Leadership And Humility
1 So, the elders in the various places where you live, are to receive the following exhortation. (I too, am an elder and have witnessed the sufferings of Christ, and am also assured of partaking of the glorious [salvation, 1:5] that will someday be revealed).
1 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:
1 (A)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your (B)fellow elder and (C)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a (D)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
1 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness(A) to the sufferings of the Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed,(B) I exhort the elders among you:
1 Therefore, as a fellow elder, a witness of the Messiah's sufferings, and one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:
2 You should serve as shepherds of God's flock [i.e., the church], among whom you minister, providing careful oversight [of the people], not because you feel forced to, but because you want to, as this is in accordance with the way God wants it to be. Do not [serve as elders] simply out of a desire for the income you receive, but because your heart is in it.
2 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;
2 shepherd (E)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight (F)not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and (G)not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
2 Shepherd God’s flock among you,(C) not overseeing(a) out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will;(b) not for the money but eagerly;
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is among you, watching over it, not because you must but because you want to, and not greedily but eagerly, as God desires.
3 Do not act as dictators over the people you are assigned to care for, but [rather] serve as examples of how they ought to live.
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
3 nor yet as (H)lording it over (a)those allotted to your charge, but (b)proving to be (I)examples to the flock.
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
3 Do not lord it over the people entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.
4 And when the Supreme Shepherd [i.e., Jesus] comes back, you will receive [for your effort] a glorious crown [of reward] that will never fade away [Note: The idea of "fading away" is suggested by the laurel wreath bestowed on the winner of an athletic contest].
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
4 Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the victor's crown of glory that will never fade away.
Instructions For Christians
5 And in the same way, you younger [Christians] should be [respectfully] submissive to the older ones. And all of you should [be willing to] humbly serve one another, for God stands opposed to [the efforts of] proud people, but extends His unearned favor to those [who serve] with humility.
5 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.
5 (M)You younger men, likewise, (N)be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with (O)humility toward one another, for (P)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
5 In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with(c) humility toward one another, becauseGod resists the proudbut gives grace to the humble.(F)(d)
5 In a similar way, you young people must submit to the elders. All of you must clothe yourselves with humility for the sake of each other, because: "God opposes the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore, be humble [in your actions] before God's powerful authority, so that you may be exalted [by Him] at the proper time.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
6 Therefore (Q)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
6 Humble(G) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand(H) of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,(e)
6 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you.
8 Be sensible and alert; your enemy the devil is prowling around like a roaring [i.e., hungry] lion looking for someone to [kill and] eat.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
8 (S)Be of sober spirit, (T)be on the alert. Your adversary, (U)the devil, prowls around like a roaring (V)lion, seeking someone to devour.
8 Be serious!(J) Be alert!(K) Your adversary the Devil(L) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
8 Be clear-minded and alert. Your opponent, the Devil, is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
9 You should withstand his efforts by maintaining a strong faith [in God], remembering that your [Christian] brothers in [the rest of] the world are experiencing [and enduring] suffering similar to yours.
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
9 (d)(W)But resist him, (X)firm in your faith, knowing that (Y)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your (e)brethren who are in the world.
9 Resist him(M) and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
9 Resist him and be firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.
10 And the God who bestows every unearned favor [upon His people], who invited you to partake of His eternal splendor through Christ Jesus, will restore, confirm, strengthen and stabilize you people [in the faith], after you have gone through a brief time of suffering.
10 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.
10 After you have suffered (Z)for a little while, the (AA)God of all grace, who (AB)called you to His (AC)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself (AD)perfect, (AE)confirm, strengthen and establish you.
10 Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory(N) in Christ Jesus, will personally(f) restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.(g)
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you by the Messiah Jesus to his eternal glory, will restore you, establish you, strengthen you, and support you.
Conclusion And Final Greetings
12 This brief message is being inscribed [or delivered] by Silvanus, whom I consider to be a faithful brother. [In it] I am exhorting you and giving testimony that it is a message about God's genuine unearned favor upon you. So, continue to follow [and obey] what it says.
12 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.
12 Through (AG)Silvanus, our faithful brother (f)(for so I regard him), (AH)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is (AI)the true grace of God. (AJ)Stand firm in it!
12 I have written you this brief letter through Silvanus(j)(O) (I know him to be a faithful brother) to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it!
12 Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written this short letter to encourage you and to testify that this is to be the true grace of God in which you are to stand firm!
13 Your sister [church] here in Babylon, [also] chosen [by God], as you have been, sends her greetings along with my [spiritual] son Mark.
13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, (AK)Mark.
13 Your sister church in Babylon, chosen along with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, whom I regard as a son.
14 Greet one another lovingly, [expressing it] with a kiss [of brotherly affection]. May there be peace [of heart] to all those [there] who are in [the fellowship of] Christ.
14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
14 Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace be to all of you who are in the Messiah!