1 Peter 4 - Introduction

He exhorteth them to cease from sin by the example of Christ, and the consideration of the general end that now approacheth; and comforteth them against persecution.

Anno Domini 65.

THE apostle having told the brethren of Pontus, &c. that it was better to suffer as well-doers, than as evildoers; also having insinuated that the peculiar dignity and power with which Christ, as Mediatorial King, is invested for the salvation of his faithful people, was the reward of his sufferings; he begins this chapter with an exhortation to them to arm themselves with the same resolution to suffer deathfor the gospel, which Christ manifested when he suffered death for declaring himself the Son of God: and gave this reason for their doing so, that the person who is firmly resolved to suffer death, rather than renounce his religion, has through Divine grace freed himself of course from the dominion of sin, 1 Peter 4:1.—so that he does not live the rest of his life according to the flesh, or the inclinations of his persecutors, but according to the will of God, 1 Peter 4:2.—Besides, the time past of their life, he told them, was sufficienttohavecompliedwiththewillof the Gentiles, by walking in lasciviousnesses, &c. 1 Peter 4:3.—and, although their heathen acquaintance might be surprised that they did not still accompany them in these vicious courses, and might revile them on that account, they were not to be moved thereby, 1 Peter 4:4.—These wicked men shall be called to an account for their crimes, and be severely punished, 1 Peter 4:5.—They were likewise to consider, that the gospel had been preached to the faithful among those that were dead, for the very purpose of assuring them, that if for their faith they might be condemned to death in their fleshly body by men, they should at the last day be raised, and rewarded in their spiritual or incorruptible body, 1 Peter 4:6.—Farther, he assured them, that the end of all things, the end of the Mosaic dispensation, and of the Jewish state, was at hand, so that the power of the unbelieving Jews, their greatest persecutors, would soon be broken. And from that consideration, he exhorted them to continual sobriety and watchfulness, 1 Peter 4:7.—and to comfort one another under theirsufferingsbymutuallove,which would lead them to overlook each other's faults, 1 Peter 4:8.—and to be hospitable, 1 Peter 4:9.—and to exercise their spiritual gifts for each other's benefit, 1 Peter 4:10.—Next, he told them that they were not to think it strange, that God had permitted so hot a persecution to fall on them. It was for the trial of their faith, and the improvement of their graces and virtues, 1 Peter 4:12.—that their reward might be the greater at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 4:13.—Besides, if they were reviled for the name of Christ, they were happy for this other reason, that the Spirit of Christ resting on them and strengthening them to suffer, would be a Spirit of glory to them in the eyes of their persecutors, as well as of their brethren, 1 Peter 4:14.

About the time the apostle wrote this letter, the unbelieving Jews, especially the Zealots so called, were raising great disturbances, both in Judea and in the provinces; and in these confusions, they murdered their brethren who were of a different faction, and plundered their goods. These fanatics, fancying that no obedience was due from the people of God to idolatrous princes, paid no regard to the heathen laws and magistrates, but were guilty of the grossest outrages in the countries where they lived, by which they often brought on themselves punishment. Wherefore to prevent the Jewish Christians in particular, and all of them in general, from joining the unbelieving Jews in these outrages, the apostle exhorted them not to bring punishment on themselves as murderers or thieves, &c. because to suffer for such things was extremely disgraceful, as well as most highly criminal, 1 Peter 4:15.—But if any of them suffered as a Christian, he was not to be ashamed, but rather to glory in it, 1 Peter 4:16.—In the mean time, lest any of the Christians might have entertained harsh thoughts of God on account of their sufferings, the apostle told them, the time was come, in which the Jews, the ancient household of God, were to be punished as a nation, for all the crimes committed by them from the beginning; and that the Christians themselves should not be exempted from sufferings, though now become the house of God; because the justice of God would be the more illustriously displayed thereby. However, to terrify their persecutors, he observed, that if punishment was to begin with them, who were become the house of God by believing in Jesus, the punishment of those Jews who obeyed not the Gospel of God would be most terrible, 1 Peter 4:17.—and that if the righteous would be saved with difficulty, the ungodly and sinners could not hope to escape, 1 Peter 4:18.—Lastly, he directed, that thoseChristians who might suffer these temporary punishments, (which, according to the will of God so permitting, their enemies, had then a power of inflicting,) should with resignation acknowledge the will of God in this mysterious event; assured that while they continued to act under a sense of his presence, and endeavoured to approve themselves to him, he would regard them as his creatures, and even his children, and would render their immortal interests secure, whatever injuries of a temporal nature he might suffer them to sustain.