Exhortation to Elders
5
aI exhort the elders among you, I who am a fellow elder, a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker in the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, bexercising oversight, not under compulsion, but cwillingly; not for sordid gain, but eagerly. 3 Do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.5 In the same way, you who are younger must submit to your elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility das you submit to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.
8 Be sober-minded and ewatchful; your adversary the devil fwalks around like a roaring lion, seeking gwhom he may devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering. 10 And after you have suffered for a little while, hmay the God of all grace, who called iyou to his eternal glory in Christ jJesus, himself perfect you; he will establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To him be kthe glory and the power forever land ever. Amen.
Final Greetings
12 Through Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13 She who is in Babylon, who is chosen together with you, greets you, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be with all of you who are in Christ mJesus. nAmen.