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1 Peter 5

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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:

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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;

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Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

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And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

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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.

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Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

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Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

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Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

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Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

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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.

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To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

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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.

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The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

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Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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1 Peter 5

Elders are exhorted to shepherd the flock of God among them not from compulsion or for shameful gain but willingly and eagerly, serving as examples to the flock rather than lording authority over them, knowing they will give account to the Chief Shepherd. When the Chief Shepherd appears, the elders will receive the unfading crown of glory reserved for those who have faithfully tended the flock, mirroring the nature of Christ's own shepherding care. All believers, younger and older alike, are commanded to clothe themselves with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble—an inversion of worldly power dynamics that transforms community relationships. The devil prowls about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, so believers must remain vigilant and steadfast in faith, knowing they face cosmic adversity yet standing firm in the knowledge of their ultimate victory. Suffering is not anomalous to the Christian experience but part of a global pattern affecting believers everywhere in the world. After you have suffered a little while—placing present suffering in eschatological perspective—the God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you through Christ, the one to whom belong dominion forever and ever.

1 Peter 5:14

Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ — the final exhortation to 'greet one another with a kiss of love' (philēmati agapēs) establishes physical affection as expression of Christian community. The benediction of 'peace' (eirēnē) 'to all in Christ' provides the letter's closing blessing, reiterating believers' identity as those incorporated into Christ.

1 Peter 5:10

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you — the final doxological assurance describes God as 'God of all grace' (charis) who has 'called to his eternal glory' (doxē aiōniō), who will 'himself restore' (katartizo, restore/perfect), 'establish' (sterizo), 'strengthen' (sthenoo), and 'found/establish' (themelioō) believers after temporary suffering. The divine action guarantees ultimate transformation.

1 Peter 5:11

To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen — the final doxology attributes eternal power (kratos) to God, affirming his sovereignty over all creation and believers' ultimate security in his hands.

1 Peter 5:12

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you this short letter, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it — the notation that Silas (Silvanus) carried the letter establishes his role as amanuensis (scribe) and witness. Peter's epistolary voice shifts from formal instruction to personal exhortation to 'stand firm' (stēkō) in 'the true grace of God' (alēthē charis theou).

1 Peter 5:13

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings; and so does my son Mark — the 'she' in Babylon likely refers to the church at Rome (Babylon being symbolic designation), described as 'chosen together with you' (syneklektē), emphasizing communal identity. Mark, identified as Peter's spiritual 'son' (teknon), extends greetings, connecting to the John Mark of Acts.

1 Peter 5:5

In the same way, you who are younger, be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble' — the parallel exhortation to the young to 'be submissive' (hypotassō) to elders establishes a hierarchy of respect, yet the universal call to 'clothe yourselves with humility' (entambasthē tē tapeinophrosynē) overrides hierarchical distinction. The citation from Proverbs 3:34 establishes that humility, not status, determines God's favor.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time — the exhortation to 'humble yourselves' (tapeinoō) 'under the mighty hand of God' (hypo tēn krataian cheira theou) presumes that exaltation (hypsoō) follows humiliation, but only 'in due time' (kairō, appointed season). The temporal delay suggests patience and faith in God's timing.

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you — the imperative to 'cast all your anxiety' (pasan tēn merimnān hymin ep'auton) establishes prayer and trust as remedies for worry. The ground is God's merimna (care/concern) for believers, suggesting divine interest in human welfare.

1 Peter 5:8

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour — the call to vigilance (nephal, be sober) and alertness (gregoreuō, watch) posits active opposition from the 'adversary, the devil' (antidikos...diabolos), who 'prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour' (katapino, swallow up). The vivid predatory metaphor emphasizes spiritual danger.

1 Peter 5:9

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings — the imperative to 'resist' (antistēmi) the devil is grounded in 'firm faith' (stereos tē pistei), suggesting that faith is the shield against demonic assault. The awareness that believers worldwide (en tō kosmō) share the same sufferings (tōn autōn pathēmatōn) provides encouragement through solidarity.

1 Peter 5:2

Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve — the imperative to 'shepherd the flock of God' (poimanate to poimen...tou theou) establishes the primary task of elders as pastoral care. The qualifications emphasize voluntary motivation rather than compulsion, rejection of shameful profit (aiktrōn), and eagerness (prothumōs) for service. The phrase 'among you' signals the flock's integral presence within the community.

1 Peter 5:3

not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock — the prohibition against 'domineering' (katakyrieuo, literally rule as masters) those 'assigned to you' (klēroi, literally portions/lots) distinguishes leadership from tyranny. Instead, elders must become 'examples' (typoi, patterns/models) to the flock, demonstrating the virtues they exhort.

1 Peter 5:4

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away — the appearance (apokalypsis) of the 'Chief Shepherd' (archipoimēn, supreme shepherd) signals the eschatological reward: an 'unfading crown of glory' (stephanos tēs doxēs amarantinos). The promise establishes that faithful shepherding culminates in eternal honor.

1 Peter 5:1

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings, and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed — Peter addresses 'elders' (presbyter, church leaders) not with hierarchical authority but as a 'fellow elder' (synpresbyterus), establishing peer relationship. His credentials rest on being a 'witness of Christ's sufferings' (martys tōn tou Christou pathēmatōn) and future participant in glory (doxa).