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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 4:4-6

I. Here you have the visible change wrought in those who in the 1 Pet. 4:3 were represented as having been in the former part of their life very wicked. They no longer run on in the same courses, or with the same companions, as they used to do. Hereupon observe the conduct of their wicked acquaintance towards them. 1. They think it strange, they are surprised and wonder at it, as at something new and unusual, that their old friends should be so much altered, and not run with as much violence... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 4:7-11

We have here an awful position or doctrine, and an inference drawn from it. The position is that the end of all things is at hand. The miserable destruction of the Jewish church and nation foretold by our Saviour is now very near; consequently, the time of their persecution and your sufferings is but very short. Your own life and that of your enemies will soon come to their utmost period. Nay, the world itself will not continue very long. The conflagration will put an end to it; and all things... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 4:6

4:6 For this is the reason why the gospel was preached to the dead, so that, although they have been judged in the flesh like men, they may live in the Spirit like God. This very difficult passage ends with a very difficult verse. Once again we have the idea of the gospel being preached to the dead. At least three different meanings have been attached to dead. (i) It has been taken to mean those who are dead in sin, not those who are physically dead. (ii) It has been taken to mean those... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 4:7

4:7a The end of all things is near. Here is a note which is struck consistently all through the New Testament. It is the summons of Paul that it is time to wake out of sleep, for the night is far spent and the day is at hand ( Romans 13:12 ). "The Lord is at hand," he writes to the Philippians ( Philippians 4:5 ). "The coming of the Lord is at hand," writes James ( James 5:8 ). John says that the days in which his people are living are the last hour ( 1 John 2:18 ). "The time is... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 4:7

4:7b-8 Be, therefore, steady and sober in mind so that you will really be able to pray as you ought. Above all cherish for each other a love that is constant and intense, because love hides a multitude of sins. When a man realizes the nearness of Jesus Christ, he is bound to commit himself to a certain kind of life. In view of that nearness Peter makes four demands. (i) He says that we must be steady in mind. We might render it: "Preserve your sanity." The verb Peter uses is sophronein (... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 4:7

"Love," says Peter, "hides a multitude of sins." There are three things which this saying may mean; and it is not necessary that we should choose between them, for they are all there. (i) It may mean that our love can overlook many sins. "Love covers all offences," says the writer of the Proverbs ( Proverbs 10:12 ). If we love a person, it is easy to forgive. It is not that love is blind, but that it loves a person just as he is. Love makes patience easy. It is much easier to be patient... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 4:6

For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also ,.... Not for what goes before, because Christ was ready to judge quick and dead; and because wicked men must give an account to him, and therefore the Gospel is preached to them also, that they may be left without excuse; but for what follows, and which does not so much design the reason of the preaching of it, as the event consequential upon it. By the Gospel is meant the good news of the incarnation, sufferings, and death of Christ, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 4:7

But the end of all things is at hand ,.... With respect to particular persons, the end of life, and which is the end of all things in this world to a man, is near at hand; which is but as an hand's breadth, passes away like a tale that is told, and is but as a vapour which appears for a while, and then vanishes away. Or this may be said with regard to the Jews, the end of their church and civil state was near at hand, of their sacrifices, temple, city, and nation; or with respect to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:6

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 carnal men; but others, (those converted to Christianity), lead a spiritual life unto God." - Wakefield. "For this purpose hath the Gospel been preached even to the dead, (i.e. the Gentiles), that although they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:7

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 is come before me. This was spoken at a time when God had decreed the destruction of the world by a flood. Peter says, The end of all things is at hand; and this he spoke when God had determined to... read more

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