeing
  2. 5:2 Other mss omit as God would have you
  3. 5:5 Or you tie around yourselves
  4. 5:5 Pr 3:34 LXX

Therefore, I have a request for the elders among you. (I ask this as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and as one who shares in the glory that is about to be revealed.) I urge the elders: Like shepherds, tend the flock of God among you. Watch over it. Don’t shepherd because you must, but do it voluntarily for God. Don’t shepherd greedily, but do it eagerly. Don’t shepherd by ruling over those entrusted to your care, but become examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory.

In the same way, I urge you who are younger: accept the authority of the elders. And everyone, clothe yourselves with humility toward each other. God stands against the proud, but he gives favor to the humble.

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