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1 Peter 5

1So I urge the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings, and also a sharer in the glory about to be revealed: 2Shepherd God's flock among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have it; not for shameful profit but eagerly; 3not lording it over those allotted to your care but becoming examples to the flock. 4And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5Likewise, you who are younger, submit to the elders. And all of you, tie on humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

6So humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, so that he may lift you up at the proper time, 7casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. 8Be sober; stay awake. Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, looking for someone to swallow. 9Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and give you a firm foundation after you have suffered a little while. 11To him be the might forever and ever. Amen.

12Through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written briefly to you, encouraging you and testifying that this is God's true grace. Stand in it. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Translation notes 4

5:1–4 — Elders and shepherds. Elders exercise recognized leadership, expressed through shepherding and oversight. “Those allotted to your care” interprets a plural term for lots or allotted portions. The text does not use a separate noun for clergy. Some witnesses omit “exercising oversight” or “as God would have it” in verse 2; the base includes both.

5:5–7 — Humility. “Tie on” preserves the clothing image in the command to adopt humility. Elders in verse 5 can mean older people or the leaders just addressed; the continuity favors the latter without excluding the age contrast. Casting anxiety on God accompanies humbling oneself. The quotation is from Proverbs 3:34.

5:8–10 — Lion and brotherhood. The lion seeks to swallow its prey; “devour” is another natural English equivalent. Brotherhood includes believers of both sexes. Verse 10's four future verbs state what God will do, rather than merely expressing a wish.

5:12–14 — Silvanus and Babylon. “Through Silvanus” can concern carrying or assisting with the letter; it does not specify the exact extent of his role. “She” probably means the community in Babylon, pictured as a chosen woman; an individual woman is another possibility. Babylon is commonly understood as a figurative designation for Rome, but the reading retains the name actually written. “My son” describes Mark's relationship to the writer without specifying biological descent.