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1ST PETER CHAPTER 4
Introductory remarks:
In this chapter Peter continues to warn these new believers of the coming persecution, and teaches them that the easy life is not always the best for them. He also uses Christ's example in suffering to encourage them. "Peter says that Christ suffered in the flesh and if his readers follow His example they will no longer serve sin, but God. Friends from their past life may attack them because they no longer join in their sins, but they will be judged in the end. The end is near so they should live soberly and earnestly show charity and take care of each other in any way God has enabled them to. He tells them not to be astonished by the troubles they endure, but to be happy that they have the chance to prove their faith. It is shameful to suffer for wrongdoing, but not for being a Christian. The coming judgment will be hard on the righteous so imagine how it will be on the disobedient" (A Survey of 1 Peter - By Brenda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Good stewards of God's grace vv. 1-11: Suffering as a Christian vv. 12-19.
Good Stewards of God's Grace
Verse 1, "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin."
LGT "Christ then having suffered in [the] flesh, ye also arm yourselves with the same mind, because He that suffered in [the] flesh has done with sin."
Christ then having suffered in the flesh: Christ took on our flesh and became man, and was crucified in the flesh paying the supreme price for our sins. Ye also arm yourselves with the same mind: the only way we can arm ourselves with the mind of Christ is through daily study of the Word of God. Having the mind of Christ is adjusting our lives to His divine viewpoint. Because He that suffered in the flesh has done with sin: Christ paid the price for all sin on the cross, and now the only sin that cannot be forgiven is rejecting Christ. Sinners do not go to hell for sinning; they go to hell for not allowing Christ to be their sin sacrifice.
Verse 2, "That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lust of men, but to the will of God."
LGT "To live no longer the remaining time in the flesh to men's lusts, but to God's will."
Life is short here on earth, so Peter is teaching them that they should live their lives in the will of God, and you must know the Word of God to know the will of God. A Christian cannot live in sin and in fellowship with God at the same time, so Peter is urging them to choose the supreme path of being in the will of God.
Verse 3, "For the past time of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries."
LGT "For the time that is past is sufficient for doing what the Gentiles want to do, having walked in sensuality, vain lusts, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatries."
For the time that is past: Peter is referring to their life before they were born again. Is sufficient: your past life is over and done with, and it should be sufficient that you do not want to return to it. For doing what the Gentiles want to do: Peter uses the term Gentile referring to the nations without Christ. Having walked in sensuality: living fulfilling the vain desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Now Peter goes on to describe these sins of the flesh: vain lusts: whether for sex or riches, all is vanity. Drunkenness: drinking excessively as to let the wine control you instead of you controlling your wine drinking. Orgies: immorally reveling and allowing lust to be in control without restraint. Drinking parties: in some of our trips down to Mexico, especially Ensenada, we would watch the college kids run amuck in the terraces of the bars, drinking themselves into a stupor, and then who knows what happens. And lawless idolatries: all idolatry is against God, so it is lawless.
Verse 4, "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you."
LGT "Wherein they think it strange you're not running with [them] to the same pouring forth of depravity, speaking evil of you:"
Wherein: in your new manner of life as a Christian. They think it strange you're not running with them: Christians should cut all ties with the world, but they are to be respectful with unbelievers as long as they are respectful with you; but we are not to join in with the world and its pleasures. To the same pouring fourth of depravity: the big word here is depravity. This means immorality, and that should not be tolerated by any believer. I'm not saying that I believe in temperance messages that stress the taboos, but we should separate ourselves from all wickedness, and we should not be tolerant of those that practice such things. Speaking evil of you: because you do not join in with their wild parties and such. Remember, if you tolerate these things, and you join in, there is a danger of getting deeper and deeper into their way of life, and this is a dangerous thing for young believers especially. "The Christians were compelled to stand aloof from all the social pleasures of the world, and the Gentiles bitterly resented their Puritanism, regarding them as the enemies of all joy, and therefore of the human race" (Bigg - quoted by Robertson).
Verse 5, "Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead."
LGT "Who shall render an account to Him who is ready to judge the quick and the dead?"
The quick and the dead means the living and the dead someday. Unbelievers will be judged at the Great White Throne where they will make their final appeal that they don't deserve the lake of fire, but to no avail; all unbelief will be cast into the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone forever and forever, unto the ages of the ages. All believers will be judged for the motives for their works at the Bema Seat of Christ in heaven; but here on earth, believers will be judged in the form of divine discipline in time. God never winks at sin. As far as our salvation goes, sin has been dealt with forever; but as far as daily sins go, they are dealt with by the father through discipline in order to bring the child of God back into fellowship with Him.
Verse 6, "For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
LGT "For to this [end] also to [the] dead were the glad Tidings announced, in order that they might be judged indeed as regards men in [the] flesh; but might live as regards God in [the] spirit."
