1 Peter 5:3-13

3 not ¹domineering over those in your charge, but ²being examples to the flock.

4 And when ³the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the ⁴unfading ⁵crown of glory.

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. ⁶Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ⁷“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ”

6 ⁸Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

7 ⁹casting all your anxieties on him, because ¹⁰he cares for you.

8 ¹¹Be sober-minded; ¹²be watchful. Your ¹³adversary the devil ¹⁴prowls around ¹⁵like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 ¹⁶Resist him, ¹⁷firm in your faith, knowing that ¹⁸the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

10 And ¹⁹after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, ²⁰who has called you to his ²¹eternal glory in Christ, will himself ²²restore, ²³confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

11 ²⁴To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

12 By ²⁵Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, ²⁶I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is ²⁷the true grace of God. ²⁸Stand firm in it.

13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does ²⁹Mark, my son.

1 Peter 5:3-13 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 PETER 5

In this chapter the apostle first exhorts pastors and members of churches to their respective duties as such; and then to those which were common to them all, as Christians; and closes the epistle with prayers for them, salutations of them, and with his apostolic benediction. He begins with the pastors or elders, and describes himself as a fellow elder, an eyewitness of Christ's sufferings, and a partaker of his glory, 1Pe 5:1, and these he exhorts to feed the flock of God, where they were; to take the charge and oversight of them, freely, readily, and willingly, and not through force or covetousness; and not to exercise a tyrannical dominion over them, but to be examples to them, 1Pe 5:2,3, and the argument made use of to encourage them to all this is, that at the appearance of Christ, the chief Shepherd, they should receive a never fading crown of glory, 1Pe 5:4 and next, the members of the churches are exhorted to submit to the rule and government of their pastors, being according to the word of God; and to be subject to one another; and particularly to put on humility, as a garment very ornamental to them; and the rather, since God opposes himself to men that are proud, but gives more grace to the humble, 1Pe 5:5 and especially he exhorts them to be humble under the hand of God, since that is a mighty one, and this is the way to be exalted in due time; and also to cast their care upon him, seeing he cared for them, 1Pe 5:6,7 and then the apostle proceeds to the common duties of Christians, and to exhort them to sobriety and watchfulness, since Satan their adversary was a cruel and indefatigable one, and ever seeking the ruin of men; and to resist him in the steadfast exercise of faith, and patiently bear all afflictions, seeing the same were accomplished in their brethren in the world, 1Pe 5:8,9 and then he puts up some petitions for them, that they might be perfected, stablished, strengthened, and settled, 1Pe 5:10 and ascribes glory and dominion for ever to the God of grace, to whom he prays, 1Pe 5:11 after which he names the person by whom he sends this epistle, giving a summary of it; that it was an exhortation and a testimony to the true doctrine of grace wherein they stood, 1Pe 5:12, and next follow the salutations of the church at Babylon, and of his son Marcus, to them, 1Pe 5:13, and lastly, he desires they would salute one another with a kiss of love, and gives them his benedictory wish, 1Pe 5:14.

Cross References

• 1. 5:3 Ezek. 34:4; Matt. 20:25; Mark 10:42; 2 Cor. 1:24
• 2. 5:3 Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; Titus 2:7
• 3. 5:4 Heb. 13:20
• 4. 5:4 [ch. 1:4]
• 5. 5:4 1 Cor. 9:25; See James 1:12
• 6. 5:5 [Matt. 20:26, 27; John 13:4, 5, 14]
• 7. 5:5 See James 4:6, 10
• 8. 5:6 [See ver. 5 above]
• 9. 5:7 [Ps. 37:5; 55:22]; See Matt. 6:25
• 10. 5:7 Ps. 40:17
• 11. 5:8 See ch. 1:13
• 12. 5:8 See Matt. 24:42
• 13. 5:8 Eph. 4:27; 6:11; Rev. 12:9, 12; [Job 1:9-12; Luke 22:31; 2 Cor. 2:11]
• 14. 5:8 Job 1:7; 2:2
• 15. 5:8 [Ps. 22:21]
• 16. 5:9 James 4:7
• 17. 5:9 Col. 2:5
• 18. 5:9 Acts 14:22; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12
• 19. 5:10 ch. 1:6
• 20. 5:10 1 Cor. 1:9; 1 Thess. 2:12; 1 Tim. 6:12
• 21. 5:10 2 Tim. 2:10
• 22. 5:10 Heb. 13:21
• 23. 5:10 Luke 22:32; Rom. 16:25
• 24. 5:11 See ch. 4:11
• 25. 5:12 Acts 15:22; 2 Cor. 1:19; 1 Thess. 1:1; 2 Thess. 1:1
• 26. 5:12 [Heb. 13:22]
• 27. 5:12 See Acts 11:23
• 28. 5:12 See 1 Cor. 15:1
• 29. 5:13 See Acts 12:12