- 1The 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:
- 2Feed 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;
- 3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
- 4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
- 5Likewise, 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.
- 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
- 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
- 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
- 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
- 10But 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.
- 11To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
- 12By 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.
- 13The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
- 14Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
KING JAMES VERSION
1 PETER 5
Read the chapter, follow a linked verse, and continue into related Watchman 33 teaching.
CHAPTER VISUAL
1 Peter 5 — Elders shepherd willingly, believers humble themselves and cast their cares on God, and the suffering church resists the adversary steadfastly.
About this illustration
The sheepfold joins humble oversight, mutual strengthening, and the Chief Shepherd’s care without depicting Christ bodily. The distant natural lion is a restrained metaphor for the adversary and does not attack the flock.
Scripture basis: 1 Peter 5:1–14King James Version · Standardized 1769 text with Strong’s numbering · Public domain outside the United Kingdom
EXPLORE THE MESSAGE
Related Watchman 33 Resources
Archaeological Evidence
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEArchaeological site
First–fourth centuries AD
The Vatican Necropolis and the Peter Memorial
Excavation beneath Saint Peter's Basilica revealed a Roman cemetery, a second-century memorial, Christian graffiti, and a carefully preserved focal grave, strongly documenting early veneration at the traditional burial place of Peter while leaving the identification of surviving bones disputed.
1 Peter 5:13
ARCHAEOLOGY EVIDENCEManuscript
3rd-4th century AD
GA 0206: A Fourth-Century Fragment of 1 Peter
A small Greek parchment fragment preserving 1 Peter 5:5-13. Directly witnesses the exhortations to humility, vigilance, resistance to the devil, and steadfastness in suffering.
1 Peter 5:5–13
Sermons
The Great Whore
Pastor Dean Odle presents a Protestant and futurist reading of Revelation 17–18, identifying Mystery Babylon with the Roman Catholic system centered in Rome. He examines doctrine, Marian devotion, papal authority, transubstantiation, ecumenism, and contemplative practices, then calls believers to test every teaching by Scripture and look to Jesus Christ as the only mediator between God and humanity.
Mystery BabylonRevelationApostasy and DeceptionRoman Catholicism and the Papacy
View sermon The Power of the Word of God
In “The Power of the Word of God,” Pastor Dean Odle teaches that Scripture is living, powerful, and intended for active use. Beginning with Hebrews 4:12 and Hebrews 5:14, he connects spiritual maturity and discernment with repeated obedience to the Word. Jesus’ temptation in Luke 4 supplies the central pattern: Christ answers the devil by speaking Scripture accurately and in context. Odle therefore calls believers to read the Bible aloud, resist the devil steadfastly, remove spiritual footholds, and judge supernatural claims by Scripture rather than emotion or spectacle.
Doctrine and DiscernmentScripture AloneApostasy and DeceptionBible Prophecy
View sermon The Book of Enoch (Part 3)
In The Book of Enoch (Part 3), Pastor Dean Odle answers critics of Enoch and argues that its account of the Watchers and their giant offspring complements rather than contradicts the canonical Bible. Beginning with objections about the origin of sin, the title “Son of man,” bound angels, the Flood, and intercession, he urges Christians to examine claims in context instead of repeating inherited objections. He then connects Jesus’ answer to the Sadducees in Matthew 22 with Enoch 15, presenting Enoch as background for the teaching that heavenly angels are not appointed wives.
Bible ProphecyBiblical CreationApostasy and DeceptionDoctrine and Discernment
View sermon Showing 1–3 of 6 sermons