1 Peter 5:1 ¹Therefore, I urge the elders among you, as the fellow elder and witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partner in the glory to be revealed

Peter turns his focus to more groups within the churches to which he wrote. The next group of focus is the elders(presbyterous), who were the spiritual leaders of the churches. They would be in this position because of their spiritual maturity, experience, and age. Judaism also honored elders and served as a model for the early church. Older people were held in honor because of their supposed wisdom. Although an older age is assumed in the word, age was not the most significant factor to being an elder in the early church. More important were the spiritual qualities. As the church grew, those older in the faith assumed leadership responsibilities (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 1 Timothy 5:17–19; Titus 1:5; 2 John 1; 3 John 1).

Peter gives himself as an example as a fellow elder. He was older in age by this time, probably in his 50s or 60s at least. Age is not part of his exhortation but rather his responsibility as a spiritual role model. He was not writing from theory but from experience as a witness. He saw the suffering of Christ. He watched Jesus be arrested. He stood outside at Jesus’ trial. He witnessed the crucifixion. He also was the first into the empty tomb. He saw the risen Jesus. This changed his doubts and fears into firm conviction and faith. The readers obviously could not be “eyewitnesses” of the historical Jesus, like Peter, but they could witness to the truth gospel from their personal experience of faith, like Peter did wherever he traveled. Even when his testimony got him imprisoned, Peter remained faithful.

Part of Peter’s motivation to be a faithful witness was his hope and anticipation of Christ’s return and revelation of his glory (1:5, 7; 4:7, 11, 13). Someday, Peter would share (koinōnos) in the glory of Christ. This hope would outlast any suffering he would experience. He had already experienced many challenges and soon would be martyred for his faith in Jesus. Peter serves as an example of someone whose hope in firmly in Christ even when facing danger, persecution, and suffering. Hope in future glory is what can sustain us through difficult times. The elders were to set an example for the rest of the church like Peter did for them.