Tap any verse number for what that verse means.
1The 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:
2Feed 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;
3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, 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.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10But 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.
11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12By 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.
13The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
14Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Understand This
1 Peter 5, explained
What 1 Peter 5 is saying
Peter addresses elders as a fellow elder (sympresbyteros) and witness of Christ's sufferings, urging them to shepherd God's flock willingly and eagerly, not for shameful gain, and as examples rather than lords. Younger members are called to submit to elders and all are to clothe themselves in humility. The chapter culminates in the command to cast all anxiety on God and to resist the devil who prowls like a roaring lion. The letter closes with greetings from 'she who is in Babylon' and from Mark.
The background behind it
'Babylon' almost certainly refers to Rome as a cipher, following Jewish apocalyptic convention (cf. Revelation 17-18). The mention of Silvanus as amanuensis and Mark as companion connects Peter to Paul's missionary network. The suffering described as affecting 'your brothers throughout the world' indicates the widespread, though not yet systematic, nature of Christian persecution.
Themes running underneath
The shepherd-flock imagery for ecclesial leadership carries deep christological resonance, as Christ is identified as the 'Chief Shepherd' (archipoimen) whose appearance will reward faithful under-shepherds. The humility exhortation draws on Proverbs 3:34 (LXX), establishing the disposition of lowliness as the foundation of both leadership and resistance to evil.
Why it still matters
Peter's vision of church leadership is profoundly counter-cultural: authority exercised through example, not coercion; motivated by eagerness, not greed. The 'casting all anxiety' command is not mere psychological technique but theological trust rooted in God's demonstrated care.
Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.