1 Peter 4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:2

That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh. On the whole, it seems better to connect this clause with the imperative: "Arm yourselves with the same mind, that ye no longer should live the rest of your time;" rather than with the clause immediately preceding: "He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live," etc.; though both connections give a good sense. The Greek word for "live" ( βιῶσαι ) occurs only here in the New... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles ; rather, as in the Revised Version, the time past may suffice. The words, "of our life" and "us," are not found in the best manuscripts. St. Peter could not include himself among those who wrought the will of the Gentiles. The Greek word for "will" here is, according to the best manuscripts, βούλημα ; in 1 Peter 4:2 "the will of God" is θέλημα . The general distinction is that θέλω implies... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3

Every day and every moment closes and commences a year; yet the artificial arrangement by which it is agreed that a year shall close at one certain fixed moment of a certain fixed day is an arrangement both convenient and contributive in many ways to our moral and religious advantage. The review of the closing year is a very proper, and may be a very profitable, exercise. The newspapers review the events of the year which are of political, financial, or commercial interest. Man has, however,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3-6

We have seen that the apostle—the large-hearted, sympathetic, experienced apostle—is showing the scattered Christians he is addressing how to fortify themselves against the persecution that in stormful violence had fallen upon them here and there, before and since they became fugitives or exiles. This is part of a long paragraph beginning at the thirteenth verse of the last chapter, in which he is teaching that amid such persecution a good conscience is the only charm; that whatever befalls... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:4

Wherein they think it strange. Wherein, in which course of life, in the fact that the Christians once lived like the Gentiles, but now are so wholly changed. The word ξενίζεσθαι means commonly to be a guest, to live as a stranger in another's house ( Acts 10:6 , Acts 10:18 ; Acts 21:16 ); here it means to be astonished, as at some strange sight, as such guests would no doubt sometimes be. That ye run not with them to the same excess of riot. The Greek words are very strong,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:5

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. The judgment is at hand; the Judge standeth before the door; all men, quick and dead alike, must give account to him. It is better to suffer now for well-doing than then for evil-doing. Men call you to give account now ( 1 Peter 3:15 ); they themselves must give account to God. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:6

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead. The conjunction "for" seems to link this verse closely to 1 Peter 4:5 , while the καί ("also" or "even") gives an emphasis to" them that are dead" ( καὶ νεκροῖς ). We naturally refer these last words to the καὶ νεκρούς of the preceding verse. The apostle seems to be meeting an objection. The Thessalonian Christians feared lest believers who fell asleep before the second advent should lose something of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:7

But the end of all things is at hand. The mention of the judgment turns St. Peter's thoughts into another channel. The end is at hand, not only the judgment of persecutors and slanderers, but the end of persecutions and sufferings, the end of our great conflict with sin, the end of our earthly probation: therefore prepare to meet your God. The end is at hand: it hath drawn near. St. Peter probably, like the other apostles, looked for the speedy coming of the Lord. It was not for him, as it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; more literally, before all things, having your love towards one another intense. The existence of charity is taken for granted. Christians must love one another; love is the very badge of their profession. The apostle urges his readers to keep that love intense, and that before all things; for charity is the first of Christian graces. (On the word "intense" ( ἐκτενής ), see note on 1 Peter 1:22 .) For charity shall cover... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:9

Use hospitality one to another ; literally, being hospitable (comp. Romans 12:13 ; 1 Timothy 3:2 ; Hebrews 13:2 ; 3 John 1:5 ). Hospitality must have been a necessary, and often a costly, duty in the early ages of the Church. There was no public provision for the poor. Christians traveling from place to place would find no suitable shelter except in the houses of Christians. They would be obliged to avoid the public houses of entertainment, where they would be exposed often to... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3-6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:9

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