For to this end also to the dead were the Glad Tidings announced: I must admit sometimes Peter confuses me with his particular way of expressing things. There are several views on this phrase from the idea that Peter is referring to the spiritually dead to the idea that he is referring to those who are now dead but were given the gospel of grace during their lifetime, to the perverse idea that some will get a second chance. I hold to the second idea that those who are now dead heard the gospel of grace when they were living. In order that they might be judged indeed as regards men in the flesh: this means that they will be judged as all men; if believers at the judgment seat of Christ and if unbelievers at the great white throne judgment. But might live as regards God in the spirit: if a man refuses to accept Christ he will spend an eternity in hell; if a man accepts Christ as Savior, he will spend an eternity in his spirit with God in heaven.
Verse 7, "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer."
LGT "But of all things the end has drawn near: be therefore of a sound mind, and be watchful unto prayers:"
But of all things the end has drawn near: in verses 5 and 6 we read that Christ will judge the quick and the dead, and that the quick and the dead have all been given the gospel of grace, and now Peter tells them that Christ is coming soon to set up His kingdom. Be therefore of a sound mind: the Greek word for sober here is sophronesate oun, which is a sound mind. The only way a believer is able to have a sound mind is to be saturated with Bible doctrine. Peter is saying that in the light of the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the only way to look eagerly for His coming is to be sound in the Scriptures. And be watchful in prayers: I believe that this phrase interpreted today would be that in everything that we do; we should do it in the light of His soon coming. When you make your plans for the future, do not make them independent of praying for the will of the Father; and this you will do if you are in fellowship with Him. I can't imagine a future without Christ.
Verse 8, "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover a multitude of sins."
LGT "Before all things having fervent love among yourselves, because love will cover a multitude of sins."
Before all things: practice brotherly love before anything else. Peter is teaching them that love for the family is most important. Having fervent love among yourselves: the word fervent means extended love. Peter uses the word agape for love here, so this means divine love. How the KJV uses charity is beyond me. Believers alone are capable of extending agape love. Because love will cover a multitude of sins: the sins of the one loved not the one doing the loving (Robertson). When we truly love one another we will be blind to their sins, for we must concentrate on our own sins and deal with them according to 1 John 1:9. Barnes notes: "To love to another believer makes us kind to his imperfections, charitable towards his faults, and often blind even to the existence of faults. We would not see the imperfections of those whom we love; and our attachment for what we esteem their real excellences, makes us insensible to their errors. If we love them we are ready to cover over their faults, even those which we may see in them."
Verse 9, "Use hospitality one to another without grudging."
LGT "[Be] hospitable to one another without murmuring."
In the early church the traveling missionary was compelled to stay in the homes of members of the local assembly, because the inns were filthy and no better than brothels. Christian assemblies met in homes for the first 2 or 3 hundred years; and I believe they would be better off still practicing this. Peter is urging the brotherhood to be hospitable to one another without complaining.
Verse 10, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."
LGT "Each according as he has received a gift, serving it to each other, as good stewards of [the] various grace of God."
Each according as he has received a gift: Peter is speaking of spiritual gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit to the members of the first church, or apostolic church, before the Bible was complete. Spiritual gifts were for the purpose of getting the grace doctrine out before the Bible was complete. In this age of grace we don't need spiritual gifts for we have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the completed Word of God to guide our every step. Serving it to each other: Spiritual gifts were not given for the individual believers benefit alone, but for the edification of the entire body of believers. As good stewards of the various grace of God: these gifts were designed for the glory of God, and as good stewards they were to exercise their spiritual gifts to His honor and glory as good stewards. This can also apply to everything we do in word or deed; we should do to the glory of God.
Verse 11, "If any speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever."
LGT "If anyone speak, [speak as it were] oracles of God; if anyone serves, as of strength which God supplies, in order that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom give the glory and the might to the ages of the ages."
If anyone speaks, speak as it were oracles of God: this has reference to the teachers of the Word of God; Peter says they need to declare the Word of God in truth. If anyone serves, as strength which God supplies: whether you are a teacher or a server, all strength comes form God, and by the way, today we are all servers, and Christ is our teacher through the Word of God. In order that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ made it all possible that we are members of His wonderful family. We must do all things to God's glory. To whom give the glory and the might to the ages of the ages: we are going to praise the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit throughout all eternity. If as Christians we do anything to bring attention to ourselves we are not serving God.
Suffering as a Christian
Verse 12, "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you."
LGT "Beloved, take it not as strange the fire [of persecution] amongst you, for trial to you [which is] taking place, as if a strange thing to you [is] happening:"
In this verse Peter is bracing them up to the coming persecution upon the entire church. Believers are not to wonder why they will suffer, for every Christian will face trials and tribulations if they are living in fellowship with the Lord. One thing we all must keep foremost in our minds is that when we do suffer we realize it is not strange, and that our might is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that no matter how unfair our suffering may seem at the time, our heavenly Father is holding us up with His powerful hands, and that we will come out of it better for our suffering; so we must take courage in the fact that we are not alone in our suffering, we have a caring, loving heavenly Father who is gracious and will extend to us the exact amount of grace we need to weather the storm, and in the end praise His wonderful name.
