1 Peter 5:2

King James Version (KJV)

Feed 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;

Translations

1 Peter 5:2 - Amplified Bible

Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion {or} constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages {and} profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly {and} cheerfully;

1 Peter 5:2 - American Standard Version

Tend 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;

1 Peter 5:2 - Bible in Basic English

Keep watch over the flock of God which is in your care, using your authority, not as forced to do so, but gladly; and not for unclean profit but with a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:2 - Darby Bible

shepherd the flock of God which [is] among you, exercising oversight, not by necessity, but willingly; not for base gain, but readily;

1 Peter 5:2 - English Standard Version

shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

1 Peter 5:2 - King James Version

Feed 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;

1 Peter 5:2 - La Biblia de las Americas

pastoread el rebaño de Dios entre vosotros, velando por él, no por obligaciòn, sino voluntariamente, como quiere Dios; no por la avaricia del dinero, sino con sincero deseo;

1 Peter 5:2 - The Message

1 Peter 5:2 - New American Standard Bible

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to {the will of} God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

1 Peter 5:2 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

pastoreen el rebaño de Dios entre ustedes, velando por él, no por obligaciòn, sino voluntariamente, como quiere Dios; no por la avaricia del dinero (no por ganancias deshonestas), sino con sincero deseo;

1 Peter 5:2 - World English Bible

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;

1 Peter 5:2 - Young's Living Translation

feed the flock of God that [is] among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,

1 Peter 5:2 - Additional Comments

A shepherd must feed the flock (by teaching them the Word of God), must lead them (by teaching and showing which choices to take), and must be an example to them. The flock are God's people, and the shepherd just has leadership over them. They do not belong to the shepherd.
Since Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, the shepherds of the church can look to His example to see how to shepherd their flock. Also, in the same way the shepherd holds the flock accountable, Jesus will hold the shepherds accountable.
Church leadership should never be doing their work for personal gain.
In fact, any ministry that you do should not be for personal gain. And it should only be from a willing and eager heart. (Examples of wrong attitude -- Matthew 20:25-26, 2 Cor 1:24) Others may be able to detect your motives, any hidden agendas. Plus, the One who enables you, who sustains you, who gives you the strength and words, He is the One who knows your heart.
Ask God for a pure heart as you minister, to truly be motivated for God and others, not self.
Note that by implication, the church is a flock, a unified collection of people with one mind, not spread out, each person with their own direction.

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