Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Peter 4:3

ἀρκετὸς γάρ. The γάρ explains ἐπίλοιπον, I say “what remains of your life” for the sinful past has been all too long.

βούλημα τῶν ἐθνῶν. The T.R. reads θέλημα as in the previous verse of the will of God. The distinction between βούλημα and θέλημα, like that between βούλεσθαι and θέλειν, is somewhat disputed. θέλημα is much more common than βούλημα and is constantly used of the will of God, though it is also used of the will of men or of the flesh, while βούλημα is used of God in Romans 9:19 and βούλεσθαι (in Hebrews 6:17; James 1:18; 2 Peter 3:9, while βουλή is several times used of God, and in Ephesians 1:11 we have κατὰ τὴν βουλὴν τοῦ θελήματος. The predominant N.T. usage seems to be that θέλειν denotes the will which proceeds from character or inclination, while βούλεσθαι denotes more deliberation. For the two words occurring together, see Matthew 1:19, Ἰωσὴφ … μὴ θέλων αὐτὴν δειγματίσαι ἐβουλήθη λάθρᾳ�, 1 Timothy 5:12; 1 Timothy 5:14, γαμεῖν θέλουσιν … βούλομαι οὖν, cf. also 2 Peter 3:9 contrasted with 1 Timothy 2:4.

τῶν ἐθνῶν. Those who regard the Epistle as addressed to Jewish readers explain this as referring to their previous laxity in conforming to the customs of their heathen neighbours, but it is more natural if addressed to Gentiles, cf. Ephesians 4:17.

κατειργάσθαι, to have wrought, the word is coupled with ποιεῖν and πράσσειν in Romans 7:15 and means to put into execution or carry into effect.

πεπορευμένους, the perfect participle denotes walking as you have done until recently. The verb is generally used of a literal journey but of following a certain line of conduct here and in 2 Peter 2:10; 2 Peter 3:3; Jude 1:11; Jude 1:16; Jude 1:18; Luke 1:6; Acts 9:31; Acts 14:16.

ἀσελγείαις = wanton immorality, shameless acts etc., Mark 7:22; Jude 1:4; 2 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 2:7; 2 Corinthians 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 4:19 and in the plural in Romans 13:13 where it is coupled with κώμοις καὶ μέθαις. οἰνοφλυγίαις, wine-bibbings, a classical word only found here in Biblical Greek though the verb occurs Deuteronomy 21:20; Isaiah 56:12. It denotes excessive drinking, debauch. κώμοις, revellings, cf. Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21. πότοις, carousings, drinking-parties, only here in the N.T. In the LXX. it is sometimes used of banquets, Genesis 19:3; 2 Samuel 3:20; Esther 6:14. ἀθεμίτοις, lit. contrary to law and justice. In the only other passage where it occurs in the N.T. it is used of intercourse with Gentiles as being unlawful for Jews, Acts 10:28. So here those who regard the readers as Jews explain it to mean illegal for you to take part in, but more probably it means illicit, abominable deeds which are contrary to what is right (fas). It occurs in 2Ma 6:5; 2Ma 7:1; 2Ma 10:34.

εἰδωλολατρίαις. Of idol-worship in 1 Corinthians 10:14, but in Colossians 3:5 it is used as an explanation of covetousness, greed being regarded as the idolatry of Mammon, cf. Ephesians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 5:11. In Galatians 5:20 it is included among the works of the flesh, but, though coupled with sins of drunkenness and immorality, should probably be understood literally of tampering with false gods, the word which follows being φαρμακεία, sorcery. Here the plural may denote various forms of idolatry, or the abominable vices which were so frequently connected with idolatry and which would be wrong for Gentiles to practise no less than for Jews.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Peter 4:3

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