CHAPTER IV. _We should suffer patiently, after the example of Christ_, 1. _And no longer live according to our former custom, but disregard_ _the scoffs of those who are incensed against us because we have_ _forsaken their evil ways, who are shortly to give account to_ _God for their conduct_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 4:2. _THAT HE NO LONGER SHOULD LIVE - IN THE FLESH_] Governed by the base principle of giving up his faith to save his life; _to_ _the lusts of men_-according to the will of his idolatrous persecutors; _but to the will of God_; which will of God is, that he should retain the truth, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 4:3. _THE TIME PAST OF_ OUR _LIFE_] This is a complete epitome of the Gentile or heathen state, and a proof that those had been Gentiles to whom the apostle wrote. 1. They _walked in lasciviousness_, ενασελγειαις. every species of lechery, lewdness, and impurity. 2. In _lusts_, επιθυ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 4:4. _THEY THINK IT STRANGE_] ξενιζονται. They _wonder_ and are _astonished_ at you, that ye can renounce these gratifications of the flesh for a spiritual something, the good of which _they_ cannot see. _EXCESS OF RIOT_] ασωτιας αναχυσιν. _Flood of profligacy_; bearing down all rule,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 4:5. _TO JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD._] They shall give account of these irregularities to Him who is prepared to judge both the Jews and the Gentiles. The _Gentiles_, previously to the preaching of the Gospel among them, were reckoned to be _dead in_ _trespasses and sins_, Ephesians... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _WAS THE GOSPEL PREACHED ALSO TO THEM THAT ARE DEAD_] This is a most difficult verse; the best translations I have seen of it are the following: - "For this indeed was _the effect_ of the preaching of the Gospel to _the_ dead, (the unconverted Gentiles,) that _some_ will be punished as car... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _BUT THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND_] I think that here also St. Peter keeps the history of the deluge before his eyes, finding a parallel to the state of the Jews in his own time in that of the antediluvians in the days of Noah. In Genesis 6:13, God said unto Noah, _The end of all flesh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _HAVE FERVENT CHARITY_] αγαπηνεκτενη. _Intense love;_ _for love shall cover a multitude of sins_. A loving disposition leads us to pass by the faults of others, to forgive offences against ourselves, and to excuse and lessen, as far as is consistent with truth, the transgressions of men. It... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _USE HOSPITALITY_] Be ever ready to divide your bread with the _hungry_, and to succour the _stranger_. Hebrews 13:2, Hebrews 13:2. _WITHOUT GRUDGING._] ανευγαγγυσμων. _Without grumblings_. Do nothing merely because it is _commanded_, but do it from love to God and man; then it will be _wi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _HATH RECEIVED THE GIFT_] χαρισμα. _A gift_; any blessing of _providence_ or _grace_. I cannot think that the word means here the _Holy Ghost_, or any of his supernatural gifts or influences; it may include those, but it signifies any thing given by the mere mercy and bounty of God: but pe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _IF ANY MAN SPEAK_] In order to explain or enforce God's word, and edify his neighbour, let him do it as those did to whom the _living oracles_ were committed: they spoke as they were inspired by the Holy Ghost. Those, therefore, at Pontus, c., who undertook to teach others, should speak b... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _THINK IT NOT STRANGE CONCERNING THE FIERY TRIAL_] πυρωσει. _The burning_. The metaphor is old, but noble; it represents the Christians at Pontus as having _fire_ cast upon them for the _trying_ of their faith, as _gold_ is tried by fire, 1 Peter 1:7, to which the apostle alludes.-_Macknig... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _IF YE BE REPROACHED FOR THE NAME OF CHRIST_] To be reproached for the _name of Christ_ is to be reproached for being a _Christian_, that is, for being _like Christ_. This is the highest honour to which any man can arrive in this world, and therefore the apostle says to such? _Happy_ are y... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _BUT LET NONE OF YOU SUFFER - AS A BUSYBODY IN OTHER_ _MEN'S MATTERS_] αλλοτριοεπισκοπος. _The inspector of another_; meddling with other people's concerns, and forgetting their own; such persons are hated of all men. But some think that meddling with those in _public office_ is here inten... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _YET IF - AS A CHRISTIAN_] If he be persecuted because he has embraced the _Christian_ faith, let him not be _ashamed_, but let him rather glorify God on this very account. Christ suffered by the Jews because he was _holy_; Christians suffer because they resemble him. The word χριστιανος,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD_] Our Lord had predicted that, previously to the destruction of Jerusalem, his own followers would have to endure various calamities; see Matthew 24:9; Matthew 24:21; Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:12; Mark 13:13; John 16:2, c. Here his true disciples are... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _AND IF THE RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY BE SAVED_] If it shall be with _extreme difficulty_ that the _Christians_ shall escape from Jerusalem, when the Roman armies shall come against it with the full commission to destroy it, _where shall the ungodly and the_ _sinner appear_? Where shall the proud... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 4:19. _SUFFER ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD_] A man suffers according to the will of God who suffers for righteousness' sake; and who, being reviled, reviles not again. _COMMIT THE KEEPING OF THEIR SOULS_] Place their _lives_ confidently in his hand, who, being their _Creator_, will al... [ Continue Reading ]