1 Peter 5:1-4

NLT: ¹And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share his glory and his honor when he returns. ²Care for the flock of God entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. ³Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your good example. ⁴And when the head Shepherd comes, your reward will be a never-ending share in his glory and honor.

NIV: ¹To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ²Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; ³not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

NASB: ¹Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, ²shepherd 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; ³nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

KJV: 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.

Comment: Here the author, Peter, is claiming to be a eyewitness to Jesus, his sufferings, and by implication, in the statements referring to Jesus' return, the resurrection. How could Jesus return after suffering death unless he had been resurrected and gone someplace to return from? The credibility of this claim lies in the exhortations to the elders of the church. The essence of the exhortation is to serve sincerely expecting a reward when Jesus returns. How could anyone serve sincerely expecting a reward at Jesus return if Jesus was not still alive? Surely for Peter to make this appeal implies that he himself has this perspective. In fact, it is stated in verse 1. Thus there is no reason to doubt Peter's view that he was a witness of Jesus' resurrection. Once again, why would Peter appeal to a future, rather than immediate, reward if he didn't believe Jesus was raised and would return?