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

Advice for Elders and Young Men

And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 5:5 Prov 3:34 (Greek version).