1 Peter 5:1-2
Leading and Living in God’s Flock
5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you:
5:2 Give a shepherd’s care to 1 God’s flock among you, exercising oversight 2 not merely as a duty 3 but willingly under God’s direction, 4 not for shameful profit but eagerly.
1 tn Grk “shepherd,” “tend,” “pastor.”
2 tc A few important mss (א* B sa) lack ἐπισκοποῦντες (episkopounte", “exercising oversight”), but the participle enjoys otherwise good ms support (Ì72 א2 A P Ψ 33 1739 Ï lat). A decision is difficult because normally the shorter reading is preferred, especially when found in excellent witnesses. However, in this instance the omission may be due to a hesitation among some scribes to associate oversight with elders, since the later church viewed overseer/bishop as a separate office from elder.
3 tn Or “not under compulsion/coercion.”
4 tn Grk “according to God.”