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The 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:
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;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

5:1 The elders. The elders of the churches addressed by Peter are urged to “feed the flock” (that is, to “pastor”), while also “taking the oversight” (that is, to “bishop”) the churches they were serving. This admonition indirectly confirms the implication that the offices of elder, pastor and bishop really are synonymous in effect, all being centered in the same man or men. “Elder” implies maturity in the faith, “pastor” implies teaching the Word,” and “bishop” implies oversight administratively.


5:2 filthy lucre. “Filthy lucre” is one word in the Greek. Lucre, from a Latin word meaning “gain,” only becomes filthy when it corrupts the sincerity of Christian ministry.


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