Bible verses about "gatekeepers" | AUV

¹ So, the elders in the various places where you live, are to receive the following exhortation. (I too, am an elder and have witnessed the sufferings of Christ, and am also assured of partaking of the glorious [salvation, 1:5] that will someday be revealed). ² You should serve as shepherds of God’s flock [i.e., the church], among whom you minister, providing careful oversight [of the people], not because you feel forced to, but because you want to, as this is in accordance with the way God wants it to be. Do not [serve as elders] simply out of a desire for the income you receive, but because your heart is in it. ³ Do not act as dictators over the people you are assigned to care for, but [rather] serve as examples of how they ought to live. ⁴ And when the Supreme Shepherd [i.e., Jesus] comes back, you will receive [for your effort] a glorious crown [of reward] that will never fade away [Note: The idea of “fading away” is suggested by the laurel wreath bestowed on the winner of an athletic contest]. ⁵ And in the same way, you younger [Christians] should be [respectfully] submissive to the older ones. And all of you should [be willing to] humbly serve one another, for God stands opposed to [the efforts of] proud people, but extends His unearned favor to those [who serve] with humility. ⁶ Therefore, be humble [in your actions] before God’s powerful authority, so that you may be exalted [by Him] at the proper time. ⁷ Place all your anxious cares upon God [in prayer], because He genuinely cares about you. ⁸ Be sensible and alert; your enemy the devil is prowling around like a roaring [i.e., hungry] lion looking for someone to [kill and] eat. ⁹ You should withstand his efforts by maintaining a strong faith [in God], remembering that your [Christian] brothers in [the rest of] the world are experiencing [and enduring] suffering similar to yours. ¹⁰ And the God who bestows every unearned favor [upon His people], who invited you to partake of His eternal splendor through Christ Jesus, will restore, confirm, strengthen and stabilize you people [in the faith], after you have gone through a brief time of suffering. ¹¹ May God have total authority over everything [including your circumstances] forever. May it be so. ¹² This brief message is being inscribed [or delivered] by Silvanus, whom I consider to be a faithful brother. [In it] I am exhorting you and giving testimony that it is a message about God’s genuine unearned favor upon you. So, continue to follow [and obey] what it says. ¹³ Your sister [church] here in Babylon, [also] chosen [by God], as you have been, sends her greetings along with my [spiritual] son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another lovingly, [expressing it] with a kiss [of brotherly affection]. May there be peace [of heart] to all those [there] who are in [the fellowship of] Christ.

¹ Come on now, you rich people, cry and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you. ² Your wealth has rotted and moths have eaten your clothing. ³ Your gold and silver have tarnished and their tarnish will be a testimony against you [i.e., you have hoarded your wealth instead of using it to benefit others], and they will devour your flesh as fire [i.e., your riches will ultimately consume you]. You have hoarded up your riches in these last days. ⁴ Look, the wages you have fraudulently refused to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out [against you]. And the cries of these harvest hands have reached the ears of the Lord of [heavenly] armies [i.e., Almighty God]. ⁵ You people have basked in luxury [here] on earth and lived lives devoted to pleasure. You have fattened yourselves [as sacrificial oxen] for the day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and murdered the righteous man [i.e., the innocent person, See verse 4] and he does not [even] resist you. ⁷ So, be patient, brothers, until the Lord comes. Look, the farmer waits for his land to produce the valuable crop and is patient with it until it receives the fall and spring rains. ⁸ [So], you people should be patient also; strengthen your hearts because the Lord’s coming is near [Note: This may refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, or to Christ’s final coming and judgment]. ⁹ Do not complain against one another, brothers, so that you will not [have to] be judged [and condemned for it]. Look, the Judge [i.e., Christ] is standing at the door! [See verse 8]. ¹⁰ Brothers, take the [Old Testament] prophets, who spoke in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord, as your examples of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Notice that we consider those who endured [suffering with patience] to be blessed [by God]. You people have heard of Job’s patience and have seen what the Lord finally did [for him]. The Lord is very compassionate and merciful. ¹² But above everything else, my brothers, do not take oaths, not “by the heaven,” nor “by the earth,” nor by any other oath. But your “yes” should be [simply] “yes,” and your “no,” [simply] “no,” so you do not fall under condemnation. ¹³ Is there anyone among you who is suffering? [If so], he should pray. Is anyone happy? [Then] he should sing a psalm. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? [Then] he should call for the elders of the church and they should pray for him, after pouring [olive] oil on him in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord. ¹⁵ And if their prayer is [offered] by faith, [God] will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up [from his sickbed]. And if he had sinned, he will be forgiven for them [Note: This may imply that the man’s sickness was the result of some sin. In any event, his forgiveness would follow his repentance]. ¹⁶ So, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be healed [from sin sickness]. The special request of a righteous person is empowered with [great] effectiveness. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man with a similar nature as ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain [I Kings 17:1; 18:1], and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again and the sky poured rain and the ground produced its crop. ¹⁹ My brothers, if anyone among you strays away from the truth [of God’s inspired message], and someone brings him back [to it], ²⁰ that person should know that whoever brings a sinner back from the error of his way will save that soul from [spiritual] death and will cover over a large number of sins [i.e., the many sins of that person will become forgiven].

¹ First of all, then, I urge you to offer [special] requests, prayers, intercessions [Note: “Intercessions” probably refers to praying on behalf of others], and thanksgivings for all people. ² [Offer them] for kings and for all people in prominent [governmental] positions, so that we can live a peaceful and quiet life in all reverence [toward God] and respectability [toward people]. ³ This is good and acceptable [behavior] in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all people to be saved and come to a [full] knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and mankind --- the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself as a ransom on behalf of all people [i.e., as a substitute in place of others]. The proper time for the testimony [of this event to be proclaimed] has arrived. [Note: The correct meaning of the foregoing sentence is very difficult to determine]. ⁷ I was appointed to be a preacher [of this testimony] and an apostle and teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. (I am telling the truth and not lying). ⁸ Therefore, I want the men to pray in every place [i.e., in all worship assemblies. See verses 1-2], lifting up holy hands without being angry or argumentative. [Note: This passage stresses both the physical and spiritual aspects of prayer]. ⁹ I also want the women to dress themselves in proper clothing, with modesty and discretion, not with [elaborately] braided hair, or gold [ornaments], or pearls, or expensive clothing, ¹⁰ but with good deeds, which are [more] appropriate for women who claim to be godly. ¹¹ A woman should learn [the Scriptures] in quietness, being fully submissive. ¹² But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man [in the assembly], but she should remain quiet. ¹³ For Adam was created first, and then Eve was. [See Gen. 1:27; 2:21-22]. ¹⁴ And Adam was not [the one] deceived, but [it was] the woman who, when deceived, fell into sin. ¹⁵ But she [i.e., womankind] will be saved [from condemnation, in spite of the “curse” of suffering pain] through childbearing [See Gen. 3:16], provided they [i.e., all women] continue to have faith and love and holiness, along with discretion.