1 Peter 5

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter are:

Greek

• Papyrus 72 (3rd/4th century)[5]
• Codex Vaticanus (AD 325–50)
• Codex Sinaiticus (330–60)
• Uncial 0206 (4th century; extant verses 5–13)
• Codex Alexandrinus (400–40)

Latin

• Codex Floriacensis (6th century; extant verses 1–14)[6]

• 1 Peter 5:5: Proverbs 3:34
• 1 Peter 5:7: Psalm 55:22[7]

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:[8]

• "Elders" (Ancient Greek: presbyteroi): church officials (cf. Acts 14:23; James 5:14; 2 John 1; 3 John 1 etc.)[9] appointed to take spiritual charge of the church members.[10] As noted in KJV, the Jerusalem church had elders early on.[10] The term presbyteroi ("elders") indicates the status, whereas the term episkopoi ("bishops"; "overseers") describes their function (verse 2), but Acts 20:28 uses the two words interchangeably.[10]

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;[11]

• "Shepherd": from the Greek verb: ποιμάνατε, poimanate, which has the same root as the word Jesus used to charge Peter in John 21:6 after the resurrection.[10] Paul also used the word to charge the elders at Ephesus (Acts 20:28).[10]

and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.[12]

• "Chief Shepherd" is one of the names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, alluding to the principal shepherd, who own the sheep, and have helpers under him, so-called "little shepherds" (רוים קטנים);[13] perhaps similar to the "hirelings" (John 10:12) who are retained, or removed, according to their behavior. These, in the Talmudic language, are called (ברזלי),[14] or (כרזלי) ; though, according to Guido,[15] the word, pronounced in the latter way, signifies a "chief shepherd", who takes care of men, and has other shepherds, servants under him; and such a one used to be called (הרןה הגדול), "the great", or "chief shepherd". According to Jewish commentators[16][17] it was the custom for "the chief shepherd" to have servants under them, to whom they committed the flocks to keep, and the shepherd that is under him is obliged to make good any loss.[18]
• "The crown of glory that does not fade away": The "crown" alludes to the ones given to the conqueror or the champion, in the Olympic games, which were made of divers flowers, of the olive, wild olive, pine tree, and of parsley, and inserted in a branch of the wild olive tree,[19] but they quickly faded away. It could be an allusion to crowns made of amaranthus,[20] the so-called "everlasting" plant, because it never fades by the nature of it.[18] However, the "crown of glory" or a glorious crown, that never fades away, means the eternal glory and happiness, ever shines in its full lustre; and this faithful ministers shall receive at the hands of the chief Shepherd, as a gift of his, as a reward of grace; when they have finished their work, they will enter into the joy of their Lord, and shine as the stars for ever and ever; they shall reign with Christ, as kings, on a throne of glory, wearing a crown of glory, and enjoying a kingdom and glory to all eternity.[18]

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.[21]

Christians can live a care-free life, but not a careless one, because they are involved in a constant spiritual warfare, so they must be watchful of the enemy, the devil, which seeks opportunities to destroy them.[22]

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.[23]

After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you his eternal glory. He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place, and make you stronger than ever.[24]

To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.[25]

By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.[26]

• "Silvanus (Greek name for "Silas")": a helper of Peter, either in the writing of the epistle or the delivery or both.[27] He may be the same person noted in Acts 15–18 and mentioned in 2 Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1.[27]
• Brevity: 1 Peter is longer than some of the other letters in the New Testament, but the author "regards it as short when measured by the greatness of its theme".[28]

She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son.[29]

• "Babylon": identified as the ancient capital of Babylonia, or a Roman garrison town in Egypt (now: Cairo), or Rome, with the last one seeming most likely.[27]
• "Mark": may refer to Mark the Evangelist, to whose home Peter went after being liberated from prison (Acts 12:12), and had accompanied Paul the Apostle (first in Acts 12:25–13:13, then later as noted in Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24 and 2 Timothy 4:11).[27] Eusebius the historian noted a quotation from Papias that Mark compiled a written record of Peter's recollections about the deeds and words of Jesus Christ, known today as the Gospel of Mark, which from early times is associated with the church at Rome.[27]