1 Peter 5:1
What does 1 Peter 5:1 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 5:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 5:1 means
Peter turns to the local leaders and urges them as one of their own. Though he is an apostle, he identifies himself as a fellow-elder, showing humility and solidarity. He also reminds them that he personally witnessed the sufferings of Christ, so his counsel is grounded in firsthand knowledge of the cross. Yet his horizon is not only past suffering but future hope—he shares in the glory that will be revealed. This sets a pattern: present hardship joined to certain glory. His words invite elders to see their work through the lens of Christ’s path—suffering now, glory later—and to receive his exhortation as coming from both shared experience and apostolic authority.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
KJV
King James Version · 1611The 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I who am myself one of the rulers of the church, and a witness of the death of Christ, having my part in the coming glory, send this serious request to the chief men among you:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Elders who <FI>are<Fi> among you, I exhort, who <FI>am<Fi> a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Christ, and of the glory about to be revealed a partaker,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The ancients therefore that are among you, I beseech who am myself also an ancient and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as also a partaker of that glory which is to be revealed in time to come:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The elders which [are] among you I exhort, who [am their] fellow-elder and witness of the sufferings of the Christ, who also [am] partaker of the glory about to be revealed:
Context
This opening verse begins Peter’s closing exhortations by addressing the elders first. He establishes his credibility and tone: humble, seasoned by suffering, yet anchored in the hope of coming glory. Verses 2–3 will describe how elders should shepherd God’s people, and verse 4 will point to the reward given by the chief Shepherd. Recognizing Peter’s approach here prepares the reader to receive the following instructions as pastoral guidance aimed at sustaining the church under pressure.
v.1This passage
v.2Tend 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;
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 15:4
And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church and the apostles and the elders, and they rehearsed all things that God had done with them.
- Philippians 1:19
For I know that this shall turn out to my salvation, through your supplication and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
- 1 Timothy 5:1
Rebuke not an elder, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brethren:
- Acts 10:39
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom also they slew, hanging him on a tree.
- 1 Timothy 5:19
Against an elder receive not an accusation, except at the mouth of two or three witnesses.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1
For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
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