1 Peter 5:2-5

¹ tn Grk “shepherd,” “tend,” “pastor.”

² tc A few important mss (א* B sa) lack ἐπισκοποῦντες (episkopounte", “exercising oversight”), but the participle enjoys otherwise good ms support (Ì⁷² א² A P Ψ 33 1739 Ï 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.

⁸ sn In this context younger and elder are terms that combine two meanings: relative age and an official structure of leadership in the church. As in v. 1, elder here denotes those who exercise spiritual leadership, who for the most part are older in years. Likewise younger means the rest of the community, who for the most part are younger in age, who are urged to accept the authority of their leaders.

⁹ sn A quotation from Prov 3:34 (cf. Jas 4:6).