1 Peter, Part Four

Shepherd the Flock of God

¹So I exhort the elders among you, mas a fellow elder and na witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: ²oshepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight,1 pnot under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;2 qnot for shameful gain, but eagerly; ³not rdomineering over those in your charge, but sbeing examples to the flock. ⁴And when tthe chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the uunfading vcrown of glory. ⁵Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. wClothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for x“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

⁶xHumble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ycasting all your anxieties on him, because zhe cares for you. ⁸aBe sober-minded; bbe watchful. Your cadversary the devil dprowls around elike a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹fResist him, gfirm in your faith, knowing that hthe same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰And iafter you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, jwho has called you to his keternal glory in Christ, will himself lrestore, mconfirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹nTo him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

¹²By oSilvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, pI have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is qthe true grace of God. rStand firm in it. ¹³She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does sMark, my son. ¹⁴tGreet one another with the kiss of love.

uPeace to all of you who are in Christ.