1 Peter 4:8

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Peter 4:8

1 Peter 4:8. And above all things have fervent charity— See on James 5:12. Lest they should imagine that the sobriety and prayer recommended in the preceding verse were all that was required of them, St. Peter here inculcates mutual love, as a principal part of their duty. They were to make conscience of all the duties of the Christian life, but to lay the greatest stress upon the most important; and this, both in the idea of St. Peter and St. Paul, is love. Comp. 1 Corinthians 13:13. Instead... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 4:8

8. above all things—not that "charity" or love is placed above "prayer," but because love is the animating spirit, without which all other duties are dead. Translate as Greek, "Having your mutual (literally, 'towards yourselves') charity intense." He presupposes its existence among them; he urges them to make it more fervent. charity shall cover the multitude, c.—The oldest manuscripts have "covereth." Quoted from Proverbs 10:12 compare Proverbs 17:9. "Covereth" so as not harshly to condemn or... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Peter 4:7-11

D. The Importance of Mutual Love in End-Times Living 4:7-11To prepare his readers to meet the Lord soon, Peter urged them to make the best use of their time now that they understood what he had written about suffering. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Peter 4:8

In relation to their fellow Christians, Peter considered it most important that his readers keep their brotherly love at full strength (1 Peter 1:22; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 John 4:7-11). The same expression occurs in non-biblical Greek to describe a horse at full gallop and a runner straining for the tape at the finish line of a race.The person with this kind of love is willing to forgive and even covers a multitude of the sins of others committed against... read more

John Dummelow

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

The Security of the Faithful in the Approaching JudgmentC (ii). 1 Peter 4:1-6. ’This is your faith: live then in accordance with it. Arm yourselves against your troubles by resolving to be like Christ in suffering. Suffering gives rest from sin, and the results of what you have already endured should be a life henceforth in accordance with God’s will. You have lived the heathen life long enough in the past to have learnt its wretchedness. The heathen are surprised now at your estrangement from... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Peter 4:7-11

(7-11) DUTY OF BENEVOLENCE WITHIN THE CHURCH IN VIEW OF THE ADVENT.—The end of the world is not far off; let it find you not only sober, but (above all else) exerting an intense charity within the Church, by hospitality and generosity, in these as much as in spiritual ministrations seeking not your own glory, but God’s. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Peter 4:8

(8) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves.—The original is far more vigorous: But before all things keeping intense your charity towards yourselves. St. Peter assumes that the charity is there, but insists on its not being suffered to flag in outward expression. (Comp. the same word in 1 Peter 1:22; also in Luke 22:44; Acts 12:5; Acts 26:7.)Shall cover.—Properly, neither “shall” nor “will,” the right reading being present, covereth. The words are usually said to be a... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 Peter 4:1-19

Manifold Grace 1 Peter 4:10 The whole verse reads thus, 'Let every man that has received the gift even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God'. What is 'manifold'? Many? No. The word 'many' would be misleading, though it does enter into the larger and truer interpretation of the term. Manifold in this case means variegated, many in colour and light and bloom and beauty. Manifold is not in this relation a question of quantity or quality, but of... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 4:7-11

Chapter 13 CHRISTIAN SERVICE FOR GOD’S GLORY1 Peter 4:7-11"BUT the end of all things is at hand." Well-nigh two thousand years have passed away since the Apostle wrote these words. What are we to think of the teaching they convey? For it is not St. Peter’s teaching only. Those who labored with him were all of the same mind; all gave the same note of warning to their converts. St. Paul exhorts the Philippians, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand"; {Philippians 4:5}... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Peter 4:1-19

IV. THE COMFORT IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS AND SUFFERING CHAPTER 3:10-4:19 1. The comfort in suffering (1 Peter 3:10-17 ) 2. Few saved as illustrated by Noah’s preaching (1 Peter 3:18-22 ) 3. The new life in its transforming power (1 Peter 4:1-11 ) 4. Suffering and glory (1 Peter 4:12-19 ) 1 Peter 3:10-17 The words which stand in the beginning of this section are quoted from Psalms 34:12-16 . It is interesting to note that the Spirit of God quotes from the three main divisions of the Hebrew... read more

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