1 Peter 4:12-19

Glorifying God in Suffering

Trials are a part of the Christian's life and should not surprise him (John 15:18-20; 2 Timothy 3:12). Woods says of the "fiery trial," "the figure here used is that of gold ore cast into a crucible for the purpose of separating the worthless dross from the precious metal." When Christians suffer for the same reason Christ suffered, they have reason to rejoice (Matthew 5:11-12). Such rejoicing in sufferings can occur now because Christians look forward to the great joy the faithful will experience at Christ's return (1 Peter 4:12-13).

Woods says the word "if" at the beginning of verse 14 would be better translated "when". When others speak evil of Christ's followers because they wear the name Christian, in word and deed, they should be inwardly happy, which is the meaning of "blessed" here and in Matthew 5:1-12. That happiness stems, in part, from the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Christ is evil spoken of when Christians are evil spoken of (Acts 8:3; Acts 9:1; Acts 9:5).

Others may speak evil of Christ because of the good lives of believers, but the good done in His name glorifies Him. Christ's disciples can be happy when suffering for Christ, but should be ashamed to suffer as an evil doer."Busybody" comes from the Greek word "allotrioepiskopos" which Thayer says is "one who takes supervision of affairs pertaining to others and in no wise to himself." Disciples should not suffer for such actions. On the other hand, there is no shame in suffering because one follows Christ. The name "Christian" is also used in Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28. It would appear to be the new name promised in Isaiah 62:2 (1 Peter 4:15-16).

Woods says "judgment" is used in 4:17 to denote severe trial. They were already in the season of that trial. If God would allow the church (see 1 Timothy 3:15) to go through such trials, then the wicked need not expect to escape the sure doom awaiting those who refuse to obey (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Peter then quoted from the LXX translation of Proverbs 11:31 (1 Peter 4:18). God will save those who walk uprightly from the great trial to come, but it will be with great difficulty. If God would take great difficulty to save the righteous from the impending trial the ungodly would put them through, imagine the terrible punishment God would send the ungodly to in the end of time.

On the basis of what he had already written, Peter concluded that Christians who suffer should remember that such suffering is a part of being a Christian. They should place their soul's well-being in God's hands, since He is the creator and sustainer of life and can be trusted to maintain it (1 Peter 4:19).