1 Peter 5:2-3

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. 5:3 And do not lord it over ⁵  those entrusted to you, ⁶  but be examples to the flock.

1 Peter 3:14

3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer ⁷  for doing what is right, ⁸  you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them ⁹  or be shaken. ¹⁰ 

[5:2]  ¹ tn Grk “shepherd,” “tend,” “pastor.”

[5:2]  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.

[5:2]  ³ tn Or “not under compulsion/coercion.”

[5:2]  ⁴ tn Grk “according to God.”

[5:3]  ⁵ tn Grk “not as lording it over…but being examples.” The participles continue the command of v. 2 by describing how the shepherding should be carried out.

[5:3]  ⁶ tn Grk “the ones allotted,” referring to those God has given over to their care.

[3:14]  ⁹ sn The Greek construction here implies that such suffering was not the norm, even though it could happen, and in fact may well have happened to some of the readers (cf. 4:4, 12-19).

[3:14]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “because of righteousness.”

[3:14]  ¹¹ tn Grk “do not fear their fear,” referring to those who cause their suffering. The phrase “their fear” may mean “what they fear” (subjective genitive), but in a situation of persecution it more likely means “fear of them” (objective genitive).

[3:14]  ¹² sn A quotation from Isa 8:12.