1 Peter 5
The full text of 1 Peter 5 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Greek. Free to read.
1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings, and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble."
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.
11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
12 With the help of Silas, 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. Stand firm in it.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Translation notes (10)
- 1 Peter 5:1a Greek presbyterous (πρεσβυτέρους), 'elders,' designates local leaders; sympresbyteros (συμπρεσβύτερος), 'fellow elder,' is a New Testament hapax. Martys (μάρτυς), 'witness,' later developed the sense 'martyr.' Koinonos (κοινωνός), 'partner, sharer,' with mellousēs (μελλούσης), 'about to,' describes the 'glory to be revealed.'
- 1 Peter 5:2a Some manuscripts omit "watching over them."
- 1 Peter 5:3a The Greek phrase rendered here as 'those entrusted to you' is ton klērōn (τῶν κλήρων), literally 'the portions.' This term refers to the people allotted to the elders' care, echoing the use of klēros for the people of Israel as God's allotted inheritance.
- 1 Peter 5:4a The Greek archipoimen (ἀρχιποιμήν), 'chief shepherd', appears only here in the New Testament. "Crown of glory" translates stephanos (στέφανος), a victor's wreath rather than a royal diadem, modified by amarantinos (ἀμαράντινος), 'unfading', echoing amarantos (ἀμάραντος) in 1:4; literally, 'the unfading wreath of glory'.
- 1 Peter 5:5a The Greek verb enkombosasthe, 'clothe yourselves', appears only here in the New Testament and evokes tying on a garment such as a servant's apron. The closing citation is Proverbs 3:34 in the wording of the Septuagint, which reads theos, 'God', where the Masoretic Text has the divine name; James 4:6 quotes the same form.
- 1 Peter 5:8a The word antidikos (ἀντίδικος), 'adversary', is a legal term for an opponent in a lawsuit, casting the devil as a courtroom accuser as well as a predator. The Greek katapiein, 'to swallow down', is stronger than mere attack, and the roaring lion was a familiar image of lethal danger in the ancient Mediterranean world, echoing passages such as Psalm 22:13.
- 1 Peter 5:10a The Greek verb katartisei, 'restore', is followed by three verbs in the future tense: sterixei, 'will make strong'; sthenosei, 'will make firm'; and themeliosei, 'will make steadfast'. This construction underscores God's active role in establishing believers.
- 1 Peter 5:12a The Greek phrase dia Silouanou, literally 'through Silvanus', likely identifies Silvanus (the Silas of Acts) as the letter's carrier, though some take him as Peter's amanuensis; the idiom elsewhere describes the bearer of a document. The phrase hos logizomai, 'as I regard', expresses Peter's own commendation of him as a faithful brother.
- 1 Peter 5:13a Greek syneklektē, 'chosen together', is a feminine singular adjective with no expressed noun; most interpreters understand it of the church from which Peter writes rather than an individual woman. Babylon is widely taken as a figurative name for Rome, a usage also found in Revelation and in Jewish writings after the temple's destruction. The translation preserves the figure without resolving it.
- 1 Peter 5:14a Some later manuscripts add "Jesus. Amen."
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own modern English translation, worked directly from the original Greek and honest to the earliest manuscripts. It was completed in 2026 — the most modern English Bible translation — and is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Every chapter, including all of 1 Peter, is free to read here on the web.
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