And in all the duties and services of life, we should aim at the glory of God as our chief end. "Live according to God" means, live a life with God, such as God lives, divine; as contrasted with "according to men in the flesh," that is, a life such as men live in the flesh. His divinely inspired words are not his own, but God's, and as a steward ( 1 Peter 4:10 ) having them committed to him, he ought so to speak them. Proud member Peter says that, in view of Christ’s suffering, we should live righteous lives and not fall into the sins we indulged in the past (1 Pet 4:3-4). 13. inasmuch as--The oldest manuscripts read, "in proportion as"; "in as far as" ye by suffering are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that is, by faith enter into realizing fellowship with them; willingly for His sake suffering as He suffered. It seems to me always to be used, either directly or indirectly, in the sense of impious reviling against God, Christ, or the Holy Spirit, and the Christian religion, not merely against men as such; Greek, 1 Peter 4:14 , below. Through Christ alone can God be glorified in us and our sayings and doings. He will overrule all to the final advantage of the believer. 4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. It is no valid objection that the Gospel has not been preached to all that shall be found dead at Christ's coming. . He, not we, must keep our souls. When a man is truly converted, it is very grievous to him to think how the time past of his life has been spent. with a view no longer to live the rest of your time.". Judgment is already begun, the Gospel word, as a "two-edged sword," having the double effect of saving some and condemning others, and shall be consummated at the last judgment. He is a miserable, unsettled wretch, who cleaves to himself, and forgets God; is only perplexed about his credit, and gain, and base ends, which are often broken, and which, when he attains, both he and they must shortly perish together. He died to destroy sin; and though he cheerfully submitted to the worst sufferings, yet he never gave way to the least sin. In Acts 7:38 also, the Greek article is wanting; thus English Version, "as the oracles of God," namely, the Old Testament, would be "right," and the precept be similar to Romans 12:6 , "prophesy according to the analogy of the faith." Not the spurious hospitality which passes current in the world, but the entertaining of those needing it, especially those exiled for the faith, as the representatives of Christ, and all hospitality to whomsoever exercised from genuine Christian love. 2. It is a Christian's duty, not only to keep from gross wickedness, but also from things that lead to sin, or appear evil. Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. That the Apostle Peter is the author of 1 Peter however, is certain. (1-6) And the approaching end of the Jewish state, as a reason for sobriety, watchfulness, and prayer. ready--very speedily ( 1 Peter 4:7 , 2 Peter 3:10 ). Purpose. abominable--"nefarious," "lawless idolatries," violating God's most sacred law; not that all Peter's readers walked in these, but many, namely, the Gentile portion of them. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Biblical Commentary (Bible Study) 1 Peter 4:12-16 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: Recipients of this letter are experiencing trials, harsh treatment, and suffering (1:6-7; 2:18-20; 3:13-17; 4:1-4, 12-19; 5:10). as the, &c.--The Greek has no article: "as oracles of God." Literally, "a bishop in what is (not his own, but) another's" province; an allusion to the existing bishops or overseers of the Church; a self-constituted bishop in others' concerns. Wherein--In respect to which abandonment of your former walk ( 1 Peter 4:3 ). As a general statement, without qualification, this would not be true, for there are many people who have suffered physically and yet still sin very much. Coming to him, the living stone—rejected by men, but chosen and honored by God (1 Peter 2:4) Peter the Christian as coming to the Stone that men reject. The second Greek, "as," distinguishes the class "busybody in other men's matters," from the previous class of delinquents. 11. One sin draws on another. stewards--referring to Matthew 25:15 , &c.; Luke 19:13-26 . Lesson 18: A Difficult Passage Explained and Applied (1 Peter 3:18-22) Lesson 19: Intent On Holiness (1 Peter 4:1-6) Lesson 20: The Church’s Conduct In The End Times (1 Peter 4:7-11) One day they willlive with God in heaven and share God’s *glory. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. There is no comfort in sufferings, when we bring them upon ourselves by our own sin and folly. Let not believers care, though the world scorns and reproaches them. Creator--who is therefore also our Almighty Preserver. It is true that the righteous are scarcely saved; even those who endeavour to walk uprightly in the ways of God. The strongest and best arguments against sin, are taken from the sufferings of Christ. riot--profligacy. The Lord will come as a thief; He is "ready" ( 1 Peter 4:5 ) to judge the world at any moment; it is only God's long-suffering and His will that the Gospel should be preached as a witness to all nations, that induces Him to lengthen out the time which is with Him still as nothing. Resuming the idea in 1 Peter 4:5 . 4. (1 Peter 4:9) One expression of Christian love, brotherly love, one specifically presented in this passage by the apostle Peter, is the practice of hospitality. Peter, like Paul, argues that those found living at Christ's coming shall have no advantage above the dead who shall then be raised, inasmuch as the latter live unto, or "according to," God, even already in His purpose. (12-19). 1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (1 Peter 4:1). excess of wine--"wine-bibbings" [ALFORD]. . run not with them--eagerly, in troops [BENGEL]. Free E-mail Bible Study Discipleship Training in Luke's Gospel. Moreover, the absence of the Greek article does not necessarily restrict the sense of "dead" to particular dead persons, for there is no Greek article in 1 Peter 4:5 also, where "the dead" is universal in meaning. For--giving the reason for 1 Peter 4:5 , "judge the dead." Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.a. in the flesh--in His mortal body of humiliation. fiery trial--like the fire by which metals are tested and their dross removed. And the speedy approach of death and judgment concerns all, to which these words naturally lead our minds. For "judged" cannot have a different meaning in this verse from what "judge" bears in 1 Peter 4:5 . which is to try you--Greek, "which is taking place for a trial to you." 1. 1 Peter 4 (King James Version) 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; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. However, there is no "of you" in the Greek, but simply "blaspheming." The Christian is by faith one with Christ: as then Christ by death is judicially freed from sin; so the Christian who has in the person of Christ died, has no more to do with it judicially, and ought to have no more to do with it actually. The work of a Christian is twofold—doing the will of God and suffering his pleasure. Note, the very same term as is applied in the only other passages where it occurs ( Acts 7:38 , Romans 3:2 , Hebrews 5:12 ), to the Old Testament inspired writings, is here predicated of the inspired words (the substance of which was afterwards committed to writing) of the New Testament prophets. The gospel had been preached to those since dead, who by the proud and carnal judgment of wicked men were condemned as evil-doers, some even suffering death. speaking evil--charging you with pride, singularity, hypocrisy, and secret crimes ( 1 Peter 4:14 , 2 Peter 2:2 ). 6. As the end is near, cultivate self-restraint, watchful prayerfulness, charity, hospitality, scriptural speech, ministering to one another according to your several gifts to the glory of God: Rejoicing patience under suffering. . ALFORD'S explanation is wrong, "that they might be judged according to men as regards the flesh," that is, be in the state of the completed sentence on sin, which is death after the flesh. The letter teaches, for example, that Christ is the Stone rejected by the builder (2:7-8; Acts 4:10-11), and that Christ is no respecter of persons (1… As nothing, were it not for lusts and corruptions within ashamed of.. ; compare Paul, 2 Corinthians 2:17 ) multitude, & c. ; 19:13-26. Time -- Greek, `` in your case. for His good that the believer always.! Them upon ourselves by our Saviour, was very near excess of wine -- '' wine-bibbings '' [ ]. For 1 Peter 4:15 at once God-forgetting and sin-loving last days acts 11:26, 26:28 ; the only to... 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