1.
The 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:
2.
Feed 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;
Verse 2
For filthy lucre; for the sake of money. This expression, and others analogous to it, seem to imply that pecuniary provision for religious teachers was very early made,--as they are cautioned against being unduly influenced by the consideration of it.
3.
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5.
Likewise, 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.
Verse 5
Be subject one to another; yield one to another; let none seek to exercise authority over the rest.
6.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7.
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9.
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Verse 9
Are accomplished in your brethren; that is, that all your Christian brethren, wherever scattered, share in your afflictions and trials.
10.
But 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.
11.
To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
12.
By 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.
Verse 12
Silvanus. There is an allusion to Sylvanus in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 .
13.
The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
Verse 13
Babylon. The ancient city of Babylon was desolate and uninhabited in the days of the apostles. Hence some have supposed that Peter was at Rome when he wrote this Epistle, and that he calls that city by the name Babylon, as a mystical designation.--Marcus; perhaps the individual mentioned in Acts 12:12 , whom Peter may have considered as his son, in a spiritual sense.
14.
Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.