The preceding paragraph had spoken of the “fiery trial” that may come upon “the household of God” (1 Peter 4:12, 1 Peter 4:17; see 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Peter 4:1–4; Genesis 3:15). Such suffering invariably brings serious challenges to believers, especially in terms of temptation to deny the faith and/or set the people of God against each other. In that setting, Peter’s pivot to the subject of leadership within the church of God is both understandable and necessary. Further, his oblique reference in 1 Peter 4:13 to the revelation of Christ’s glory receives expansion in 1 Peter 5:1 and 1 Peter 5:4 (and 1 Peter 5:10).
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: