1 Peter 5:1–4

Leading and Living in God’s Flock

5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: 5:2 Give a shepherd’s care to1 God’s flock among you, exercising oversight2 not merely as a duty3 but willingly under God’s direction,4 not for shameful profit but eagerly. 5:3 And do not lord it over5 those entrusted to you,6 but be examples to the flock. 5:4 Then7 when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.

1	tn Grk “shepherd,” “tend,” “pastor.”
2	tc A few important mss (א* B sa) lack ἐπισκοποῦντες (episkopountes, “exercising oversight”), but the participle enjoys otherwise good ms support (𝔓72 א2 A P Ψ 33 1739 𝔐 lat). A decision is difficult because normally the shorter reading is preferred, especially when found in excellent witnesses. However, in this instance the omission may be due to a hesitation among some scribes to associate oversight with elders, since the later church viewed overseer/bishop as a separate office from elder.
3	tn Or “not under compulsion/coercion.”
4	tn Grk “according to God.”
5	tn Grk “not as lording it over … but being examples.” The participles continue the command of v. 2 by describing how the shepherding should be carried out.
6	tn Grk “the ones allotted,” referring to those God has given over to their care.
7	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “Then” to reflect the logical sequence of events.