Consider verses 1-4, where elders are exhorted to
1) shepherd the flock of God
2) serve as willing, honest, and eager overseers
3) serve as examples, not Lords over those entrusted to them (the flock)
If they do this they will be rewarded by the Chief Shepherd with a non-fading crown of glory.
Consider verses 5-9, younger people (non-elders) are exhorted to
1) submit to elders
2) submit to one another
3) be clothed with humility (humble yourself under the mighty hand of God)
4) cast all your care on Him
5) be sober (serious-minded), be vigilant (carefully watchful), resist the enemy remaining steadfast (not changing, not moving, unshakable) in the faith BECAUSE, as your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (completely eat, leaving no scraps)
The inference is that IF you submit to elders, submit to one another, become clothed in humility, and cast all your care on Him (actions) while being serious-minded, carefully watchful, and in a state of resistance to the enemy, steadfastly holding to your faith (states of being), then you will, after a time period of suffering, be perfected, established, strengthened, and settled by and in Christ (verse 10) and exalted in due time (verse 6). Compare Col. 2:6,7. If you DON'T receive God's grace to do the actions and live in the states of being listed, then you become a thanksgiving dinner for the enemy (only he won't be thanking God).
It is assumed that God's true elders/overseers/shepherds (not title only) have been faithful in this process (where there has been some suffering) and have been perfected, established, settled, and already exalted by God (to one degree or another) in order to shepherd the flock without Lording over it (being examples instead) and serving as willing, honest, and eager overseers.
What are your thoughts?
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