1 Peter 4:3-4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 4:1-3

The apostle here draws a new inference from the consideration of Christ's sufferings. As he had before made use of it to persuade to patience in suffering, so here to mortification of sin. Observe, I. How the exhortation is expressed. The antecedent or supposition is that Christ had suffered for us in the flesh, or in his human nature. The consequent or inference is, ?Arm and fortify yourselves likewise with the same mind, courage, and resolution.? The word flesh in the former part of the... read more

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 4:1-5

4:1-5 Since then, Christ suffered in the flesh, you too must arm yourselves with the same conviction, that he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, and as a result of this the aim of such a man now is to spend the time that remains to him of life in obedience to the will of God. For the time that is past is sufficient to have done what the Gentiles will to do, to have lived a life of licentiousness, lust, drunkenness, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatry. They think it... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 4:3

For the time past of our life may suffice us ,.... The word "our" is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions. The Arabic version reads, "the time of your past life"; and to the same purpose the Ethiopic version; and which seems to be the more agreeable reading, since it can hardly be thought that the apostle would put himself among the Jews dispersed among the Gentiles, who had walked with them in their unregeneracy, in all the sins hereafter mentioned,... read more

John Gill

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

Wherein they think it strange ,.... Here the apostle points out what the saints must expect from the men of the world, by living a different life; and he chooses to mention it, to prevent discouragements, and that they might not be uneasy and distressed when they observed it; as that they would wonder at the change in their conversations, and look on it as something unusual, new, and unheard of, and treat them as strangers, yea, as enemies, on account of it: that you run not with them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 4:3

The time past of our life - This is a complete epitome of the Gentile or heathen state, and a proof that those had been Gentiles to whom the apostle wrote. They walked in lasciviousness, εν ασελγειαις· every species of lechery, lewdness, and impurity. In lusts, επιθυμιαις· strong irregular appetites, and desires of all kinds. In excess of wine, οινοφλυγιαις· wine, and φλυω , to be hot, or to boil; to be inflamed with wine; they were in continual debauches. In revellings, ... read more

Adam Clarke

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

They think it strange - Ξενιζονται· They wonder and are astonished at you, that ye can renounce these gratifications of the flesh for a spiritual something, the good of which they cannot see. Excess of riot - Ασωτιας αναχυσιν· Flood of profligacy; bearing down all rule, order, and restraints before it. Speaking evil of you - Βλασφημουντες· Literally, blaspheming; i.e. speaking impiously against God, and calumniously of you. read more

John Calvin

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 4:1-6

I. BY UNION WITH CHRIST . 1. Through suffering. Suffering is the appointed discipline of the Christian soul. Gold is tried by fire, the Christian's faith by suffering. Christ himself suffered in the flesh, and while we are in the flesh we must also suffer. "In that he died, he died unto sin once;" his death separated him from sin, from the sight and hearing of sin, from that mysterious contact with human sin which he endured when "he was made sin for us, though he was without... read more