5 Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a PARTAKER OF THE GLORY that is to be revealed: ² shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. ⁵ You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT HE GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE (1Pet5:1-5).

Peter’s teaching in this short passage primarily concerns the duties and attitudes of those who have oversight of God’s people. They should not be domineering or haughty but  set an example of humility, as indeed does Peter, describing himself as a “fellow elder”. As Jesus and Paul indicated, Peter aka Cephas (the Rock) could have boasted of being rather more than that (Gal2:7-8; Mt16:18). But as is often the case, in the context of what I am expounding I am drawn to narrative  and phrases that do not necessarily pertain to the  key message of a particular passage but provide insights concerning the true nature of the gospel, the destiny of the elect and God’s broader benign providence.

In this case such comments pertain to the glorious destiny of God’s elect. For not only was Peter a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings but “one who is also a PARTAKER OF THE GLORY that is to be revealed” (v1). The apostle is of course referring to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ who most assuredly will be the focus of that glory.  However, God’s elect (and only they) are to be κοινωνός^G2844  with respect to it. As Bible Hub’s word study indicates, that means they partake or share in that which is κοινωνός’s  genitive, in this case δόξης (glory). Peter is not merely saying they are fellow partakers in the sense that he describes himself as a fellow elder, they share in the glory itself.

That is in accordance with Paul’s teaching that “if (we are) children, then heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs WITH Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified WITH Him” (Rom8:17NASB). One might have expected Jesus Christ to be sole heir-apparent to such glory, but whether or not we are comfortable with it, that is not the bible’s teaching. God has appointed fellow-heirs who will have a share in Christ’s glorious destiny as his corporate spouse. That is why “those whom (God) foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rom8:29NASB). As Peter goes on to write, such conformity to Christ’s nature required that His joint-heirs, even whilst in mortal flesh,  “become partakers (κοινωνός again) of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust” (2Pet1:4).

Whilst the elect may have been conformed to Christ’s nature and will have shared in His suffering, unlike Him they are not destined to be what they shall become by sovereign right or personal merit; their evolution was shaped by God’s mercy, His sovereign choice and an abundance of grace, with which they have willingly cooperated. The latter (personal application) particularly applies to Peter’s reference to “escaping the corruption that is in the world on account of lust”. Paul also, when he is rightly understood, makes clear that that is something that requires our personal attention and effort.  Nevertheless, just as Sarah had been obedient to her husband Abraham, calling  him lord (1Pet3:6), so shall the Bridegroom always take precedence over His corporate Spouse (Rev19:7).

If, like me, you feel unworthy even to be considered “a partaker of the glory” as I have defined it, then I’m sure even Peter will have felt the same way. For Jesus once cautioned him, “Satan has desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat” (Lk22:31). That is why Peter and all true believers are genuinely “clothed with humility” as they contemplate these matters, and in their dealings with their fellow believers and all people of good will, not least “because God is opposed to the proud, but he gives grace to the humble” (v5).

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