1Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed: 2shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but willingly; 3not as lording it over those entrusted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. 4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time, 7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. 10But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you. So does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Grace (Gk. χάρις, charis). Strong's 5485.
Not surprisingly, this word is common in the NT (155 times). This word can refer to attractiveness, goodwill, a gift, favor, gratitude. It is a profoundly important theological word in the NT. In its theological sense, “grace” is the favor shown by God to the undeserving. No human being deserves anything good from God (Rom 3:23; 6:23; 2 Cor 8:9; Gal 2:21), yet every human being does receive good from God, even if it is short of salvation (Matt 5:45; 1 John 2:2). This passage makes it clear that salvation is utterly dependent on grace, that is, on unmerited favor. There is grace from God that brings eternal salvation, and this grace is the necessary instrument and cause to bring it about. Grace is such an important term because people need it so much, and because it is integral to God’s nature. Since grace is an attribute of God, winsome behavior and giving to the undeserving is rooted in the divine ground of reality.