Verse 13, "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."
LGT "But according as ye have a share in the sufferings of Christ's, rejoice, in order that in the revelation of His glory, ye may rejoice in triumph."
But according as ye have a share in the sufferings of Christ: all tribulation that comes upon us because we are His, is not because of what we do but who we are, that is, because we are joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. When this happens, Peter says, Rejoice, in order that in the revelation of His glory, ye may rejoice in triumph: we will understand it all when He comes back and takes us to Himself or we pass on through the valley of the shadow of death, and join our loved ones who have gone on before us, than we will rejoice at all that grace has accomplished in and through us, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.
Verse 14, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
LGT "If ye are maligned in [the] name of Christ, blessed [are ye], because the Spirit of glory and that of God rests upon you."
If ye are maligned: this if is in the first class condition presumed to be true. In the name of Jesus: if you suffer for the name of Christ on His account. Blessed are ye: count it a privilege that you are able to suffer for Him. Because the Spirit of glory and that of God rests upon you: how could it not with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us? His grace is sufficient for us in every adverse situation. The phrase "on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified" was probably added by the translators for the benefit of the Greek readers (Vincent).
Verse 15, "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busy body in other men's matters."
LGT "Assuredly let not anyone of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or evil evil-doer, or as over looker of other people's matters:"
It is interesting that Peter lists these sins together not making a distinction between them, that is, that one sin is worse than the other; just as McGee notes: Peter lists a busybody in the same category as a murderer. The point is that when you suffer for sins it is not a matter of being tested by God, but reaping what you sow.
Verse 16, "Yet if man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."
LGT "But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this respect."
But if as a Christian: if a person suffers on account of being a Christian. Let him not be ashamed: There was a time when Peter was ashamed to be called a disciple of Christ, even to the point of denying Him; but now he has changed, by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit Peter can now say, "Don't be ashamed of Christ." But let him glorify God in this respect: let this one who is suffering realize it is not because of anything he has done, but it is because those who cause him to suffer hate the Lord Jesus Christ; so let him praise God that he is able to suffer for the One who gave up all to save Him.
Verse 17, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first began at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God."
LGT "Because the time [for] the judgment to have begun from the house of God [is come]: but if first from us, what [will] the end be of those disobeying the Glad Tidings of God."
Because: referring back to the last verse of a believers suffering for the cause of Christ. The time for the judgment: there are two judgments; 1) the judgment seat of Christ (the Bema Seat) where all believers will be judged by Christ for their life on earth, to receive rewards or loss of rewards for motives for Christian service, and 2) the great white throne judgment where Christ will judge the unbelieving quick and the dead, where all unbelief will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. To have begun from the house of God is come: the house of God is the spiritual body of Christ, the church, which began at Pentecost, which most of the believers Peter is speaking to were present when the Holy Spirit was poured out. But if first from us: if God allows such trials and tribulations to come upon His own chosen family, what will the end be of those disobeying the Glad Tidings of God: the term disobeying here means refusing to accept Christ as Savior. If the believer suffers for the cause of Christ for a little time here on earth, what eternal punishment awaits those who reject Christ?
Verse 18, "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
LGT "And if the righteous with difficulty is saved, where shall the ungodly and sinners appear?"
Peter is quoting Proverbs 11:31 from the Septuagint. The meaning I believe is that God emptied heaven on our behalf, and the difficulty in our salvation is in our resistance to be saved, for Christ purchased us with His own blood out of the slave market of sin. The difficulty is so great that we could never remain saved; now I thank God that He is keeping me, for if it were left to me, I would surely lose my salvation. If with this difficulty we were purchased, what about those who refuse to be bought with that precious price. We know where they shall appear, for Peter has already given us this in the obvious comparisons of the sons of obedience with the sons of disobedience.
Verse 19, "Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator."
LGT "Wherefore also they who suffer to the will of God as to a faithful Creator, let them commit their souls in well doing."
What a wonderful ending to this chapter. Peter says their assurance that they are saved is in God's hands, and that our well doing is in our initial commitment of putting our complete trust in Christ as our savior. Our eternal destiny is in the faithfulness of our wonderful and awesome Creator. God has not promised us a life of ease without hardships, but He has promised that His grace is sufficient for us. Barnes has a beautiful paragraph that perfectly describes our relationship with our Creator:
"As our Creator we may still confide in Him. Redeemed by the blood of His Son, and renewed by His Spirit after the image of Him who created us, we may still go to Him as our Creator, and may pray that even yet on high and noble ends for which we were made may be accomplished in us. Doing this, we shall find Him as true to that purpose as though we had never sinned."
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