I don't have a definite opinion on this, but I think that this could be a mild rebuke (reminder) not to mind each other's business, and get to the job at hand in the face of (coming) outside opposition, rather than quarreling and meddling among themselves. There are two ways of taking the παντὶ, ἐν ᾧ here. One is as all everywhere with out distinction or limitation (all = in every place) and the other is all who are in that particular place (all = don't neglect any one of them)Acts 20:28 wrote:Προσέχετε οὖν ἑαυτοῖς καὶ παντὶ τῷ ποιμνίῳ, ἐν ᾧ ὑμᾶς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον ἔθετο ἐπισκόπους, ποιμαίνειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Θεοῦ,
I think that is put mildly because if it was very strongly worded, it could be:
διάμενε ἐν τῇ ἐπαύλει / νομῇ σου "Stay in your fold / pasture" (Without respect as a shepherd)
βόσκησον τὰ πρόβατα σου "Tend your sheep." (Disorganised sheep or small number)
βόσκησον τὸ ἴδικον σου ποίμνιον / τὴν ποίμνην "Tend your own flock." (Emphasise to keep away from others)
βόσκησον τὸ ποίμνιον σου "Tend your flock." (Neutral statement, I think)
ποίμαινε τὸ ποίμνιον σου "Shepherd your flock." (upgrade to a verb involving more skill)
σπούδασον ποιμαίνειν τὸ ποίμνιον σου "Give attention to your shepherding of the flock" (I take commands with σπουδάζω to be an idicator of confidence)
πρόσεχε τὸ ποίμνιον σου "Give heed to your flock" (No specific verb is said, because he trusts their judgement)
Has anyone esle thought about rudeness and politeness in Greek? Could someone criticise my thoughts on the langauge here please.