1 Peter 5:2
1 As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
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.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness;
- KJV
- 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;
- WEB
- shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly;
- ASV
- Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to [the will of] God; nor yet for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
- DARBY
- shepherd the flock of God which [is] among you, exercising oversight, not by necessity, but willingly; not for base gain, but readily;
- BLB
- Shepherd the flock of God among you⁺, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but willingly according to God; and not for shameful gain but eagerly,
- ÅB
- Vokt den Guds flokk som er hos dere, og ha tilsyn med den, ikke av tvang, men frivillig, ikke for ussel vinnings skyld, men av villig hjerte,
- OTB
- ta vare på Guds flokk i deres omsorg, gi tilsyn villig, i samsvar med Guds vilje; og ikke for uærlig vinning, men med entusiasme;
- B1930
- Vokt den Guds hjord som er hos eder, og ha tilsyn med den, ikke av tvang, men frivillig, ikke for ussel vinnings skyld, men av villig hjerte,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Titus 1:7
As God’s steward, an overseer must be above reproach—not self-absorbed, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not greedy for money.
Read in context1 Timothy 3:8
Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.
Read in contextActs 20:26–28
Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
Read in contextTitus 3:1
Remind the believers to submit to rulers and authorities, to be obedient and ready for every good work,
Read in context1 Timothy 3:3
not dependent on wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.
Read in contextEzekiel 34:2–3
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock?
Read in context1 Corinthians 9:7
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
Read in contextHebrews 12:15
See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
Read in context