1 Peter 4:17-19 WEB

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:18

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 Pharisaic boaster in his own outside holiness, and the profligate transgressor of the laws of God, show themselves, as having escaped the Divine vengeance? The Christians, though with difficulty, did escape, every... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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 also be their preserver, and keep that safely which is committed to his trust. God is here represented as faithful, because he will always fulfill his promises, and withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly. ... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:17

Verse 17 17For the time is come, or, Since also the time is come. He amplifies the consolation, which the goodness of the cause for which we suffer brings to us, while we are afflicted for the name of Christ. For this necessity, he says, awaits the whole Church of God, not only to be subject to the common miseries of men, but especially and mainly to be chastised by the hand of God. Then, with more submission, ought persecutions for Christ to be endured. For except we desire to be blotted out... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:18

Verse 18 When the faithful see that it is well with the wicked, they are necessarily tempted to be envious; and this is a very dangerous trial; for present happiness is what all desire. Hence the Spirit of God carefully dwells on this, in many places, as well as in the thirty-seventh Psalm, lest the faithful should envy the prosperity of the ungodly. The same is what Peter speaks of, for he shews that afflictions ought to be calmly borne by the children of God, when they compare the lot of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:19

Verse 19 19Wherefore let them that suffer He draws this conclusion, that persecutions ought to be submissively endured, for the condition of the godly in them is much happier than that of the unbelieving, who enjoy prosperity to their utmost wishes. He, however, reminds us that we suffer nothing except according to the permission of God, which tends much to comfort us; when he says, Let them commit themselves to God, it is the same as though he had said, “Let them deliver themselves and their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:17

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God. The house of God is the Church (see 1 Timothy 3:15 ; 1 Corinthians 3:16 ; and 1 Peter 2:5 ). The judgment must begin at the sanctuary ( Ezekiel 9:6 ; see also Jeremiah 25:15-29 ). The beginning of judgment is the persecution of the Christians, as our Lord had taught ( Matthew 24:8 , Matthew 24:9 , and following verses); but that judgment is not unto condemnation: "When we are judged, we are chastened of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:18

And if the righteous scarcely be saved. St. Peter is quoting the Septuagint Version of Proverbs 11:31 . That version departs considerably from the Hebrew, which is accurately represented by the Authorized Version, "Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth; much more the wicked and the sinner." Probably the word rendered" recompensed," which is neutral in its meaning, is best understood here, not of the good deeds of the righteous, but of the sin which still cleaves to all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:19

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God ; rather, let them also that suffer. St. Peter sums up his exhortation; he returns to the thought of 1 Peter 3:17 , "It is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing." In the hour of suffering, as well as in times of prosperity, we are in the hands of a merciful and loving Father; we are to learn submission, not because the suffering is inevitable, but because it is according to his... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 4:17

For the time is come - That is, this is now to be expected. There is reason to think that this trial will now occur, and there is a propriety that it should be made. Probably the apostle referred to some indications then apparent that this was about to take place.That judgment must begin - The word “judgment” here (κρίμα krima) seems to mean “the severe trial which would determine character.” It refers to such calamities as would settle the question whether there was any religion, or would... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 4:18

And if the righteous scarcely be saved - If they are saved with difficulty. The word used here (μόλις molis) occurs in the following places: Acts 14:18, “scarce restrained they the people;” Acts 27:7, “and scarce were come over against Cnidus;” 1 Peter 4:8, “and hardly passing it;” 1 Peter 4:16, “we had much work to come by the boat” - literally, we were able with difficulty to get the boat; Romans 5:7, “scarcely for a righteous man will one die;” and in the passage before us. The word implies... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:19

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:17

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:18

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:19

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 4:17

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 4:18

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