1 Peter 4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:3

Verse 3 3For the time past of our life may suffice Peter does not mean that we ought to be wearied with pleasures, as those are wont to be who are filled with them to satiety; but that on the contrary the memory of our past life ought to stimulate us to repentance. And doubtless it ought to be the sharpest goad to make us run on well, when we recollect that we have been wandering from the right way the greatest part of our life. And Peter reminds us, that it would be most unreasonable were we... read more

John Calvin

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

Verse 4 4Wherein they think it strange The words of Peter literally are these, “In which they are strangers, you not running with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming.” But the word, to be strangers, means to stop at a thing as new and unusual. This is a way of speaking which the Latins also sometimes use, as when Cicero says that he was a stranger in the city, because he knew not what was carried on there. But in this place, Peter fortifies the faithful, lest they should suffer... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:6

Verse 6 6For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, or, He has been evangelized to the dead. We see in what sense he takes the former passage in the third chapter, even that death does not hinder Christ from being always our defender. It is then a remarkable consolation to the godly, that death itself brings no loss to their salvation. Though Christ, then, may not appear a deliverer in this life, yet his redemption is not void, or without effect; for his power extends to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:7

Verse 7 7But, or, moreover, the end of all things is at hand Though the faithful hear that their felicity is elsewhere than in the world, yet, as they think that they should live long, this false thought renders them careless, and even slothful, so that they direct not their thoughts to the kingdom of God. Hence the Apostle, that he might rouse them from the drowsiness of the flesh, reminds them that the end of all things was nigh; by which he intimates that we ought not to sit still in the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:8

Verse 8 8And above all things He commends charity or love as the first thing, for it is the bond of perfection. And he bids it to be fervent, or intense, or vehement, which is the same thing; for whosoever is immoderately fervent in self-love, loves others coldly. And he commends it on account of its fruit, because it buries innumerable sins, than which nothing is more desirable. But the sentence is taken from Solomon, whose words are found in Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred discovers reproaches, but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:9

Verse 9 9Use hospitality, or, Be hospitable. After having generally exhorted them to love one another, he specially mentions one of the duties of love. At that time hospitality was commonly used, and it was deemed in a manner a sacred kind of humanity, as we have stated elsewhere. He then bids them mutually to exercise it, so that no one might require more from others than what he himself was prepared to render. He adds, without murmurings, for it is a rare example that one spends himself and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:10

Verse 10 10As every one hath received He reminds us what we ought to bear in mind when we do good to our neighbors; for nothing is more fitted to correct our murmurings than to remember that we do not give our own, but only dispense what God has committed to us. When therefore he says, “Minister the gift which every one has received,” he intimates that to each had been distributed what they had, on this condition, that in helping their brethren they might be the ministers of God. And thus the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:11

Verse 11 11If any man speak As he had spoken of the right and faithful use of gifts, he specifies two things as examples, and he has chosen those which are the most excellent or the most renowned. The office of teaching in the Church is a remarkable instance of God’s favor. He then expressly commands those called to this office to act faithfully; though he does not speak here only of what we owe to men, but also of what we owe to God, so that we may not deprive him of his glory. He who speaks,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:12

Verse 12 12Beloved, think it not strange, or, wonder not. There is a frequent mention made in this Epistle of afflictions; the cause of which we have elsewhere explained. But this difference is to be observed, that when he exhorts the faithful to patience, he sometimes speaks generally of troubles common to man’s life; but here he speaks of wrongs done to the faithful for the name of Christ. And first, indeed, he reminded them that they ought not to have deemed it strange as for a thing sudden... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:13

Verse 13 Hence, then, is the whole consolation of the godly, that they are associates with Christ, that hereafter they may be partakers of his glory; for we are always to bear in mind this transition from the cross to the resurrection. But as this world is like a labyrinth, in which no end of evils appears, Peter refers to the future revelation of Christ’s glory, as though he had said, that the day of its revelation is not to be overlooked, but ought to be expected. But he mentions a twofold... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:3

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

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:13

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